Top milk product producers expecting 30% more turnover in 2008

The internal milk product market is now worth some €800 million, and main players are Friesland Foods, Albalact Alba Iulia, LaDorna, Danone and Covalact Sfantu Gheorghe.

According to data made available to Business Standard, the largest increase in sales
is expected by producers Zuzu and Fulga, Albalact of Alba Iulia and Delaco Brasov, who have budgeted this to exceed the 2007 figures by 50 percent, due to investments made to expand their production capacities.

Albalact is forecasting a turnover of some €72 mln in 2008, following the opening of a new milk factory in Oiejdea, Alba County. “We are expecting a 50 percent increase in turnover compared to 2007, when we estimated sales at €46-48 million, as a result of the opening of the new factory,” according to a declaration to Business Standard by the President of Albalact, Raul Ciurtin. Albalact’s President added that the new factory will operate at full capacity, with all production lines functional this month.

The second producer forecasting an increase in turnover next year is Delaco Brasov, which is expecting some €60 mln in net sales, following investments in processing, logistics and marketing. “If the milk product market has a 20 percent rate of growth, Delaco wants growth of no less than 50 percent in 2008,” according to the Delaco’s General Manager and majority shareholder, Tudor Comaniciu. Delaco’s turnover this year is estimated at €40 mln, double year-on-year, said Comaniciu.