Ülker wants to produce Petit Beurre biscuits in Romania for US Wal-Mart as well

Turkey's Ülker, which has owned a plant in Romania since 2004, is in talks with Wal-Mart network to export Petit Beurre biscuits produced in Romania on the American market, writes Business Magazin magazine. Ülker, holding more than half of the Turkish biscuits and chocolate market, is focusing its strategy on exports. It has 53 plants, of which 7 outside Turkey, and Romania is the only EU country where the group owns a plant. The Popesti-Leordeni plant already exports to countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria and Germany, as well as to Macedonia and Kosovo. The next target is the US, where the group's officials are in talks with the representatives of Wal-Mart retailer. "We're very close to a deal," stated Ali Tolga Zaim, sales and marketing manager with the group. "Romania is a priority for Ülker because it is a market with a high growth potential for us and a good starting point for exports," Zaim says. The plant has three production lines, but at least another five can be added so that the facility may be used at full potential. Besides expanding capacities, the group also plans to broaden the product range and introduce new brands.