An uncertain January, when the effects of the crisis were not very visible in the sales sector, was followed by a poor February and an even worse March, said Sorin Minea, Chairman of Romalimenta, the Romanian Food Industry Federation.
Minea said that sales are expected to rebound during the Easter holidays. The value of the Romanian cold meats market exceeds €1 billion, and main players are Cris-Tim, Caroli, Campofrio, Aldis, and Angst.
Ioan Dirzu, Chairman of the Romanian Employers Association in the Milk Industry (APRIL), said he hopes that milk consumption will rise 10 percent this year, compared to a 17 percent increase in 2008. “The market will continue to slide in the near future, because individual producers are entering the market with lower prices,” said Ioan Balan, former majority shareholder of the Covalact company.
The local subsidiary of the Danone group, the main player on the domestic dairy market, expects a 10-15 percent increase in net sales, from the €130 million turnover posted in 2008. This growth pace is below that registered by the company in 2008 but above that of the market, forecast at 10 percent.
The officials of producers said that prices will not rise this year, considering the depreciation of the leu against the euro. The value of the local dairy market is estimated at €1 bln, and its main players are Danone, Friesland, Lactalis, Tnuva, Albalact, Covalact, and Muller.
