Interview with Robert Śmiałek, Managing Director of Libra Food Ingredients
- A visit to Dziękowizna is truly surprising. Only six months have passed since the construction was inaugurated and we can already see a building standing, covered with a roof. Where does this incredible pace come from?
R.Ś. - The closed shell stage is nearing completion. The team of architects and builders is working efficiently and every day we can see progress on the construction site. The pace of work is highly motivating and inspiring for us.
Because the construction site is located right next to our operating company, we are able to supervise the progress on an ongoing basis. We know that, thanks to this, the finishing works will proceed just as quickly, as there will be no surprises waiting for us inside.
- How are you planning to use this new space?
R.Ś. - The new facility will house Quality Control and R&D laboratories, a production area and fully automated AI-controlled warehouses. At the moment, all these departments are located in our existing plant. Soon, we will gain a huge amount of space, which will allow us to flexibly arrange different product categories.
Allergen-free production will become significantly more convenient. The new facility will also include lines dedicated to liquid production: marinades, sauces, brines and emulsions, as well as quality control laboratories and R&D workspaces. We will gain room for conceptual work for new technologists and flavour creators.
This will increase our production capacity and allow us to carry out ideas and projects that, until now, had to be postponed.
- From what I have heard, Dziękowizna is not the end. Where and when is Libra’s next investment planned to begin?
R.Ś. - A new headquarters and factory for Flavours Factory is currently being built in Krusze. Right next to it, we will construct an equally impressive Libra II plant, covering 10,000 square metres, equipped with silos and mixing facilities for breading mixes. The works are planned to begin as early as the fourth quarter of 2026! We hope that the construction will progress just as quickly as the Libra I project in Dziękowizna.
- This year, Libra launched its new brand, Libra Pet Food Solution. Does this mean you are setting out to conquer the pet food market?
R.Ś. - We had been preparing for this step for quite some time. Components for pet food production are already offered by Interfiber and Flavours Factory, but it was Libra that decided to enter this industry in a much deeper way.
Building the offer, obtaining the necessary certificates and adapting production to veterinary requirements took a great deal of time and energy. We managed to bring everything together and this year, for the first time, we were present at the Interzoo trade fair in Nuremberg.
The contacts we established with pet food manufacturers from all over the world are very promising and the pet food industry will certainly be increasingly represented in our plans.
- Among the companies belonging to Food Ingredients Group, Libra is the oldest one. Your history dates back to 2001?
R.Ś. - Looking back, we can see how much we have achieved! A company that began a quarter of a century ago as a supplier of blends for the meat industry is now recognised by most of the food industry. This year, we are celebrating our 25th anniversary.
That is why we are so pleased with the new ideas for the company’s development — both those already planned and those currently being implemented. They are proof of the enormous potential and strength within this company.
Despite so many years of operating on the market, we still think about development with great energy. I hope that we will surprise our customers many more times with new concepts and ideas. To sum up, we are looking to the future with great curiosity!
