Many call Tešanj an economic miracle in the region, an environment specific in many ways. That is why it is not surprising that another successful business story that we bring from this BiH. of the city.
It is about the brand “Nana pasta” which is conquering Bosnia and Herzegovina. market with its unique traditional recipe of handmade pasta.
Amerlina Mešinović, 37 years old from Tešnj, a sanitary engineer by profession, is the owner of the company ERIA. For Akta.ba, she told her inspiring story about the creation of this recognizable brand. She is an example of how success can be born from difficult situations.
“Our story was created during the COVID pandemic, when my brother, mother and I lost our jobs. At that moment, the father submitted for retirement, in the meantime he fell seriously ill, ended up in a coma, and we did not know if he would stay alive. At that moment, we needed a way to survive”, Armelina tells us.
On the way from the hospital, she wondered what they were doing. She remembered that her mother had taught her to make pilaf by hand.
“I came home, bought flour and a package of eggs and said: We will make pilaf and sell it. Now we are where we are,” Amerlina recalls
Amerlina Mešinović, PHOTO: Akta.ba
What distinguishes them from others is that the pasta is handmade, without additives, preservatives and artificial colors. They are the only ones in Bosnia and Herzegovina who produce pasta in this way. All pasta is dried naturally, much slower compared to drying in chambers, in this way the ingredients are better connected, which makes it better quality, more pliable because in this way all the minerals and vitamins from the ingredients that are mixed are preserved.
What sets it apart from the crowd is its quality.
“We carefully select all the raw materials we use. We import the flour we use for the premium brand from Italy, because we do not have a flour composition that would meet that quality on our market. In addition to the quality and the method of production itself, because we are the only ones in Bosnia and Herzegovina who make pasta using rollers (as far as tagliatelle is concerned), drying, and manual packaging. And that sets us apart from the crowd ,” Amerlina is honest.
TAGLIATELLE IN NINE KINDS
Nana’s pasta currently offers tagliatelle in nine flavors (natural, whole wheat, buckwheat, chili, basil & oregano, spinach, porcini, cuttlefish black, chocolate), while the commercial part consists of macaroni, tarhana, millinci natural and buckwheat, and they also produce Spätzle/ Speckle/.
“Our most popular product is homemade tarhana, which is made the old-fashioned way. It’s a recipe we’ve kept, which takes us back to our childhood with its flavors. What is specific is that we have chocolate-flavored tagliatelle, which are served in salty and sweet varieties. They are not sweet when cooked, they can be served as a savory dish, but also as a dessert option”, this entrepreneur tells us.
Last year they invested in four quick drying machines to satisfy that commercial part.
By the end of this year, they plan to launch another machine that makes stuffed pasta, i.e. ravioli and tortellini.
” I think we will be the only ones on the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina that will make stuffed pasta “, he states and adds that some more flavors and novelties are being prepared, but that their goal is not mass production because the market is oversaturated with such pasta.
IN THE PLAN EXPORT AND EXPANSION OF THE NETWORK
“That’s why we will preserve this unique way of producing, which is why customers keep coming back to us. On the other hand, it is an exceptional honor when you are approved by the heads of large restaurants and kitchens, when they say that it is a very good product, then it is a stimulus to maintain quality. Some of the chefs who approved our products are Dragan Šljivić, Armin Hadžić (who is the chef and co-owner of one of the most prestigious restaurants in the region), then chef Sabahudin who is the head chef at the Malak Regency Hotel) and I must emphasize our Tina who is chef at KASTEL Tavern Teslić, and it’s actually the restaurant that first trusted us” , he proudly points out.
The long-term plan for the continuation of business is primarily the implementation of HACCP and HALAL standards, the expansion of the customer network, as well as the export of products.
Although by profession he is a consultant for HACCAP and Halal certification, he says that he will not do the control for his products, but will leave it to other experts. The goal is certainly export.
“We have a lot of orders from our people from the diaspora and that would be a great satisfaction ,” she pointed out.
As for placement on the market, we work with Tropica and Red Apple, then Penny Centar, Bingo City Centar Sarajevo, Trebinje 1 and 2, and soon they will also be found in Namex markets in Herzegovina.
Although as a young company they face many problems and challenges, they do not give up and fight to continue their successful business.
In the end, their persistence and creativity not only saved them, but also enriched the food culture in our region. This story can serve as motivation for anyone facing challenges, showing that every obstacle can be turned into an opportunity.
SB
Source: akta.ba
