Campofrio and Smithfield giants, controlling Tabco-Campofrio domestic charcuterie producer, decided to invest two million euros from their own sources to modernise the charcuterie factory in Tulcea, just six months before it is closed down. The producer will drop the slaughterhouse and the local production of canned pate.
"We decided to invest in the modernisation of Tulcea plant to get the operating licence because it is much more difficult now to engage in 15-16m euros investments as the context is more restrictive," stated Ovidiu Wencz, general manager of Tabco-Campofrio.
The factory's operating licence is valid until 31 December this year, with the factory being on the list of companies that has been in a transition period since Romania joined the EU, needed for adjustment to EU standards.
A year ago, the modernisation of Tulcea factory seemed to have the least chances to be implemented by shareholders. The options the company's manager cited at that moment included either an 11m-euro investment to completely transform the factory in Tulcea, or a 20m-euro greenfield on the plot of land the firm owns in Buftea, or the acquisition of another factory.
However, Campofrio Spanish group did not make a decision with regard to the Romanian business until the middle of this year, six months before the plant of Tulcea has to close.
"The modernisation of the plant started in July and we'll try to finalise this process by yearend. During this period, the factory will not be closed, and this will be the main difficulty, to produce and modernise at the same time," Wencz says.
The producer will not replace existing production lines.
As regards canned pate, it will likely be imported from other sister-companies within Campofrio group.
The charcuterie producer also decided not to seal the contract with the domestic subsidiary of Germany's Reinert company, through which the German producer was going to manufacture part of Tabco-Campofrio products.
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