Olympus retained its fourth position in the ranking of Romania’s largest dairy producers, after Danone, Albalact and FrieslandCampina.
“For this year’s increase, we are counting on all product segments. After we hit EUR70 million, I believe we will have 10% revenue growth each year,” said the manager who runs the largest dairy exporter.
In 2011, Greek group Olympus built a dairy plant in Halchiu, Brasov county, and since then the producer has seen its revenue advance by over 40% each year. Last year, Fabrica de Lapte Brasov reached revenue of around EUR55 million.
Growth was mainly generated by exports, with the company now sending 75% of its Halchiu production abroad. The plant has 180 employees and the total number of people employed at Fabrica de Lapte Brasov stands at 250.
The plant has three production lines, for milk, yoghurt and cheese. Overall, the plant’s capacity amounts to 280,000 tons of finite products per annum.
The company’s brands, such as Olympus, Oly and Familia Brasoveanu are 99% sold in modern retail.
“Modern retail is rising, while traditional retail is unfortunately dwindling gradually. Traditional retail means small orders and we do not want to come to deliver our products once every 15 days”.
By comparison, in large stores products are delivered once or twice a week, but also daily. Olympus dairy products can be found in all large store chains, except Penny Market. “We will enter Penny Market as well”.
As regards Familia Brasoveanu brand, launched early this year and destined to the Brasov area for the time being, the manager hopes it will also be launched in Bucharest this year.
Ilias Pliatsikas believes that a higher salary level in Romania would boost consumption, without this being a decisive criterion. At the same time, lower VAT for milk would spur consumption in Romania as well.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)