Dreams Know No Obstacles: The Story of Maria Lipinskaya, Founder of “AsiaEliteFoodGroup”

This series of interviews with Kazakhstani entrepreneurs continues with the story of Maria Lipinskaya, the founder of "AsiaEliteFoodGroup." Today, the company produces more than 50 types of dairy products, including sour cream, cream, and cottage cheese, and its workforce has long exceeded 50 employees.

However, 20 years ago, the thought of a massive production facility was not even a dream. Maria worked at a successful company, and a chance event led her to contemplate starting her own business. The owner of the enterprise where Maria worked decided to change the business's profile. These changes motivated Maria to take a bold step – she left her job and opened her own company specializing in the sale of raw materials and ingredients for dairy production. The company quickly gained a solid reputation in the market, actively developed, and expanded its list of partners. One of these partners suggested to Maria the idea of starting a joint venture.

Production facilities for the joint business were found immediately: in Maria’s hometown of Chapaevo, a dairy facility was lying idle. The facility was listed on the state organization's balance sheet as a problematic asset. Negotiating the purchase of the facility was easy, but as soon as the documents were prepared, it turned out that the partner's brother had changed his mind about developing the business in Kazakhstan. Maria did not have the funds to buy the facility independently, marking a pivotal moment when the dream of her own large-scale business was born.

Before becoming a reality, the dream had to withstand the test of time: for five long years, Maria corresponded with various government bodies to be granted the facility under trust management. The issue was resolved in her favor, but time had taken its toll on the facility itself: it was in ruins, and after five years of idleness, the production line had been “stripped down.” But the thorny path to her dream did not deter Maria.

Maria recalls how she and a mechanic had to assemble the equipment piece by piece. But perseverance and faith in her dream paid off: the production was launched and began turning a profit.

Maria Lipinskaya emphasizes the importance of self-reliance. However, she does not deny the significance of external support. Credit facilities from Bank CenterCredit helped the company modernize its production. In the near future, the company plans to develop new product packaging designs and renovate the workshops. All of this transformed what was once an abandoned facility into a model enterprise.

The secret to the success of Maria’s business lies in her involvement. Maria Lipinskaya points out that she takes a personal role in product development while listening to her employees' opinions. Another key to success is her attentive approach to her team: for Maria, it's crucial to create conditions in the workshops where employees feel not only comfortable but also cozy. And, of course, anyone looking to build their own business must let go of fears: "I am never afraid of anything. Trying something new is exciting for me. There’s no fear in moving forward," the entrepreneur concludes. However, the main secret is, of course, believing in your dream because, as Maria says, "everything always starts with a dream."

This article has been translated from its original language using neural network-based translation technology.