According to Ilias Pliatsikas, general manager of Olympus Dairy Industry, the dairy market was affected by 2012 being a poor agricultural year as it was more difficult to collect milk. This led to an overall lower production of dairy products than in 2011, which was a very good agricultural year. The manager says he expects 2013 to be a better agricultural year than 2012.
The Greek group estimates a turnover of over EUR45 million in 2013, double as much as in the preceding year. 2012 was basically the first full year of functioning for the new dairy plant in Halchiu, with the bulk of production being meant to be exported.
At the end of September 2012, the production facility had 120 employees, according to information provided previously by Olympus, and the general manager says the Romanian plant will hire more than 30 people in 2013.
At present Olympus has five plants in Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, which produce both dairy products and natural juices. The Romanian plant is the Greek group’s biggest investment outside Greece.
The Romanian production facility has a total milk reception capacity of 40,000 l per hour and three production lines: yogurt (120 tons per day), telemea cheese (100 tons per day) and milk (PET: 16,000 l/hour, Tetrapak packaging: 10,500 l/hour). The plant produces milk, cheese, telemea cheese and yogurt and sources the entire amount of milk necessary for production from Romania, with the bulk of products being exported.
Pliatsikas says the company he runs will in the coming period focus on consolidating the two brands it has in Romania: Oly (milk, yogurt, sour cream) and Olympus (telemea cheese, Greek yogurt).
The manager estimates Greek yogurt will reach a 15% market share within the next few years if the market also reaches a certain level of maturity.
The Olympus group entered the Romanian market in 1999 and since then had a milk processing plant in Baraolt, Covasna county. In 2011 the Greek group opened the current plant in Brasov county but closed down the one in Covasna.
Pliatsikas says it is premature to make market share predictions because some products were only launched a few months ago.
The major players on the dairy market, estimated at around EUR1 billion, include both multinationals such as Danone, Hochland and Friesland, and Romanian producers such as Covalact and Albalact.
(English version by Daniela Stoican)