Ulyana Fitsa has been with Kormotech, a petfood company, since its inception in 2003. Starting her career as a translator and office manager, she later took on various leadership roles, culminating in her appointment as Global Supply Chain Officer in 2013. For over a decade, Ulyana has overseen the smooth production and worldwide distribution of Kormotech products, with the company’s brands now available in 44 countries. She leads a team of 160 employees across five offices in three countries. Ulyana’s expertise in the industry and her strategic leadership have been key to Kormotech’s growth. As of February, she has also taken on the role of Supply Chain Officer and Brands Sales for Western Europe, where she now focuses on strengthening Kormotech’s brands’ presence in key markets, in addition to managing procurement, logistics, and outsourced production.
You have a rich career in the industry, what initially led you to this field?
I never planned to work in manufacturing—I had dreams of pursuing a career in international diplomacy. My entry into the petfood industry was purely accidental. In 2003, I was invited to work as a translator for an American consultant who was helping build petfood production facilities. When the first factory was under construction, I was responsible for importing the equipment. This is how my career in procurement for external markets began, which later led me to Supply Chain. Since 2018, I’ve been a part of the strategic top management team.
This year, I’ve embarked on a new professional challenge. In addition to my role as Global Chief Supply Chain Officer, I will now also assume the role of Head of Brands Sales in Western Europe, where my focus will be on boosting the recognition and sales of our brands. It’s an ambitious goal, but I’m confident I’ll be able to achieve it.
Pet humanisation is a significant trend in today’s market. How do you think the petfood industry is adapting to meet the evolving needs and expectations of pet owners? And how has this trend influenced the work you do?
The humanisation of pets is driving the industry forward, with manufacturers establishing new quality standards, adapting recipes, and incorporating technological innovations to preserve maximum nutritional value.
Pet owners increasingly want to see ingredients in their cats’ and dogs’ food that not only provide the pets essential calories but also improve their health and extend their lifespan.
At Kormotech, we continuously refine our recipes to meet these expectations. Our current focus is on functional ingredients like probiotics.
Additionally, we are working on formulations to meet specific needs, such as grain-free or hypoallergenic diets.
Kormotech has been rapidly expanding lately, including a second factory in Lithuania – why have you decided to focus on Lithuania?
Kormotech has ambitious global expansion plans, so it is essential for us to deliver high-quality products to our partners quickly and at competitive prices. The decision to concentrate our production facilities in Lithuania was influenced by logistical convenience and economic advantages.
The city of Kėdainiai, home to our first factory and soon a second, is a free economic zone, which allows us to benefit from tax incentives and regulatory support.
Kormotech is recognised as one of Lithuania’s leading investor companies. With the new factory, we are investing approximately EU€60 million into the Lithuanian economy and creating over 200 new jobs.
You’ve had an impressive turnover the last year, do you have any expansion planned for the next financial year?
We are proud of last year’s achievements, with a turnover of EU€156.2 million, which represents a 6.5 percent increase over 2023. Kormotech’s strategic goal is to rank among the top 30 global petfood manufacturers by 2028, with a turnover of EU€500 million. We have a well-defined strategy for scaling and expanding every financial year. However, our focus extends beyond business growth to also creating value for our customers, partners, and the industry as a whole.
Kormotech launched ‘Save Pets of Ukraine’ – Can you tell us a bit about how you got involved in this project, and its importance in the industry?
We launched the Save Pets of Ukraine project in early March 2022 in response to the full-scale Russian invasion, which left thousands of cats and dogs without food or care. At first, Kormotech focused on crisis response, providing food, medicine, and organising evacuations. However, we soon realised that short-term assistance was not enough, so we shifted our focus to building a system that offers animals not only temporary aid but also the opportunity for a better life.
We supplied 1800 tonnes of petfood to shelters and volunteers, and helped find new homes for over 2000 cats and dogs. In the past three years, Save Pets of Ukraine has grown into a nationwide initiative promoting a global dialogue on responsibility. The petfood industry has a significant role to play in social projects, providing reliable support for customers in challenging times.
Looking Ahead, what do you foresee as the most significant opportunity and challenge for the petfood industry, particularly concerning sustainability and responsible sourcing?
The petfood industry is undergoing a transformation where sustainability is no longer just a trend, but a crucial requirement. It’s essential to ensure not only the quality of ingredients but also their eco-friendly sourcing and continuously work to minimise environmental impact. While producing responsibly from an environmental standpoint can be more expensive, for petfood manufacturers, it’s an opportunity to drive change by building more sustainable and efficient business models. The future will be shaped by companies that blend innovation, top-notch product quality, and a commitment to sustainable practices.
Published in the March 2025 issue of International Aquafeed
