Lekkerland expects stagnation at best

Lekkerland, the largest consumer goods distributor to petrol stations and convenience stores, expects to see the same turnover this year as last year, and a zero profit, anticipating stagnation or a possible 5-10% decline of the consumer goods market. "This year we aim to record the same turnover as in 2008, and keep all our staff. We will be satisfied even with a zero profit in 2009," said Narcis Mihai, country manager of Lekkerland Romania. The company's 2008 turnover is estimated at 60 million euros, amid a slower growth rate against 2007. The distributor additionally stepped into the red, after reporting a 0.5 million-euro net profit in 2007, according to data provided by Mihai. "On account of the RON depreciation, we recorded a small growth rate in euros last year against 2007, below 20%," said Lekkerland Romania's manager. The company, which currently has 200 employees, saw its turnover rise from 11 to around 60 million euros over the past five years. Germany's Lekkerland entered the Romanian market in late 2005 by the acquisition of Macromex Convenience, a division of Romanian distributor Macromex, specialising in the distribution of consumer goods in large petrol station chains. Upon takeover, the company had around 50 employees.