Romaqua spends 10m euros to double soft drinks production

Romaqua, producer of Borsec mineral water, is focusing on the segment of soft drinks, after having doubled mineral water bottling capacities in the wake of a 10m-euro investment.
“Next year, we will invest in boosting the soft drink production capacity of Busteni plant since the existing line is unable to cope with domestic and foreign demand,” stated Adrian Teslovan, marketing manager with Romaqua group.
According to the investment plan, the company targets a 2.5 bigger soft drink bottling capacity compared with the current one.
Romaqua exports soft drinks to Greece, Italy and Spain, with the number of export markets could increase starting next year.
“We’ve got demand from other countries, too, but we cannot meet it with the current bottling capacity at Busteni,” Teslovan added.
The new production line is scheduled to start operating next spring. Romania’s EU integration will make the products Romaqua exports to member states more competitive, as well as bring new challenges, says the producer. According to company data, Romaqua accounts for around 25% of Romania’s mineral water market, with the company targeting a stronger position this year.
On the medium term, the group plans to operate bigger investments, progressively targeting the three market segments it operates on. “In five years, we will double the current capacity on the mineral water segment, will increase soft drinks capacity fourfold and double coffee processing capacities,” Teslovan also mentioned.
The group finalised investments worth around 10m euros aimed at the mineral water segment several months ago, in the wake of which the bottling unit of Borsec reached a delivery capacity of 45 trucks per day, from 25 trucks per day.
Part of investments went to the construction of a new plant in Stanceni, where the second water source the company exploits is. The production capacity for Borsec and Stanceni mineral waters practically doubled this year, with the company’s representatives projecting a mineral water production volume of around 290 million litres.
Mineral water weighs 66% in the group’s turnover, with soft drinks accounting for 30% and coffee for 4%. Romaqua’s portfolio includes Borsec and Stanceni mineral waters, Giusto, Brifcor, Quick Cola soft drinks and Metropolitan coffee.
The group generated 48m-euro (175m-RON) turnover in 2005, up 70% year-on-year.