AZNAR history | AZNAR

AZNAR history

1960-es

The history of the pomegranate juice Grante began in the 60-es, past century. A factory for production of tinned juice was built on the basis of an interdistrict procurement organization in Geokchay district of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic. The first managing director was Teymur Faradzh ogly Akhmedov. Teymur Akhmedov, a true patriot of his native land who liked the ruby Geokchay pomegranates, had a dream that people everywhere in the country and all over the world would know and like their unique taste.

1969

Starting with the familiar apple and tomato juices, it was he who first suggested processing pomegranate and quince.

1978 

The factory was awarded with 2 medals at the international exhibitions “Erfurt-78” (Germany) and “Plovdiv-86” (Bulgaria) for the pomegranate juice, thus winning recognition of its quality abroad.

1984 

The factory products were known and supplied to all republics of the USSR and other countries of the world.

1990-2000 

The Collapse of the USSR, the subsequent general economic crisis and production decline have affected the Geokchay factory. But in 2006 the son of his father, the famous politician and businessman Farkhad Teymurovich Akhmedov continued the good family tradition, he repurchased the factory to redeem its good name and recover popularity of its production. He decided to restore the factory as well as to plant new pomegranate gardens to replace the clear-cut abandoned plantations.

2006 

Under the direction of Farkhad Teymurovich Akhmedov, a new investment program for the industry recovery was established, under which its manufacturing facilities were upgraded, fully automated manufacturing was implemented together with the modern quality control system at all stages of the manufacturing process from picking to packing.

This decision has become a real gift not only to Azerbaijan but also to all those living far beyond the country who like natural pomegranate juice, as this remarkable event has given the name for the new brand Grante — from the english word "Grant", which means "gift".

2008 

The factory was rapidly developing and expanding the territory where its goods were supplied. In 2008 the pomegranate juice Grante was certified in Russia as "BioSafe product".

2009 

The pomegranate juice Grante won a number of numerous awards at prestigious international contests:
  • 3 gold medals at the 16th international exhibition of food, beverages and food raw materials "Prodexpo 2009";
  • the Grand Prix at the contest "Product of the year 2009" at the 18th international exhibition of food and beverages "World Food Moscow 2009";
  • a gold medal at the international contest "Best product 2009";
  • a gold medal «Innovations in product composition» at the contest «Innovative product Prodexpo 2009» and The First Degree Diploma for high usefulness for consumers and a gold medal "For quality".

2010 

The brand Grante kept winning many prizes for the product quality and innovation:
  • The apple juice Grante won the Grand Prix as the winner of the international contest "Best product 2010" at the 17th international exhibition of food, beverages and food raw materials "Prodexpo 2010"
  • The quince juice Grante won the Grand Prix as the winner of the international professional contest of food and beverages "Product of the year 2010", at the exhibition "Worldfood Moscow
Grante was expanding the range of its beverages, the consumers could try the grape juice Grante from white and red grapes and their mixtures: pomegranate-grape and apple-grape juices..

2011 

AZNAR has expanded its production geography from Azerbaijan to countries of three different time zones and created new lines of the Grante goods – fruit-berry nectars and juices. As before, the factory had strictly controlled production process, and beverages were packed in Eco-friendly package – glass bottles.

2013 

Grante juices are widely supplied and sold all over the world: in such countries as Russia, Belarus, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, as well as in the USA, Canada, Israel, Australia and New Zealand.

At the 20th international exhibition exhibition of food, beverages and food raw materials "Prodexpo-2013" the pomegranate juice Grante was awarded with a silver medal as the winner of the international contest "Best product 2013"

2014 

The line of 100% NFC juices Grante was joined by the new taste of cherry juice. The flagship juice of the brand Grante – pomegranate juice - was packed in the new aseptic Tetra Pak package of 1 L.

