“Pambac started 2010 with no medium and long-term debt, with its operations, structure and product portfolio restructured, and a focus on keeping and expanding market shares,” explains Alin Giurea, Pambac chairman and general manager.
Over the past three years, the company has paid its loans, which allows Pambac to once again consider boosting turnover and even acquisitions.
“We’re further interested in growing through acquisitions, but we’re not ruling out organic growth either, as projects delayed with the start of the economic crisis can be resumed any time,” Giurea added.
In the first five months of this year, Pambac saw a 22% turnover advance from a year ago, above initial estimates, so that sales force and logistics investments are again a priority for the Bacau-based producer.
The Romanian entrepreneur hopes growth will be brought by pasta this year, with Romanian consumption lagging behind Western Europe’s.
As for the expansion of its own retail network, Pambac does not plan to operate major changes this year. Giurea says the company does not intend to open another store besides the 14 units it currently owns in Bacau, as it is waiting to see the outcome of another retail project is has underway.
“In 2010, we launched a project through which we planned to acquire and fit out as many as 300 kiosks selling bakery products. We’re assessing the results in the first five kiosks.”