Whiteland, one of the biggest distributors of food stored at controlled temperatures, has, several months ago, completed the construction of a logistic centre in southern Bucharest in the wake of investments worth 5.5m euros. The centre is located on an about 5-hectare plot of land and currently has an area of 3,200 square metres.
"The location, which we acquired several years ago, will allow us to expand warehousing capacities as the number of customers increases. In the second phase of this project, we could triple the warehousing capacity," said Andrei Rusu, general manager of Whiteland Logistics.
The manager also specified that had the company rented a warehouse in one of the large logistic parks on the outskirts of Bucharest costs would have topped the investments in the new construction of its own logistics centre.
"Due to the shortage of space, in Romania rents for warehouses are very high compared with the more developed countries of Western Europe," he explained.
Whiteland has recently acquired a 3-hectare plot of land in Targu-Mures, where it will shortly introduce warehousing space.
In 2006, Whiteland Logistics was separated from Whiteland Import Export, after the company bet on the development of the logistic services market. Australian-born businessman James Kodor controls the two companies.
At present, Whiteland Logistics' most important customer is Whiteland Import Export, which generates 90% of the logistics firm's turnover. The company's customers also include Metro Cash & Carry Romania, with which it works for fresh products.
Andrei Rusu says one of the goals of the company he runs is to boost its number of customers. This year, food producer Orkla Foods announced that it had sealed a partnership with distributor Whiteland, however Germany's Reinert exited the list of suppliers in the same year.
The biggest suppliers of Whiteland Import Export currently include dairy producers Hochland, Meggle and Campina. The distributor also owns a sauce plant near Medias, which operates on the market with its own brand, Don Gustosso.
Whiteland Import Export has budgeted turnover worth around 90m euros for this year, up 20% from the level reached in 2007 amid the expansion of the customer portfolio and the company's entrance onto new market segments.
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