Belje plus d.o.o.
Headquartered in Darda, Belje is one of the oldest companies in Croatia, with 328 years of tradition.
Key company operations
Belje’s key operations include arable farming and seed production, an animal feed factory with silos, pig farming with 11 farms, cattle farming including six beef cattle farms and seven dairy farms, dairy product factories in Osijek and Beli Manastir, the Baranjka factory for the production of long-lasting cured meat products, as well as vineyards, a winery, and an old cellar.
Seed production and arable farming
Belje’s seed production and arable farming form the foundation of traceable food production “From field to table,” because Belje’s farmers cultivate 20,000 hectares of arable land that provide domestic raw materials for animal feed, as well as straw and hay for their own farms. The dominant crops grown are wheat, barley, corn, sugar beet, soybeans, and sunflower. A special segment of arable production is the greenhouse for hydroponic tomato cultivation in Mitrovac, with a total area of 4.5 hectares. With more than 126,000 plants, the greenhouse is one of the main producers of domestic tomatoes in Croatia.
Animal feed factory
The animal feed factory in Darda, with a capacity of 185,000 tons, provides feed for animals on all Belje, Vupik, and PIK Vinkovci farms, as well as on cooperative pig and beef cattle farms.
Pig farming
At the top of the so-called pig farming pyramid, from which the entire pig production process begins in all agricultural companies, is Belje’s nucleus farm Brod Pustara. The other farms are divided into sow breeding farms, piglet farms, and fattening farms for raising pigs for slaughter, and high biosecurity measures are applied on all farms for the welfare and protection of animals.
Cattle farming
Belje’s cattle farming is divided into beef fattening and dairy cattle farming, that is, cow’s milk production. Beef cattle are produced on six owned farms and seventy cooperative farms, while milk production in Belje takes place on five production farms with almost 4,000 dairy cows and on numerous cooperative farms. The cattle farming system also includes two specialized farms, one for raising calves and the other a breeding farm for raising replacement stock.
Belje Wines – viticulture and winemaking
Belje’s vineyards stretch across almost 500 hectares, and 85% of the total plantings are Graševina, the most widespread wine variety in Croatia. Belje is one of the largest grape producers in Croatia, and all grapes harvested in Belje’s vineyards are used to produce around 3.5 million liters of Graševina, Chardonnay, Frankovka, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon wines, as well as La Belle sparkling wines. Important for the aging of wine is the old cellar with a rich wine archive, located in the center of Kneževi Vinogradi, which is open for tourist visits by individual guests and organized groups.
Dairy product factories
Belje’s two dairy product factories, in Osijek and Beli Manastir, produce 35,000 tons of various dairy products annually, made from milk from Belje’s and Vupik’s own farms. Belje dairies are the only ones in Croatia with production traceability from their own raw material to the final product. The market leader in the fresh cream cheese and cheese spread category is ABC fresh cream cheese, Belje’s most important export product, available in 25 markets around the world and celebrating its 45th birthday this year. A wide range of dairy products is also available under the Kravica Kraljica brand.
Baranjka factory
About 1,000 tons of traditional cured meat products are produced annually in the Baranjka facilities in Beli Manastir, the best known of which is Baranjski kulen with the protected geographical indication label of the European Union.
