“We started from scratch, two people that were processors, packagers, sales agents, drivers and cashiers at the same time and an idea: that of succeeding through work and their own forces,” recounts Catalin Alexandrescu, general manager of the company.
Dan Alexandrescu runs the company from the position of chief executive officer, while the third brother, Valentin Alexandrescu, is the company’s marketing officer.
Alex&Comp’s portfolio includes products such as spices, egg paint, food bases, as well as sweets under Alex and Mama mia brands.
At present, the company has a production unit in Vanatori locality, Galati county, around 300 employees, a 160-car fleet and warehouses on a 12,000-sqm area, according to information provided by the company’s officials.
Last year, the company–which is equally held by Dan and Catalin Alexandrescu–generated revenue of around 68 million lei (EUR15.3 million).
Each year, the company invests several hundred thousand euros in development. In 2013, it had an investment budget of around RON1.7 million (some EUR380,000), while for 2014 the company plans to invest RON2.4 million (EUR540,000).
“I can say that without optimism, all this would not have been possible as the company has succeeded on a market strongly dominated by multinationals,” says the entrepreneur.
Companies such as Fuchs Condimente, the Romanian subsidiary of Europe’s largest spice supplier, as well as Supremia of Alba or Germany’s Dr. Oetker, holding a production unit in Arges county, operate on this market. However, most companies operating on the Romanian market focus on the food ingredient segment, and not on retail.
In 2013, Alex&Comp’s exports reached some RON6 million (almost EUR1.4 million), or 9% of revenue, but the company’s officials did not specify the countries the company’s products reach. For this year, Alex&Comp budgeted rising exports, to RON8.4 million.
While the crisis hurt most industries in Romania and tens of thousand people were laid off, Alex&Comp reported rising revenue each year after 2008, except 2013.
While in 2008 the company generated EUR7.2 million in revenue, this year it targets EUR16 million, according to company information.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)