U-Food Association

What U-Food Association does

U-Food Association (legally ГС "Ю-Фуд", a Ukrainian public union / non-profit) is a sector association that supports Ukrainian food manufacturers in entering international markets. Founded informally in 2014 and formally launched as the Council for Food Export Issues in 2016 before being restructured and revived in a new format in 2022, the association provides full export cycle support — from market selection and regulatory navigation through to product placement on foreign retail shelves — and operates with a 23-person team headquartered in Kyiv.

Its core offering is a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core association delivers consulting, B2B matchmaking, and trade-mission services. Built around it are several specialized sub-brands: the Ukrainian Food Platform (UFP), a multilingual B2B marketplace available in English, Arabic, and Chinese with 3D product presentation; the Outsourcing Center, which intermediates 400+ verified engineers, technologists, and specialists; U-Food 2Chains, which coordinates food enterprises into production clusters for joint procurement and export; Ukrainian Craft, a community and legalization initiative for small and micro craft producers; Private Label consulting; Green Corridor, an export logistics and bureaucracy-reduction initiative; UFExpo, the annual international trade fair; and an Analytical and Project Center for agri-food economics supporting policy input.

Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed but combine (1) membership fees from ~96 association participants (2022 format) plus ~120 platform companies, (2) professional services revenue from the Outsourcing Center and consulting streams, and (3) programmatic grant funding from international donors, notably USAID AGRO and prior FAO/EBRD projects. The go-to-market is event-driven: collective national stands at flagship exhibitions (BIOFACH, Gulfood, SIAL Paris, Anuga, Fruit Logistica, Grüne Woche), organized trade missions to 35+ countries, the annual UFExpo, and an active digital presence via the Ukrainian Food Platform, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Telegram. Through 10+ years of operation, the association has facilitated 803 signed supply agreements and built a contact network of 2,000+ international importers, with 583 B2B meetings conducted at Anuga 2025 alone.

Name

U-Food Association

Legal name

ГС "Ю-Фуд"

Website

https://u-food.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

U-Food Association is a Ukrainian non-profit sector association that helps domestic food manufacturers enter international markets through B2B matchmaking, trade-mission organization, consulting, and a multilingual B2B marketplace serving roughly 96 member companies and 2,000+ foreign importers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Export Trade Association Services

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Ethnic & International Online Food Marketplaces (AFAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Food export services
• B2B food marketplace
• Trade mission facilitation
• Food industry association
• Export consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyiv

HQ country

Ukraine

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Association Membership: Fees from Ukrainian food manufacturers joining the association for access to export support services, B2B contacts, knowledge base, and international event participation.
2. Outsourcing Center Services: Food enterprises engage specialists (engineers, technologists) on-demand from a pool of 400+ verified professionals without maintaining permanent staff.
3. Consulting Services: Advisory services for export procedures, market entry, Private Label development, and regulatory compliance for food producers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

U-Food Association is a non-profit industry association that supports Ukrainian food manufacturers in entering international markets. It provides export consulting, buyer matchmaking, trade missions, and trade shows (UFExpo), while operating the multilingual B2B Ukrainian Food Platform marketplace and offering specialist outsourcing services across the export cycle. Its membership-based model connects a curated network of 2,000+ international importers with verified Ukrainian food producers.

Product overview

U-Food Association operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture, offering core export support services through the main U-Food Association entity, complemented by specialized modules including the multilingual Ukrainian Food Platform (B2B marketplace), U-Food 2Chains (value chain clustering), Ukrainian Craft (craft producer support), Outsourcing Center (specialist staffing), Private Label (branding support), Green Corridor (export logistics), UFExpo (trade exhibitions), Analytical Center (market research), and Knowledge Base (educational resources). The association's mission is creating and maintaining infrastructure for competitive food producer activity in external and internal markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ukrainian Food Platform (UFP): Multi-language B2B marketplace for Ukrainian food products, available in English, Arabic, and Chinese, enabling direct contact between Ukrainian producers and international buyers with 24/7 access.
• Ukrainian Craft
• U-Food 2Chains
• Green Corridor
• UFExpo
• Private Label
• U-Food Outsourcing Center

Products and services

• U-Food Association Membership

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Visionest InstituteminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Collaborative study tour to Tallinn enterprises as part of U-Food's training and capacity building programs for Ukrainian food producers.
• DHL Express UkrainecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017U-Food Association signed a memorandum of cooperation with DHL Express Ukraine providing members with 25% discount on logistics services. DHL became official partner for all international U-Food events including trade missions to Poland, Vietnam, Indonesia, and others.
• Halal Global UkraineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Certification center partnership providing halal certification guidance for Ukrainian producers seeking to export to Arab and Muslim markets.
• FAO and EBRDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015FAO/EBRD project 'Ukraine: capacity building of agribusiness associations' supported development of meat and dairy export capabilities for 22+ Ukrainian companies. Joint initiatives included trade missions to Thailand, UAE, Angola, Ghana, Vietnam, and publication of export directories.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Tridge: Global B2B food and agriculture marketplace connecting buyers and suppliers with trade intelligence — comparable as a technology-enabled food export marketplace, though operated as a venture-backed commercial platform rather than a non-profit.

Direct peers

• Federation of Hellenic Food Industries (SEVT): Greek food industry federation representing manufacturers and providing export support, policy advocacy, and member services — comparable as a national food industry association with export-promotion mandate similar to U-Food.
• Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA): International trade association dedicated to private label products, organizing the major PLMA international trade shows — directly comparable given U-Food's Private Label consulting line and its track record of Ukrainian pavilions at PLMA Amsterdam.
• Food Industry Asia (FIA): Regional trade association representing food manufacturers in Asia, providing advocacy, networking, and international market access support — comparable as a regional food industry association serving a distinct geographic producer base.
• FoodDrinkEurope (formerly CIAA): Federation of the European food and drink industry, providing export guidance, regulatory engagement, and trade show coordination for European food manufacturers — structurally analogous to U-Food's export-promotion and standards role.
• Food & Drink Federation (FDF): UK national trade association representing food and drink manufacturers, providing export support, policy advocacy, and member services — directly comparable in mandate and structure to U-Food's role for Ukrainian food producers.
• Food Export Association of the Midwest USA: US non-profit that helps US food producers enter international markets through trade missions, buyer matchmaking, and market research — the closest functional analogue to U-Food's export facilitation model.

Others

• FAO Agribusiness Associations Programme: UN Food and Agriculture Organization's capacity-building program for agribusiness associations — directly comparable as a partner and conceptual analogue, having co-developed U-Food's meat and dairy export programs since 2015.
• Comexposium (SIAL Network): Global exhibition organizer operating SIAL, one of the world's largest food trade fairs — comparable as a key counterpart enabling U-Food's trade show go-to-market motion, though operating as a commercial entity rather than association.

Regional players

• Ukrainian Agri Council: Ukrainian agricultural sector association representing producers' interests domestically and abroad — comparable as a Ukrainian-based agri-food industry body, though focused more on agricultural inputs and policy than processed food exports.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@u-foodassociation3614/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/Ukrainianfoodassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/u-food-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about U-Food Association