Sugar producer Lemarco, one of the top three sugar producers on the market, will close its plant in Liesti, Galati county, and transfer production to the plant in Urziceni, which it acquired last year from rival Marr Sugar. The plant in Liesti employs over 400 staff. “The plant in Liesti ended production at the end of January, and continues its packaging operations, with production to fully start in late March at the plant in Urziceni, which we acquired last year,” said Dan Popovici, sales manager of Lemarco, a company with over 60 million-euro turnover in 2007. Marr Sugar, based in Urziceni, was until November last year controlled by Russian businessman Marat Safin, son of Ralif Safin, Lukoil founder. Popovici did not reveal the acquisition value of the Marr Sugar plant in Urziceni, but said it was now fully owned by Lemarco shareholders.