Natuzzi wants 80 million euro turnover

The demand for leather sofas on the Western market will boost production of the factory held by Italian Natuzzi Group in Baia Mare by ten times, the officials of Italsofa Romania, the company controlled by the Italian furniture maker, say.
"Our 2002 turnover amounted to eight million euros, so the projected growth will take turnover up to 80 million euros until the end of 2004," Francesco Stasolla, Italsofa Romania vice-president said.
He explained the forecasts were based on making an about 25 million euro investment in order to expand the factory, so that Natuzzi's total investments in Romania would come to total 55-60 million euros. Furthermore, the current productive capacity is already used more than last year. "Output is three times higher than two months ago, reaching 300 sofas a day," Stasolla specified.
This year's turnover is therefore projected to amount to 20 million euros, more than twice higher than last year's.
"The main reasons why we decided to expand the operations of the factory in Baia Mare are the achievements to date, but also the higher demand for Italsofa products on the Western market," the company vice-president said. Natuzzi makes leather sofas, stools and armchairs in Baia Mare, with the entire output exported.
Even though Natuzzi sofas are sold in Mobexpert stores, they are not supplied from Baia Mare directly, Stasolla says. "Italsofa gets orders from Italy, but the products are delivered precisely to those countries that placed the orders. We have not sold in Romania yet and I think we will be directly entering the Romanian market early next year," the company official said.
Italsofa Romania primarily covers the European market, as the rest of the markets are covered by other Italsofa productive facilities according to Natuzzi's strategy: Italsofa Brazil covers the American market and Italsofa Shanghai covers the Asian market.