In a modest production hall in the village of Pîrîta, Dubăsari district, a young entrepreneurial family decided to change the course of their lives and contribute to the development of their local comunity. This is how SRL “BON AMI PLUS” was born — a local brand dedicated to producing natural juices with no water, sugar, or additives – just fruit, grown in Moldova.
The business was founded by Vladimir Burlac, who returned home after completing his studies abroad. He set out to build a business based on a simple idea: transforming locally sourced raw ingredients into a high-value final product.
“We started the business four years ago with a simple idea — to turn raw produce into a finished product that carries added value,” the entrepreneur explains. It all began with one piece of equipment purchased from Romania, which allowed them to produce around 500 litres of juice per day.
Today, BON AMI PLUS team operates at a much larger capacity, and its “Dor” juice is stocked in over 30 cafés and specialty shops across Chișinău. The product range includes natural juices made from apples, pears, quinces, plums and strawberries — cold-pressed and gently pasteurised at 80°C to preserve the fruits’ authentic flavour and nutritional value.
In 2024, through the EU-LEADERRural Development Fund under the EU4Moldova: Local Communities programme, supported by the European Union under EU4Business initiative and implemented locally through the Local Action Group (LAG) “Inima Nistrului”, the entrepreneur acquired a pallet truck that greatly improved operational efficiency.
“With support from the project, we bought a pallet truck that helps us unload the apples. When we bring them in from cold storage, they arrive in containers weighing 300–350 kg each. Before we had this equipment, we used to unload them manually, which was incredibly time-consuming,” Vladimir says.
Modern equipment has streamlined the entire production process. Once unloaded, the apples go into a crate tipper, which automatically empties the fruit. They are then washed, rinsed, chopped, and sent to the belt press for juice extraction. The hall is equipped with clean, well-maintained machinery, including a filling station and stainless-steel barrels — both essential for maintaining product quality.
The family has clear and ambitious plans for the future. They aim to build a new production space closer to the orchards, which would include a modern cold storage unit and allow them to begin supplying kindergartens in the district.
“We want this facility to be as close to our orchards as possible so that the journey from apple to juice is as short and efficient as possible,” Vladimir explains.
The team’s mission is clear: to promote quality and honest production, with respect for consumers and nature alike. This family’s business is not just about juice — it’s about values and principles, where quality and integrity come first.
“I want to encourage small producers to apply for European Union funding. It’s the only way to grow quickly, to reach the next level of development, and ultimately to meet European standards,” the entrepreneur concludes.
Through dedication and perseverance, the business has become a local success story, proving that in Moldova’s villages, it is possible to produce with both heart and health in mind.
