Unilever South-Central Europe (USCE), the consumer goods company producing Rama margarine, Dero detergents and Knorr sauces, is transferring all its businesses to Ploiesti.
Thus, the margarine production lines in Targu-Mures, as well as the Otopeni-based sauce and spice lines will be relocated to Ploiesti, where the detergents are already manufactured.
The company plans to sell its industrial assets and the related land in Targu-Mures and Otopeni (Ilfov).
USCE has its biggest production line (detergents), as well as its distribution centre operating in Ploiesti. The company owns the plot of land the new production facility will be erected on.
“The decision to consolidate the entire production of Romania in a single location shows the company”s determinedness to further develop on the markets it already operates in. This move will help us be more efficient in terms of production and distribution. Our plan is to boost the Romanian business, as a base of our development in the region,” said Alexandra Gatej, USCE chairperson.
In its plants of Targu-Mures and Otopeni, Unilever manufactures margarine (Rama and Delma), as well as culinary products and sauces (Knorr). The transfer of the two production facilities will be finalised by the end of this November. Investments in the new plant of Ploiesti stand at three million euros.
“We will assess the value of the assets of Targu-Mures and Otopeni, so as to subsequently start seeking buyers,” specified the company”s officials.
According to them, the company”s number of employees will remain unchanged after the relocation of the two plants.
Unilever has 650 employees in Romania, of whom about 350 work at the detergents plant of Ploiesti, 70 in Targu-Mures and 60 in Otopeni. Relocation will have no impact at the level of the company”s local management, the company”s representatives also say. “The move to relocate production is not linked to a boost in short-term profitability, but lays the groundwork for the development of a durable business,” Alexandra Gatej also said. “This relocation creates a single production centre in Romania, located in Ploiesti. This centre is due to cover our entire production for Romania,” added Gatej.
According to Unilever, the company”s employees working in the two cities have the possibility of choosing a job in the new plant. In case employees are unable to relocate, the company has prepared a package of compensation. Unilever SCE is one of the biggest producers of consumer goods in Romania. So far, Unilever has invested more than 90 million euros in Romania. Besides Romania, USCE also operates in, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova and Serbia and Montenegro. The company”s turnover amounted to 139 million euros in 2004, with around 95 million euros derived from Romania.
Unilever in Romania
@ Manufactures Rama margarine, Dero detergents and Knorr sauces
@ Will relocate all its businesses in Romania to Ploiesti
@ Wants to expand its business in Romania to create a base for further development in the region
@ Investments in the new plant, due to amount to three million euros
@ Has 650 employees at the moment
@ Operates on 18 different sectors of the consumer goods market