Lactalis close to becoming owner of Santal plant in Tunari

The purchase of the Italian dairy and juice producer Parmalat by French group Lactalis is likely to propel the French company onto a leading position on the domestic nectar market valued at a little below 40m euros annually and it may also become the owner of a Tunari-based company.

Domestically, the company sells Santal juice and UHT milk Prima Creştere, Sviluppo and Parmalat. Milk contribution is below 2%, though, according to Ioana Stavăr, representative of Parmalat Romania's marketing office. Globally, the situation is totally different, as the weight of milk and dairy products in overall revenues tops 90%, while juice brings 6%.

Domestically, the milk is imported from Italy, while Santal juices are manufactured at the plant the company owns in Romania, in Tunari. French Lactalis is thus likely to come to own the plant that generates annual revenues worth over 8.8m euros.