Ioan Popa, 52, founder and majority shareholder of Romania'slargest poultry processor, Transavia, has never had partners andbusiness advisors and says he has never made any compromises.
The ambition to be more than just another player on the market andthe striving to constantly make a profit have been the trump cardshe used in order to build a business he puts at 150 millioneuros.
A graduate of the zootechnical and veterinary medicine faculty inCluj-Napoca, specialising in poultry rearing technology, Ioan Popahas been working in the zootechnical field for over 25 years now.Before setting up his own business, Popa worked for seven years inthe poultry industry, filling various positions, from head of farmto general manager of the State-held Poultry Plants in Alba andSfantu Gheorghe.
However, only one year after the revolution, he moved from employeeto entrepreneur status, and set up Transavia.
"In January 1991 I decided to leave the state-held plant where Iwas manager and set out to build a private business. A few monthslater, on April 1st 1991, I took part in an auction and acquired acollective farm on the outskirts of the city of Alba Iulia," herecalls.
Ioan Popa started his Alba Iulia business, currently a group withover 1,300 employees and an over 100 million-euro turnover with hisown savings and an over one million-ROL loan.
"In the early 90s, one million RON was an enormous sum, consideringthat back then the salary of a general manager was 8,560ROL."
Over the past four years, the businessman has invested almost 50million euros in building a slaughterhouse, boosting productioncapacities, acquiring Avicola Brasov and Cerealcom Alba Iulia, aswell as in building a ready meals plant. These investments,especially the acquisition of Avicola Brasov, a deal put at fourmillion euros, have enabled the businessman to leave his maincompetitors behind, and become market leader.
Pentru alte știri, analize, articole și informații din business în timp real urmărește Ziarul Financiar pe WhatsApp Channels
