It must have been some time in 2022 or 2023 that the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) concluded its search for a field ration supplier. We tried to find news about this selection process but didn’t come up with much! The aftermath of the decision, however, was quite a bit easier to find!
So, looking at a 2021 video comparing Estonian field rations with Allies, we can see what older rations were comprised of. It appears that many components were canned, commercial, off-the-shelf products, which would add a little bit of extra weight and bulk. We can also see some packages coming from a Dutch company by the name of Adventure Food – which comes up in an unexpected way a little later on in the timeline.
It would appear that the revised rations were introduced in early 2023, with the military deciding to drop Adventure Food. Estonia’s National Defence Investment Centre had procured a new type of food package for the Estonian Defence Forces, and, instead of the previous 24-hour food package, it was now possible to assemble food packages from two to three separate meal packages. It was stated that there were a total of 28 different new food packages.
We don’t have any information on the procurement or bidding process of these new rations, but we know that the company Kommivabrik was selected as a key supplier. Kommivabrik would supply its military rations under the brand Food Force – a brand that appears to be publicly/commercially available today.
We also know that the runner up in this process was a company by the name of 365JP.
Just a few months after the roll-out of the Kommivabrik rations, 365JP alleged that the packs being given to EDF members did not meet the clearly specified requirements. However, the Estonian Center for Defense Investment said that the terms of the tender had not been violated.
ERR reported that packages were contractually obligated to contain between 1,200 and 1,600 kilocalories per meal. However, 365JP, said that, after opening a total of 28 EDF food packages, it was discovered that some of the required food items were missing. The 2nd-place winner added that the food being served to EDF members contained fewer calories than required.
“The breakfasts are missing the chewing gum. The chewing gum is compulsory, along with a snack. Two components are missing from the pack,” said a member of 365JP’s board. This individual added:
“We didn’t even have to open the packages. The packet contains less calories than actually required. And when we added up the individual components of the packet, they still did not correspond to what is written on the packet at the moment,”
The Estonian Defence Investment Center stuck by its decision and a spokesperson stated:
“If we find any shortcomings there, we will penalize any potential breaches (of the tender) by the supplying partner. However, as a matter of principle, the labels have to match, and we ourselves are confirming today that the labels do match the contents,”
So that controversy started in June 2023. And you might have thought it was just a case of ‘sour grapes’ from the runner up who didn’t win the contract. It’s something that does indeed happen from time to time with the contract/tender process – which was what actually killed Latvia’s decision to acquire the Finnish Sisu GTP 4×4.
Getting back to the Estonian rations, by August, things were looking even worse for Kommivabrik. That month, the Center for Defense Investment decided to terminate the €17 million contract to supply food packages due to issues with their quality. It was reported that, out of the 1.7 million food packs made by Kommivabrik nearly 400,000 were defective.
The Center for Defense Investment had been in talks with Kommivabrik for some time, and had tried several times to rectify the problems. It was stated that the food packages delivered by Kommivabrik had significant deficiencies in relation to the packaging, labels and product quality. The taste of the food was also deemed to be below standard, something that ERR says was confirmed by tests.
It appears that the decisive factor was that, inside some of the packages, liquid or food crumbs had leaked out, covering the contents.
Remember when we mentioned Adventure Food? Well, their social media person was quick to react publicly to this news. They shared this contract cancellation news on their Facebook page with the caption: “After 8 years of Adventure Food, without a single complaint, the Estonian army decided to switch to another supplier. Did they think they would get the same quality? Welcome back!”
Now, the only reason we’re reporting on this ration news now is that ERR reported on May 25th that there had been positive feedback regarding the newest rations – rations that have been provided by 365JP! Now, we wish we had visuals of these newest food packs but we searched everywhere and couldn’t find anything. Strangely enough, 365JP’s website is only filled with workout supplements and protein power.
Anyways, the first paragraph of the ERR article stated:
“The new Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) ration packs, while still with their defects, are more varied, tastier and better quality than the previous standard-issue pack, some soldiers have reported.”
The catering service project manager at the Center for Defense Investments said:
“Indeed, taste is something very close to people’s hearts. But we also have to consider shelf life. We can’t use products that last only a year, or a year and a half. The current pack’s shelf life is three and a half years, which is quite a good outcome. Price also plays a big role in assembling the packs. And in recent years, we have also been paying attention to special dietary needs. We now have lactose-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian options.”
EDF conscripts surveyed by ERR said that they found the new packs a step up from their predecessors. One conscript said: “Previously the taste wasn’t very pleasant. But now I even prefer the dry ration pack even over the food I brought along myself.”
Another conscript stated: “Compared with the previous ones, these are much better: More filling, tastier, and there are more interesting things inside the food packs.”
Soldiers added that they wished that portions were larger and that they seemed to lack savory food. One person added: “Right now there are more pasta dishes, but there could be more potato-type meals, like mashed potatoes with minced meat sauce, or something like that.”
One downside with these new ones, a conscript stated, is that there’s no salt or sugar included. For example, if you make coffee, you can’t make it any sweeter, if you prefer it that way. The ERR piece notes that chocolate porridge seemed to be a new favorite while chili con carne, pork meatballs with pasta, or pasta carbonara were mentioned as popular savory meals. Chocolate cake and cinnamon cake were mentioned to be popular snacks.
Again, wish we could have provided you a glimpse of these newest meals but… well, perhaps that will be for another video or article!
References/Sources:
https://news.err.ee/1609019897/new-edf-food-packages-criticized-by-company-that-missed-out-on-tender
https://news.err.ee/1609092263/state-cancels-17-million-contract-with-edf-ration-pack-manufacturer
https://news.err.ee/1609020608/rkik-to-swap-low-calory-foods-for-more-nutrition-in-edf-food-packages
https://news.err.ee/1609704309/estonian-conscripts-impressed-with-new-field-ration-packs
