ROMANIA: Aquatique brand reached annual sales of 49 million lei | Progresiv
Aquatique oligomineral water, which marks the 10th anniversary from the market launch, has accounted for 7% of Romaqua Group's total sales, reaching 49 million lei, according to information provided by Radu Lazaroiu, Managing Director of the company, at the anniversary conference. 
Regarding volumes, Aquatique has reached an annual production of 45 million liters and a market share in volume of more than 5% (January-May 2017) in the natural mineral water market, according to data provided by the company.
Radu Lazaroiu said that over the 10 years, about 30 million euros have been invested in the Aquatique brand, both in brand development and bottling capabilities and promotion.
"The water capture itself amounted to one million euros. In addition to this value, a new bottling line was built in 2011, and this year we are raising the issue of increasing bottling capacity, although we can now bottle 60,000 liters per hour", added the manager.
In the Busteni factory, in addition to the Aquatique mineral water, Giusto juices are also bottled. Asked whether in the next period the move of Giusto juices production will be taken into account, the manager said that this possibility is not excluded given the growth rate of the Aquatique brand.
Also regarding investments, the manager said that this spring Romaqua Group has finalized investments of about 20 million euros in the production facility in Borsec (Harghita County) in a new bottling line and in installing a machine that replaces paper labels with plastic ones, as well as in the beer factory in Sebes, where a new hall was built, with a line of PETs with a capacity of 40,000 liters / hour.
Romaqua Group is a privately owned company with 19 years of activity, currently controlled by Octavian Cretu and Nicolae Palfi. The producer currently owns five factories, in Borsec (Harghita County), Stanceni (Mures County), Busteni (Prahova County), Lancram (Alba County) and Bucharest. The newest was inaugurated in 2008 in Alba and produces beer under the brands Albacher, Dorfer and Mühlbacher. In addition to the three beer brands, the Romaqua Group portfolio also includes Borsec, Aquatique and Stanceni mineral waters and Giusto juices.
Romaqua Group closed the financial year 2016 with a business worth 693 million lei and a profit of about 75 million lei, and this year the producer plans to reach the 700 million lei threshold.
