Romanian cold cuts producer Cris-Tim opens cattle farm, enters dairy segment

Romanian cold cuts producer Cris-Tim, owned by investor Radu Timiş, recently entered the dairy market, with a cattle farm at Boldeşti-Scăeni, in Prahova county. The farm has 570 cattle which are fed cereals and fodder from the land within the same unit. Cris-Tim's EcoFerm farm will produce fresh milk, yoghurt, sour cream, which will be sold in the Cris-Tim network of stores and in some hypermarkets. The company invested EUR 675,000 last year in a cattle shed last year, and EUR 155,000 in equipment. Cris-Tim posted a turnover of EUR 80 million in 2011, flat compared to 2010, and a profit before taxes (EBITDA) of EUR 10.5 million. Its target for 2012 was of EUR 100 million in turnover, on the back of exports to countries like Russia, China, South Korea. Cris-Tim was aiming to double the percentage of sales accounted for by exports, which were at 15 percent of the total. The Romanian producer previously announced that it wanted to invest in milk factories and in agricultural equipment, as well as in buying land for agriculture. “We are currently working 1,000 hectares of land, of which we own 200 hectares with the rest leased,” said Radu Timis in 2012. Cris-Tim produces cold cuts under several brands, among which are Cris-Tim, Alpinia, Matache Macelaru, EcoFerm and family Sunca. The group of companies includes a factory in Prahova county, Cristim Prodcom, which runs logistic for Impex Cris-Tim, the retail chain that sells its products. The producer started business in 1991 with one shop and opened its first factory in 1994. editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: sxc.hu)