Also this year a technological breakthrough was made at the AZNAR factory, it began producing pomegranate seed oil by currently the most advanced method . Liquid carbon dioxide CO2 has an ability to dissolve lipophilic compounds, absorbing oil from seeds. After the oil extraction carbon dioxide compounds under pressure relief lose their solvent properties and, as a result, the required material (oil) is extracted. Liquid carbon dioxide can be reused.

For achieving this result, the most up-to-date equipment was installed at AZNAR and fully automated control of the whole oil extraction process was implemented. The oil extracted by this method is the premium quality, organic oil, it beholds cosmetic and aesthetic capabilities and can be used for medicinal purposes being effective against some cancers.

2015 

Our attention is focused on the development of international markets, particularly, the US, New Zealand, Canada, etc. Thus, in December we participated in Winter Fancy Food Show 2015 held in San Francisco. The Fancy Food Show is the largest exhibition on the Western coast specializing in foods and beverages. Over 1,300 participants from 35 countries of the world and the US presented their newest achievements in foods and beverages at Winter Fancy Food Show 2015.
In April, two major events in our business occurred. For the first time, we took part in the International Exhibition SIAL CANADA. In the modern exhibition center Direct Energy Centre, visited by over 10,000 people, we presented to the Canadian consumer natural juices and nectars GRANTE. The participation in this exhibition exceeded all our expectations! Moreover, in April 2015 Aznar and pomegranate juice Grante have become a member of the national American Specialty Food Association (www.specialtyfood.com). It is the proof of the high quality of Grante products!

2016 

The great popularity of directly squeezed Grante juices is due to daily efforts to develop the line by highly qualified specialists of the plant, through maintaining high quality of products and marketing activities in all markets. We are preparing new taste lines of the directly squeezed Grante, but consumers will learn about it next year.
 
In autumn we brought to the market a line of new nectars under the name TM Granat. Fruit-vegetable-berry nectars in the ingredients of purée and juice of Granat brand can satisfy the most demanding consumers. A distinctive feature of our nectars is a high level of natural nutrients and vitamins along with the preservation of true natural taste in the composition of the product. Flavours: pomegranate, orange, grapes, quince, cherry, apple, feijoa and pear.
 
Participation in exhibitions is still an important marketing tool for finding distributors and new customers. The year turned out to be rich for events and we became participants in exhibitions SIAL PARIS (Paris, November), TAIWAN FOOD & CHAIN ​​STORE SHOW (Taiwan, November), SIAL China (China, May), Food & Drink Expo 2016 (Britain, April), ProdExpo (Moscow, February).

In the autumn, we held a grandiose Pomegranate festival in Geokchai, timed to the end of the collection of pomegranates. Not only tourists, but also many high-ranking guests - employees of state bodies, diplomatic corps, as well as representatives of neighboring regions gathered to celebrate the Pomegranate festival in Geokchai.
 
The pomegranate juice Grante was awarded with the highest award of the Grand Prix competition with the unanimous decision of the ProdExpo Commission. The present award is not the first in modern history of the brand. In 2013, juice Grante was awarded with the Grand Prix and today this award once again confirms the consistent high quality of this "divine drink". That is no wonder that the pomegranate prize-winner does not lie on the shelves of the supermarkets of the capital.

New Grante - "light" compote made from feijoa was awarded with the "Innovative Product of 2016" award by decision of the degustation commission.

2017 

The beginning of the year and so many events! We have expanded the line of fresh juices Grante with novelties – directly squeezed pear juice and for the first time introducing the assortment of vegetable juice - directly squeezed beet-apple. We presented new products at ProdExpo (February, Moscow). In the same month we participated in Gulfood - the largest in the world and the region of the Persian Gulf and the Middle East and the world's most influential annual exhibition of food and beverage production, with an unprecedented number of visitors.
 
In March, for the first time Grante-mobile - a branded car with the Grante symbols went out on the roads of Azerbaijan, Russia and Europe. Health in every house!
 
In April and May we are preparing for the release of a new line of Grante. While this is under the strictest secrecy, but soon you will see a novelty.