Agricola International Bacau has 20 million euros worth of business

Agricola International Bacau, Romanian agro-food market leader, posted net sales worth RON 68 million (€20.6 million) in the first four months of 2007, signaling a 10 percent increase from last year’s same period, mainly due to poultry and processed meat products. 

Agricola sells some 1,500 tons of chicken per month, of which approximately half is refrigerated meats, whose ratio is expected to rise to 80 percent in the spring of 2008, following the modernization of the slaughter house, said for Business Standard Gheorghe Antochi, President of Agricola Group.

The poultry products market (chicken, eggs and processed meat products) rose to €700 million in 2006, and estimates for this year amount to some €1 billion, according to the Poultry Breeders Union in Romania (UCPR).
Antochi said that competition from imports was considerable, but below expectations, and once restrictions were dropped on exports by Romanian producers, deliveries to foreign market resumed. 

The company is investing €20 million in the 2005-2007 period to modernize production units, to increase slaughter house capacities for pork and beef, and develop animal breeding units.

Agricola recently announced it has taken steps  to form a joint venture with French group Evialis, which will handle the production of animal feed and ensure biosecurity services. Agricola estimates an increase in net sales of approximately 10 percent, to reach €80 million. The entire group forecasts €100 million in net sales.

Agricola Bacau’s main competitors are Transavia Alba Iulia, Agrisol International and Avicola Calarasi. The annual poultry consumption in Romania is about 24 kilograms per capita, compared to 30 kg in the EU.