Kandia brings Romanian manager on board to compete with chocolate giants

Chocolate producer Kandia, one of the best-known Romanian brands, has a new general manager – Mihuț Crăciun, Red Bull’s first head of local operations. Last summer, Crăciun’s six-year mandate at the helm of Red Bull’s operations in Romania was over, after which the manager entered talks with several companies over a new managing position. During the same period, Kandia returned to the portfolio of Austrian family Meinl after it had been sold in 2007 to British group Cadbury. As Cadbury was taken over in an international transaction by American group Kraft, in Romania the group was forced to sell certain operations. Thus, Kandia was returned to the Meinl family.
“I became general manager of Kandia as of January 1st. Ever since my departure from Red Bull I had talks with several companies, but decided to come to Kandia because it is an interesting business that can see significant development in the future,” Crăciun said. The current head of Kandia becomes the first Romanian manager in the sector, with the company’s all major competitors present in Romania being run by foreigners.