ROMANIA: Eisberg salad producer reported business of 30 million lei in the first nine months | Progresiv
Eisberg Romania, part of Swiss group Bell, reported in the first nine months of this year about 30 million lei, the main element that contributed to this evolution bein "the Romanians’ need to consume clean and convenient products", said for Progresiv Nicoleta Scarlat, the company’s Sales Director. 
For this year, the producer, which owns a production unit in Pantelimon, Ilfov, estimates an increase in turnover of more than 20%, to 9.4 million euros, with a profit similar to 2016. "We are increasing the quantities sold, decreasing margin / profit", Nicoleta Scarlat explained.
Modern retail currently accounts for 60% of Eisberg's business. The largest sales are recorded by the leaf varieties that are the basis for many salad producers. As a separate line, the producer launched three ready-to-eat salads - Caesar, Greek and Picnic. The company is not present in traditional trade because of logistics problems.
As for the trends seen in the market, Nicoleta Scarlat points to consumer orientation towards healthier products.
"Generally, Romanians consume greener, cleaner, more controlled, although the sources of information are not the most reliable, and we, as consumers, are not the most informed, but there is a desire for consumption", added Nicoleta Scarlat.
For next year, the investment budget allocated to the company amounts to two million euros, which will be allocated to the doubling of production capacity.
"The main challenges we expect next year are local suppliers of raw material – declaratively they are willing to work with us, but they do not actually meet our requirements, so we have a big challenge in this area. The consumer - chooses to collect information from less reliable sources, so we wake up with questions like whether we are growing salad on the water if it's done like I do not know what video seen on Facebook if it does not have e-Coli that they read on an obscure nutritionist’s website. The workforce - although we are competitive on wages, labor is also a challenge", said Nicoleta Scarlat.
