Local Production as a Driver of Community Development: The Story of the Social Enterprise FrontMed
FrontMed is an example of how a small initiative can grow into an enterprise with significant social impact.Founded in 2017 in the village of Shepetivka in the Khmelnytskyi region, it began as a cooperative supporting ATO veterans and their families. The team learned the basics of entrepreneurship and beekeeping, and with the support of international partners, they laid a strong foundation for future growth. Over time, the cooperative evolved into a fully-fledged enterprise, undergoing difficult transformations. Some team members were mobilized, others went abroad, and the business came close to shutting down. That’s when Serhiy and Olena — a couple with volunteer experience — joined the team and helped breathe new life into the project.
Today, FrontMed produces natural goods: honey, nuts in honey, fruit leather, fruit chips, tea, beeswax candles, and gift sets, including for corporate clients. The team participated in the Social Entrepreneurship School organized by the Platform for Social Change. The training helped them improve operations, safeguard their project, and secure funding for equipment to launch a new product line — granola production. After the training, they also established a new partnership with a berry producer to supply raw materials for the fruit leather.
The heart of the enterprise is its team. Among the employees are military families and internally displaced persons. The business works with the local employment center, helps new staff integrate, and involves them in volunteering. Its products are now known far beyond the local community — gift sets are even sent abroad. The team places special emphasis on healthy eating and lifestyle, promoting responsible consumption.
In addition, FrontMed has become a platform for supporting local businesses. It helps other small producers promote their products through its own channels, offering additional opportunities for growth and visibility. In challenging times, when every local producer needs support, the FrontMed team proves that the best source of support is each other — those who live and work side by side. By lending each other a hand, entrepreneurs not only create products but also lay the foundation for sustainable growth of the entire community and local economy.
The story of FrontMed is proof that local businesses can combine economic sustainability with social responsibility.By creating opportunities for others and helping communities adapt and grow, entrepreneurs show every day that even in the most difficult times, change is possible — if we stand together.
