Dutch dairy maker merges all operations in Romania

Dutch dairy maker FrieslandCampina will bring together the operations it runs in Romania in one company. Starting 2007, the company has given up five factories it owned in Romania and which were considered inefficient. The producer currently has only two local plants, in Baciu, Cluj county and Targu-Mures, Mures county, where it produces fresh milk, yoghurt, buttermilk, and cheese. The number of employees has dropped by 248 in the first six months of the year, compared to December 31, 2014. At the same time, the volume and market share of the Napolact brand, which is part of FrieslandCampina, rose, reports local Profit.ro. The company has announced that it would continue to focus on the Napolact brand. Napolact posted last year a turnover of EUR 51.4 million, up 2.2% compared to 2013. FrieslandCampina had sales of EUR 90.6 million, 11% higher than in 2011, and EUR 9.8 million losses. The Dutch group also owns Industrializarea Laptelui Mures, which had sale of EUR 39 million in 2014. When merged, these companies would create the biggest dairy producer in Romania. editor@romania-insider.com