Maspex considers introducing its pasta unit

Maspex group, the Polish-based producer of Tymbark juices, has upwardly revised its sales projections made at the beginning of the year, and now forecasts an over 20% growth in turnover against 2006.
The summer’s high temperatures encouraged the rapid growth of soft drinks consumption, while Tymbark’s new product launches are expected to drive sales to 51 million euros this year.
The company, which has already brought two of its three units on the domestic market (instant products and juices), is also considering the introduction of its pasta unit on the Romanian market.
“We’ve been discussing the introduction of the pasta unit for the last two years. We haven’t made a decision yet, but we could have an answer within two weeks,” stated Krysztof Grabowski, chairman of Tymbark Maspex Romania.
This year, the company introduced several products from Maspex group’s pasta unit in Romania, and entered the cereals segment with Brumi brand.
The Polish firm first entered Romania with its La Festa instant products unit, and launched cappuccino production in a location near Bucharest in 1996. In 2001, the company took over the former canning plant in Valenii de Munte (Prahova county), where it moved cappuccino production and started to manufacture natural juices.
The plant in Valenii de Munte, which attracted cumulated investments worth around 32 million euros from Maspex, is the only unit in the group that manufactures both juices and instant products, while Grabowski believes the location is capable of expanding its production capacities.
For Maspex group, the Romanian market is second after Poland in terms of importance. “We’ll make further investments in the Romanian plant,” stated Grabowski.
According to the company data, the most recent investments in production were related to Tymbark’s entrance onto the segment of PET packaged soft drinks and revolved around 7m euros.
“The segment of still soft drinks is growing at a faster rate in comparison with carbonated soft drinks, but I believe the upward trend will continue at the same rate on both segments. I’m not ruling out the launch of carbonated drinks because they are already present in our international portfolio,” Grabowski added.
During the summer season, the company posted the highest sales increases for still drinks and ice teas. Domestic production was one of the factors that helped the company reach the top position on the cappuccino and instant chocolate segments.
From the outset, the company outsourced its distribution and says it still generates the biggest sales in traditional retail stores.
Last year, the company reached net income worth 4.6m euros, up around 60% year-on-year.
During the same period, sales jumped 16%, to almost 42 million euros.

Maspex in Romania
Has upwardly revised its sales projections for 2007 and now forecasts an over 20% growth in turnover compared with 2006
New product launches could drive sales to 51 million euros this year
Is considering introducing its pasta unit on the Romanian market, after the introduction of instant products and juice units
For Maspex group, the Romanian market is second after Poland in terms of importance