Plant Unita Ltd. in Bílá Voda close to Javorník where communion wafers are produced has recently widened its range of goods. Newly Bílá Voda will supply places of pilgrimage and spa centres with traditional round wafers with various flavours but also with three-corned wafers (triangles) with chocolate or peanut flavour. Thanks to new machines for wafers baking the production will be multiply larger which will bring new job vacancies. New premises and machines were blessed by the bishop of Ostrava-Opava diocese František Václav Lobkowicz on Wednesday 11^th May. The development of company which is in property of Diocesan Caritas Ostrava-Opava was enabled by grant received from Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations (Ministry of Industry and Trade).

Expansion of production of Unita plant lies in extension of existing building, its connection with another building and purchase of 6 new machines. The construction works were calculated to 2 million CZK and the value of new machines is 4,5 million CZK. Unita received a grant of 2,6 million CZK for this investment within Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations (MIT).”From the investment we expect especially twice larger production of wafers and widening of current offer of goods. Thanks to new larger storage space also the manipulation during production will be improved and consequently the production will become more efficient” the company executive Milan Uhlíř describes the future views. “Expansion of production brings also positive effect in creation of new job vacancies. This year it will be 3 permanent and 6 seasonal vacancies and next year it will be once as many. Taking into account the location, work opportunities and high unemployment in this region we are speaking about considerable numbers. We also obtained the trademark ‘original product of JESENÍKY’ that should support selling of our products. And because our customers are not only from the Czech Republic but also from abroad it will support also promotion of our region.” Mr. Uhlíř concludes.

History

The manufacture for production of communion wafers was established in middle 80’s. Those times nuns that were involuntarily displaced there by communist regime were working there. Until 1994 Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul operated the plant then Premonstratensian nuns replaced them until 2001 when they returned back to Slovakia. Since then ordinary employees work there and the operation is ensured by Diocesan Caritas Ostrava-Opava.