CrisTim eyeing 200m euros next year

Bucharest-based CrisTim, one of the leading processed meat producers in Romania, anticipates its turnover to reach some 200 million euros in 2006. “The group”s sales went up by 62% in the first nine months of this year, compared with the same time in 2004 and we estimate a 66% higher turnover for 2005 than last year,” stated Gabriel Alexandru, CrisTim vice-president. He did not care, however, to reveal the sales figures. CrisTim officials early in the year announced that sales had overshot the 100 million euro mark for the first time in 2004. The increase of the business in 2005 has been driven by a 72% increase in the sale of salamis. Sales of specialties, sausages and pates also went up. The growth was moreover based on investments made by CrisTim this year. The 2005 investment budget exceeds 12 million euros, according to company data, 30% more than last year. The money was contributed by the company or secured from loans and SAPARD funds. “The investment budget for 2006 will be at least comparable to this year”s,” Alexandru explained. The investments will allow the company to attain a share of at least 30% of the meat products market by 2010 compared with its present cut of over 18%. ZF