Vincon sales, 30m euros last year

Wine producer Vincon Vrancea in 2005 bottled more than 23 million bottles, mostly of wine. Besides wine, the company also produces brandy and spirits.

Vincon Vrancea, one of the most important wine producers on the domestic market, predicts a turnover growth of 30%, to 130 million RON (35 million euros) for this year. Last year, the company reported turnover worth 104 million RON (30m euros), up 50% compared with 2004.

“Financial results point to profit and market share organic growth,” stated Luchi Georgescu, chairperson of Vincon Vrancea”s Board of Directors.

In 2005, Beciul Domnesc was once again the catalyst behind the growth, for the second year in a row. The Beciul Domnesc brand is aimed at the premium segment of the market, which last year saw 50% growth in terms of volume compared with 2004. One year before, sales of the same brand had risen 180% from 2003.

According to company data, Vincon, which targets the super premium wine market, registered a 1.8% market share increase in terms of value during the August-September 2005 period, through Beciul Domnesc wine. During the same period, Vincon held a 10.2% share of the select wines market and 19% of the table wines market in terms of value.

Vincon in 2005 bottled over 23 million bottles, mostly wine ones.

“For this year, we estimate 20% growth in terms of volume, on the basis of stronger sales of select wine brands and amid the higher sales of table wines, as well,” specified Luchi Georgescu. Vincon this year will invest around 2 million euros to carry out a series of vine re-plantation and re-conversion works and to retool bottling lines and promote brands.

“We will increase the budgets earmarked for brand consolidation,” specified Luchi Georgescu.

Last year, apart from the budgets allotted for vine replanting and vinification line retooling, Vincon also made investments to acquire new vineyards in Podisul Dobrogei and Podisul Moldovei regions.

Vincon Vrancea currently utilises more than 2,150 hectares of vineyards located in several regions: Panciu, Odobesti, Cotesti, Dealu Mare, Podisul Dobrogei, in Chirnogeni Viticulture Centre and in Podisul Moldovei, in the Husi region.

The company sells over 120 products, and the vinification process is done in 20 wine cellars whose total processing and warehousing capacity exceeds 50,000 tonnes/season.

Vincon”s best-known brands on the wine market are, Comoara Pivnitei (collector wines), Beciul Domnesc (the premium segment), Vita Romaneasca Proles Pontica, Cabernet Auslese and Galbena de Odobesti (the medium segment), Muscatel and Golden (table wines).

The value of the wine market last year amounted to around 350 million euros, according to information released by the National Vine and Wine Association.

dana.ciriperu@zf.ro