Principal Company, which produces Salonta charcuterie products and is owned by the shareholders of wine producer Murfatlar, registered sales worth 9 million euros in the first half of this year, up around 60% against the same period in 2006.
"The Salonta brand generated approximately 40% of the first-half's turnover. In terms of volume, the company's sales reached 2,000 tonnes during this period," specified representatives of the producer.
Principal's first-half turnover increased due an expansion of distribution, through a 30% increase in the number of stores that retail the company's two brands -Salonta and Principal, amid investments in promotion and the launch of a new product on the premium segment.
The company holds a 1.5% share of the charcuterie market, according to a market survey conducted in May, as quoted by the producer.
This year, the highest growth rate (25% against the first half of 2006) was posted on the segment of dry cured charcuterie products, where Salonta is the market leader with a market share of around 15%, according to company data.
This year, the producer plans to operate investments worth approximately 4 million euros in its two production facilities and also plans to bolster production capacities.
Principal owns a plant that manufactures boiled-smoked products in Filipestii de Padure (Prahova county), with a production capacity of around 30 tonnes per day, as well as a dry-cured charcuterie facility in Salonta (Bihor county), which produces around 140 tonnes per month.
The plant in Filipestii de Padure was completed in 2004 in the wake of investments worth 4.8m euros, which included 1m euros of Sapard funds. The producer plans to double its sales this year against 2006 to some 30m euros.
The majority shareholder in the firm is Signus Romania Distribution with a stake of 86%, while Georg
