Its business has shrunk a lot in the past decade from the heyday of 2010-2011 when it was the largest apparel manufacturer in Romania and one of the leading exporters, with RON600 million revenue and 200 employees.
The figures therefore indicate the Italian group is dropping local production. Neither the officials of the plants nor those of the parent company Olimpias returned ZF’s calls for comment on their local operations.
Olimpias Mfg. Romania was manufacturing exclusively for the Benetton group brands, which include United Colors of Benetton and Sisley.
The only available information about Benetton and Benrom comes from the Finance Ministry.
Some of the largest textile, apparel and footwear plants in Romania have closed in the past few years, such as Rieker (shoes), Aries Textile – Calzedonia (lingerie), ara shoes (one of its footwear plants) and Alison Hayes (the apparel plant in Urziceni).
Those who decided to close local manufacturing operations cited wage raises and extremely difficult labor market as their reasons to do so.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)