Giampaolo Manzonetto takes over Covalact’s management as well | Progresiv

Giampaolo Manzonetto, who heads all local businesses of Lactalis, has recently taken over the position of Covalact's general manager, one of the most important dairy producers in Romania.

Giampaolo Manzonetto replaces Cornel Danila, who led Covalact in the last seven years.

Lactalis confirmed the takeover of Covalact from the investment fund Sigma Bleyzer at the end of 2016, the transaction receiving the green light from the Competition Council a year later. As a prerequisite for obtaining authority approval, the French group gave up the LaDorna butter brand, which later entered the portfolio of the company Simultan. Covalact was the third acquisition of the French company on the Romanian market after LaDorna’s takeover from businessman Jean Valvis in 2008 and Albalact's acquisition in early 2015, which turned Lactalis into the leader of the local dairy market. In Romania, Lactalis also owns the company Parmalat - the manufacturer of Santal fruit juices - since 2011.

Covalact has 560 employees and two factories in Sfantu Gheorghe and Miercurea Ciuc, each year supplying about 60 million liters of milk. Its biggest brands are Covalact de Tara and Friss, active on the following categories: yogurt, sour cream, fresh milk, kefir, cheese and butter. The company ended 2017 with business of 235.4 million lei, up by 2% over the previous year and reported a profit of 7.2 million lei, down by about 50% compared to 2016, according to date from the Ministry of Finance.

The Lactalis Group has several international brands, such as President, Parmalat, Galbani, with 200 factories in 43 countries and 75,000 employees.