Danone Romania had a turnover of RON 497 million in 2017, up 3 percent

Danone Romania registered a turnover of RON 497 million in 2017, up 3 percent from 2016. The company sets the growth on the success of yogurt sales with brands like Activia, Actimel, Danonino, Cremoso and Delicious. Danone Romania maintains its undisputed leadership position in the local yoghurt market, according to Nielsen data through its Retail Measurement service.

“Danone’s results in Romania create a basis for continued sustainable business development and for new local investments in our factory in Bucharest, in social projects and in the development of the yoghurt category. In the period 2017-2018, we are investing approximately EUR 1 million in the development of two new production lines and the introduction of a new palletizing robot in the factory that allows us to respond better to the needs of the local market and the other markets we serve in the region. A similar amount of EUR 1 million is invested to support the development of partner farmers, both family and business,” said Natalia Gelstein Kiss, Danone General Manager, Bulgaria, Moldova and Adriatic Countries.

More than 1 million yogurts are produced daily, on average, in the Bucharest plant, using over 60 million liters of milk annually, most of them from farms or households in Romania.

“After activating in the last few years Activia, Actimel and Danonino, in 2018 we relaunched the Danone brand for our core portfolio, inviting consumers to rediscover the joy of simple milk and ferment recipes, the yogurts’ goodness, and we generally support repositioning the yoghurt category and its benefits,” adds Natalia Gelstein Kiss.

Yogurt consumption in Romania is still low compared to other countries at around 6.6 kg per person per year – compared with 23 kg in Bulgaria, over 10 kg in the Czech Republic or 21 kg in Sweden. However, yogurt is a known product for digestive benefits, and Romanians’ interest in healthy food is rising in recent years.