ROMANIA: Poultry producer Safir wants to increase by 50% the export volumes | Progresiv
Safir, the poultry producer from Vaslui, has focused on export activity - a segment that absorbs about 20% of production - as the domestic market is guided more by the "cheap" principle, says George Safir, Executive Director of the company. 
"In 2017 we plan to increase our exports for the Deliciosul de Vaslui brand and we did more than we aimed for - we have doubled them. For this year, the intention is to increase by 50% the volume of the previous year", says George Safir.
The Vaslui company owns the brands Deliciosul de Vaslui, Zdravan Moldovenesc and Fomica, which it exports to countries such as Italy, the Netherlands or Estonia.
"Last year, our factory of poultry products (minced meat croquettes, sausages, spiced, bread crumbed) under the brand Fomica, which has been built from scratch, received a lot of attention. In 2017 it worked at almost full capacity. To this we will continue to expand the line. (...) We will implement an European-funded project for FNC to expand production and storage capacity", added the company's executive director.
Internally, 40% of production goes to modern retail, the company intending to keep this share.
"Over time, the share of traditional trade has fallen from a maximum at the beginning of activity to what is now, unfortunately. We still distribute to a large number of merchants in the area where we operate with the distribution, but unfortunately the big retail makes its effects felt", says George Safir.
The Safir Group of companies owns a bird breeding farm in the county of Vaslui with a capacity of one million chickens per series, respectively two farms in Botosani County, a slaughterhouse, a protein flours factory, a combined fodder plant and its own distribution network. Launched 27 years ago, the company reached 20 million in turnover in 2016 with an average of 366 employees, according to public data. Safir is managed by Ghiorghi Safir, alongside his two sons - George and Iulian.
