Tuzla's Solana celebrates 136 years of existence

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Back in 1885, one of the oldest companies in BiH – Fabrika soli – was founded in Tuzla. Today, it crowns its rich history with 136 years of existence and celebrates continuing to follow the latest trends and achieving daily business successes.

"Tuzlanska so" is one of the most recognizable brands both in BiH and across Europe. It is obtained through the vacuum evaporation process of brine and as such is unique in this region.

It is also specific for its quality and purity, as its composition is approximately 99.7 percent sodium chloride. In addition to the popular Tuzlanska so, the company is also known for other products such as DoDo seasoning, salt with herbs, tableted salt, and various types of industrial salts.

"The combination of tradition and quality has made Solana a true leader in the production and sale of salt, both in the domestic market and in the countries of the region and the world. Our traditional markets are the countries of Southeast Europe, namely our immediate neighbors Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Hungary, Romania... In addition to this, we can also be found on the shelves of supermarkets in Scandinavia, the United States, and the Middle East," says the director of Tuzla's Solana, Bakir Smailagić.

Since 2018, Solana has been part of the AS Group and is the first member to be certified according to the requirements of the FSSC 22000 standard for the first time. This standard (Food Safety System Certification) is one of the standards recognized by GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative).

"Throughout our business operations, we strive to follow global development trends, and accordingly, we attach great importance to maintaining product quality. We continuously work on maintaining the quality and safety of our products by applying leading quality standards in our production. FSSC 22000 is a globally recognized standard for auditing, monitoring, and certifying all food products to ensure food safety. Through certification, Solana d.d. Tuzla has raised its quality management to a higher level. We have ensured the conditions for the uninterrupted continuation of cooperation with existing and potentially new and more demanding customers and markets," emphasizes Smailagić.

Today, Solana produces approximately 140,000 tons of salt annually, employs 300 workers, and plans for the next year are focused on developing new products and conquering new markets. Also, one of their goals is to improve their processes through various energy efficiency projects.