Change location
Current location
Scrolling through Biržų Duona’s Instagram account will leave anyone in awe – and hungry. The long-esteemed bakery’s social media accounts burst with color, craft, and creativity.
Andrius Kurganovas & his wife Natalija Kurganovė
Founded in the Soviet-era, the bakery’s Instagram exudes a quirky narrative while exhibiting a variety of their flagship products. “Although the content may not be directly related to sales,” tells Natalija Kurganovė, Biržų Duona Head of Marketing and Innovation, “connecting with customers emotionally is just as important.”
When Andrius’ father, Viktoras Kurganovas, took over Biržų Duona in 2000, the business was nearly bankrupt and no longer able to keep up with the demand. But with hard work, grit, patience, and unity in the family, Biržų Duona is now the third-largest bakery in Lithuania.
Biržų Duona (previously named Biržų Pramkombinatu) was established in 1953 in Biržai in the Soviet Union. They employed around 35 employees and operated three charcoal stoves, producing two to three tons of products per day. However, by the late 1970s, the bakery was no longer sustainable and unable to provide for the residents in their district. In 1998, Viktoras Kurganovas joined the deteriorating business as CEO and when the business went on sale, he decided he’d take a risk and buy the business.
Viktoras Kurganovas
Despite the uncertainty ahead, Viktoras and his family got to work on reinventing the bakery and reinvigorating the business. The Kurganovas family started implementing new technologies, reconstructing infrastructure, and shifting the company culture from a government-owned bakery to a family business.
“It really was a brand new beginning for the company,” Andrius said.
They started creating and developing new products outside of the traditional regional breads the bakery had been known for. To be ahead of consumer needs turned out to be extremely challenging, since they created a supply when there was no demand yet.
For instance, they were the first big bakery in Lithuania that launched a gluten-free range even all the statistics showing that the market is too small for such a big investment.
The Biržų Duona partnership with FRITSCH began in 2008, when Andrius and Viktoras visited the test bakery in Markt Einersheim.
“Everyone was really friendly during that visit and the croissant line made a big impression,” Andrius said.
"I think that was key to the early success of the bakery. We wanted to create new products for our customers while maintaining the traditional products. All products should be manufactured organically. And that’s what brought us to FRITSCH."
Andrius Kurganovas
Viktoras & his son Andrius visiting the FRITSCH World of Bakery
That visit resulted in Biržų Duona purchasing their first FRITSCH product, the MULTIFLEX L. Biržų Duona is now one of the most successful bakeries in Lithuania and eastern Europe and continues to look forward to the future.
“We are committed to creating products with respect to traditions and the environment,” Andrius emphasized. “That is the mission for our customers. We want to see growth in the whole company, not just in management but also in production. I remind myself regularly that the point of our business is not only finding revenue or result-oriented solutions. It is the community that counts and surrounds us. It is ingrained in us to reach results especially at work. However, the process itself is much more important.
Life is dynamic. Thus, we emphasize that we and our employees enjoy the process that of course comes with regular changes. We embrace the community within our team and strive that everyone loves coming back to work on Monday morning,” he continued.
Andrius’ team often creates projects and products that are completely irrelevant for the Lithuanian market, but they become popular a few years later. One of their beliefs is that: “Every baked good on the table has its own history, and Biržų Duona writes it every day with faith, love for the environment, Lithuania and its people. That’s how daily creation transforms into ‘the tradition of creating.’,” told Natalija.
A blooming garden & Biržų sausainiai
Macaron & Grissini su sezamais
Cozy living room & a Halloween snack
Prancūziški skanėstai „Kanelės“ & Plikyti sausainiai
Biržų Senolių duona "Batonas" & some toast
Riestainiai su aguonomis & Pyragas „Serbentų skaraitė“
Grissini su alyvuogių aliejumi & „KETO lengvai“ migdolų duona
Sausainiai „Skarelės“ & Sausainiai su obuolių džemu
Homemade ice cream
