Puratos makes profit from bakery ingredients

Puratos, the domestic branch of the Belgian group of the same name, which operates in the industry of ingredients for bakery and patisserie, last year registered turnover worth 55.4 million RON (15.3 million euros), up 35% in RON from 2004. The company”s income was flat in RON, around the value of 4.1 million RON (1.13 million euros).

“The income we derived last year will be reinvested together with other additional funds in a new production facility and an administrative building,” stated Alain Hottlet, general manager of Puratos Romania.

For a more efficient integration of all the company”s departments, Puratos will invest in a new plant, located in the northern part of Bucharest, with all production, as well as administrative activities to be transferred there.

Offices will take up 1,200 square metres, while the plant will have around 4,000 square metres.

Investments targeting an increase in production capacities will also support the company”s export activities. For the time being, the company exports only to the Republic of Moldova, although Puratos has targeted Serbia and Bulgaria as other possible outlets.

“The market of bakery and patisserie ingredients is witnessing rapid growth, and we already have the experience of other international markets,” says Hottlet.

Having entered the domestic market with production activities in March 2006, the company currently has more than 2,000 direct customers and another 4,000 indirect ones, redistributing products locally.

Puratos sells 150 products in Romania, included in the category of ingredients for bakeries, patisseries and chocolate makers. In 2004, the company registered turnover worth 10.4 million euros.

The company in 2004 acquired the bakery ingredients unit of its main distributor, Overseas.

Puratos Romania is the domestic branch of Belgium”s Puratos group, with an 80-year record in the bakery and patisserie ingredients industry. With 4,500 employees worldwide and 59 plants in 41 countries, the group derives annual turnover worth almost 800 million euros.

The Romanian bakery ingredients market is estimated at 20 million euros per year. The main rivals of Puratos on the domestic market are Zeelandia and Rompak. dana.ciriperu@zf.ro