Pavel Zingan, in an interview with Daniel Isac, founder of Happy Viking, maib business customer.
Daniel, hello! You are the founder and CEO of Happy Viking. Most readers will probably be unfamiliar with your name because you work in B2B. What is your field of activity?
Happy Viking entered the market in 2005. The company started its business by importing and distributing frozen food products of animal origin - fish, seafood, pork and chicken.
Initially, it was a Moldovan-Danish company. Over time, I acquired the Danish part. Since then, it has been a Moldovan company.
How did you choose the name Happy Viking?
As the company initially had Danish capital, one of the Danish partners suggested this light and interesting name, which is what our company is all about. Vikings are the Nordic people, and Denmark is a Nordic country associated with the Vikings. This name symbolises our strong relationship with the Danish partners with whom we started the business.
How did you start your business?
In its early beginnings, the company was very active in retail and HoReCa, dealing in the distribution of frozen fish, seafood, and chilled pork. We were the first fish and seafood supplier for the Metro chain of stores. For HoReCa, we were one of the largest suppliers of fish and seafood delicacies. We were the first to bring fish and seafood from official producers in Iceland, Denmark, Norway, and Spain to Moldova.
The crisis in 2009 was a turning point for us, prompting a strategic shift towards importing meat. We sourced our meat from Brazil and EU countries, and as the crisis subsided, we leveraged our European partnerships for more efficient logistics.
Happy Viking's goal is to offer the market fresh, competitively priced meat, as well as new logistics technologies and modern European service solutions.
How competitive is the local market in your field of activity?
Nowadays, competition is very high, that's why we have to offer the highest quality service. In 2005, when we opened the company, we were the first company in Moldova to start legally and officially bringing seafood, fruits, fish and meat into the country.
As a B2B company, we value the quality of our products and the service we provide equally. We maintain close relationships with our business partners, actively listening to their needs and preferences. We aim to consistently deliver work of the highest standard, adhering to all necessary regulations and standards.
From the very first day of the company's establishment, we have been committed to providing the people of Moldova with safe and high-quality food products. In our case, these are fish and meat. We understand our full responsibility for every kilogram of product that reaches Moldova and, ultimately, our consumers' tables. That is why we only work with verified suppliers who meet all quality standards.
How do you choose a supplier to ensure the product's quality?
That's an excellent question. I select the suppliers. In the 2000s, I was among the first to obtain certification from the Food and Drug Administration (Washington) for food safety and implementing appropriate standards. Having the necessary knowledge, I attended the world's largest trade shows, where I could assess the quality of suppliers' products and evaluate their suitability for our market.
Choosing a supplier is a meticulous process that starts with studying the company's history, checking reviews, reviewing the markets they already work with, and many other nuances. To sign a contract, we go together with ANSA representatives in Moldova and review all the necessary documents and details to make sure we have chosen the right supplier.
Over the years, we have not made any mistakes in our choice of suppliers, and that is something we are proud of. Equally, we are pleased to have established partnerships with world leaders who are among the largest meat suppliers in the world.
What are your plans for the company's development soon?
Our market is very dynamic and rapidly changing. To stay up to date and not lag, we constantly follow trends and dynamics, respond as quickly as possible to different situations, and adapt according to the market's needs and our partners' changes. We must always plan, implement, and keep up with the times to grow.
We are now focusing on chilled meat. It's one of the most promising areas we're working on. We are actively collaborating with a producer in Spain who supplies us with chilled pork. For chicken, we are now working with reliable partners in Ukraine.
We have many plans. We want to expand our product range and increase the number of customers.
As Moldova moves closer to the European market, we are proactively preparing for the standards set by the European Union. We are already working today to improve our quality and raise our standards, ensuring we are ready for tomorrow. Regular visits to various exhibitions and continuous investment in our team's education are part of our commitment to staying abreast of global trends and maintaining our competitive edge.
And, of course, development is only possible with a reliable banking partner. We have been working with maib for many years, and I want to mention that in recent years, we have felt the progress that has been made in the banking sector. In the last 2-3 years, many aspects have changed for the better, from customer communication to the services offered by the bank. I am happy that our paths with maib have crossed and that my company has a trustworthy banking partner.
