17 September 2020 Progresiv Magazine
The producer Albalact observed an increase above 8% in 2019, according to the data published by the Ministry of Public Finance. Their revenues reached close to lei 673 million, and the net profit amounted to lei 20.5 million.
“Albalact’s evolution in 2019 was in line with our forecasts and expectations, the company observing a very good growth pace, considering that Albalact has been the leader of the dairy industry for five years already, but also the market that rather stagnated. This growth was supported by the diversification of our portfolio – an important pillar of Albalact’s development strategy for a number of years”, declared for Progresiv Giampaolo Manzonetto, the General Manager of Lactalis Romania Group.
According to him, they bet on customized and added-value products, as well as on benefits to diversify their portfolio, and thus managed to reach out to new market segments and categories.
“One of the benefits of Albalact being under the umbrella of the Lactalis Group is the possibility to activate synergies that allowed the brand’s portfolio to diversify tapping also on the resources of the factories operated by the French group in the region. This way, we brought to the Romanian market innovative products for the Romanian consumers, particularly in the dessert category. As to the customized products, in 2019, we followed two important trends of the dairy category – lowering the sugar content of the dairy products, and pioneering a new market segment – dairy rich in proteins”, adds the General Manager.
Also last year, the producer kicked off their export development plans and launched Zuzu on the market of the Republic of Moldova, through the subsidiary Lactalis Moldova. As for 2020, the beginning of the year was a good one for the company.
“Albalact observed strong sales figures in the beginning of the year, with an unexpected intensification during the state of emergency, when orders simply boosted, and the company worked at full capacity. When the stocks were depleting and the shelves were emptying, we shipped twice more than what we would have normally shipped in that period, and this because we are part of a strategic industry. Overall, across all categories, during the state of emergency we observed a more than 25% increase in orders vs the same period of last year”, claims Giampaolo Manzonetto.
In Romania, Lactalis Group controls the companies Albalact, Covalact, Dorna Lactate, Rarăul, Lactate Harghita, Lactalis Romania, Parmalat Romania and Lactalis Logistic, and gathers together more than 2,300 employees, 7 Romanian brands (LaDorna, Albalact, Covalact, Zuzu, Fulga, Rarăul, Poiana Flowers) – including regional brands (such as Friss, sold in the counties of Harghita and Covasna) – and international brands (President, Galbani, Santal).
The Romanian companies controlled by Lactalis Group sell more than 200,000 tons of finished products every year, and, cumulatively, have a turnover of almost 250 million euros (dairy products and juices).
The production activities of these companies are accommodated by seven factories, the largest of which are the Albalact factory of Oiejdea (Alba County), the Covalact factory of Sf. Gheorghe (Covasna County), and the Rarăul factory of Câmpulung Moldovenesc (Suceava County).
https://revistaprogresiv.ro/stiri/afaceri-crestere-pentru-albalact-2019