Advertising boosts Walmark's revenues by 40%

The Romanian branch of Czech pharmaceutical company Walmark expects to conclude the year with turnover up by more than 40%, coming mainly as the result of aggressive advertising campaigns. Walmark forecasts 2004 sales of 5 million euros, coming after a 3.4 million-euro turnover in 2003. “The main reason for the increase in revenues was the promotional campaign we carried out in 2004 and on which we spent about 1 million euros (net). Next year’s advertising budget will probably exceed this year’s,” explained Horia Valcu, Walmark Romania’s general manager. Another reason for the improvement in the company’s results was the broadening of the product portfolio, which now includes 70 brands. Walmark expects growth to maintain the same level next year, said Valcu. The Czech company recently announced the sale of its beverages division to Polish company Maspex to enable it to concentrate solely on the production of pharmaceuticals. Initially, Walmark made only nutritional supplements and vitamins. This year, however, it introduced two new OTCs (prescription drugs) that will also be launched in Romania. ZF