Miory Regional Executive Committee
The business visit was organized by the Center for International Cooperation of the Smolensk Region. The delegation was led by the director of this center, Artem Jones. It also included representatives of enterprises responsible for providing school meals in Smolensk.
Targeted cooperation in various spheres of the economy, culture, social development, and education has become possible due to the strengthening of ties between the Smolensk region and Belarus.
Yelena Karpenkova, General Director of JSC Canteen "Smolensk Bistro", Valentina Kryakova, General Director of LLC KP "Zadneprovye", and individual entrepreneur Natalya Barinova inquired about various aspects: the organization of food preparation processes, oversight of canteen operations, financial assistance to families raising children, and more…
Particular interest was shown in the material and technical equipment of food preparation units, compliance with sanitation and hygiene standards, the balance and nutritional value of prepared dishes, as well as the results of the pilot project on organizing school meals conducted during the 2022/2023 academic year.
The Smolensk delegation not only received comprehensive answers to their questions but also visited the canteens of Gymnasium No. 2 and No. 7 named after M. Denisenko, as well as Secondary School No. 46 named after I. Bagraryana. Delegation members saw firsthand how the workflow is organized, from ordering ingredients and their storage to cooking and serving.
For example, at Gymnasium No. 2, where meals on rented premises are organized by JSC "Vitmil", over a thousand students and teachers are fed daily. At the same time, only six staff members work in the kitchen, two of whom are cooks. Meals are served in two shifts, including breakfasts and lunches. This includes high school students following specialized tracks, those studying according to individual plans, or those preparing for olympiads. Children from large families receive lunches and afternoon snacks. Primary school students from extended-day groups are fed according to a separate schedule. Student duty officers are involved in table setting. A snack bar operates at the educational institution, where one can have a light meal with fresh salads, house-baked pastries, or more substantial options.
The guests met with the staff responsible for organizing meals and the chefs, and sampled dishes from the menu.
The participants of the meeting agreed to continue cooperation and exchange successful practices in organizing school meals.
The Center for International Cooperation of the Smolensk Region extends its gratitude for assistance in organizing the business meeting to the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, Viktor Glushin, and the Director of JSC “Vitmil”, Gennady Mikhalko.