“The new factory will employ some 1,000 workers, producing Campofrio cold meats, as well as processed and frozen foods and pizza, and ready-made lunches,” according to a statement yesterday by Ovidiu Wencz, General Manager of Tabco Campofrio Romania, subsidiary of international company Campofrio Alimentacion. As concerns a possible acquisition, Wencz confirmed there had been negotiations with several Romanian companies, such as Cris-Tim, but that nothing materialized. If the time is right, if the offer “makes sense in the context,” Campofrio is interested in collaborating with other players on the market if the offer and “timing make sense”.
Campofrio has been operating in Romania since 1998, when it acquired Tulcea meat processor Tabco. With a 2006 turnover of €34.28 million, up 10 percent from 2005, and profits of €4.28 million, Campofrio registered a six percent increase in sales volume and 10 percent in sales value in the first nine months of 2007, according to the company’s General Manager.
Annually some 230,000 tons of domestic cold meats are produced, and their market value (delivery prices) are some €1 billion, according to data provided by producer associations. Campofrio’s main competitors are Cris-Tim, Aldis Calarasi, and Angst. The company has a seven percent packaged product market share, not including the bulk sale market.
Estimated annual pork consumption for 2006 in EU 25 was 43.2 kg per capita, while in Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Bosnia and former Yugoslavia, consumption is 33.1 kg per capita, compared to Russia’s 18.1 kg.
