News

Fortenova Group finalises agreement for the sale of Projektgradnja plus to Osijek Koteks Business

17.09.2020.

Fortenova Group d.d. and Osijek Koteks d.d., a leading Croatian construction company, finalised an agreement whereby Osijek Koteks has acquired Projektgradnja plus d.o.o., a fully owned subsidiary of Fortenova. Osijek Koteks was selected as the best bidder through a competitive sale process managed by Fortenova and Deloitte Croatia as the exclusive financial advisor to Fortenova.

By closing this transaction, Fortenova Group continues towards its aim to focus on three core segments of retail, food and agriculture. Since the start of the sale process approximately a year ago, Fortenova Group has also divested its subsidiary Rivijera, which manages the Triestina camp in Ičići near Opatija, as well as minority stakes in ID Riva Tours and Gulliver putovanja. ID Riva Tours is a German tour operator organising trips to Croatia, with offices in Poreč, Žminj, Rijeka, Zadar and Trogir, while Gulliver putovanja is one of Croatia’s leading destination management companies in the majority ownership of the global tour operator TUI.

James Pearson, Fortenova Group’s Chief Financial Officer, emphasized on this occasion the importance of the company’s focus on core business: “I would first of all like to thank all the employees of Projektgradnja, and Rivijera, for their skills, dedication and hard work while they were part of the Fortenova Group. We now wish them the best with their new partners and hopefully, much deserved success in the future. For Fortenova, these four transactions, along with others we expect to make in the coming months, allow the Group to make good progress in moving towards its previously announced focus on three core divisions of retail, food and agriculture. The aim is to have a sharper focus on these three divisions and have an overall less complex Group to enable us to deliver better returns as we go forward.”

As part of the sale process for all these businesses Fortenova Group was focused on finding buyers who share Fortenova’s vision of developing the acquired businesses for the benefit of their employees, partners and other stakeholders. As a result of this transaction, Projektgradnja gained a strategic partner who will improve and strengthen its operations, and secure its long-term prospects. At the same time, Osijek Koteks will complement its portfolio which mainly consists of civil engineering and construction material production with building construction projects, and strengthen its overall expertise in civil engineering by taking over some 200 Projektgradnja’s construction experts. It is worth noticing that Projektgradnja executed some of the largest and most complex construction projects in Croatia, and is well qualified to perform all kinds of construction works. Over the last four and a half years Projektgradnja completed 69 projects with the total value of more than EUR 173 million.

Half year 2020 Financial results presented to the DR holders Business

28.08.2020.

Over the first six months of 2020 the Group thus generated consolidated revenues of almost HRK 10 billion (9,910 million) and consolidated EBITDA of HRK 531.9 million. The consolidated results pertain to Fortenova grupa d.d. and its 95 subsidiaries, without Mercator, the transfer whereof to Fortenova grupa d.d. is expected by the end of the year. A strong cash position of HRK 1.5 billion on its accounts and stronger market shares were the features that Fortenova Group concluded its operations with in the first half of 2020.

According to non-consolidated indicators, the core businesses non-consolidated net sales revenues for the period were 4.3 per cent lower than in 2019, which was expected in view of the global economic lockdown that marked the H1/2020 operations due to measures introduced to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and EBITDA was improved by almost 3 per cent against the same period of 2019.

While net sales revenues in the Retail & Wholesale and Food segments dropped by 3.9 per cent and 8.3 per cent, respectively, total revenues in agriculture grew by six per cent due to the increase in pig prices. Agriculture segment also features excellent EBITDA growth rate of 41.5 per cent in H1/2020 against the previous year. Retail EBITDA grew by HRK 37 million, with the major positive effect accounted for by Q1/2020 and the implementation of measures taken to adjust operations to COVID-19 circumstances. The lockdown conditions were mostly reflected in the Food operations, particularly the segment that primarily leans on the HORECA channel and tourist flows, resulting in a drop of EBITDA by 11.5 per cent compared to the same period of 2019 though market shares increased in oil, beverages and frozen food and business in Serbia performed well.

“Given the impact of COVID-19 on the first half of 2020, we are very satisfied with our operations. When it comes to our consumers and the community in which we operate, the most important thing was to keep the supply chain running without interruption and to protect the safety of our employees and our customers, and when it comes to the position of Fortenova Group – to reduce the negative effects of the crisis as much as possible by implementing measures intended to adapt our operations and to manage liquidity reserves as firmly as possible, which we have successfully done, as shown by the six-months results. The period also featured very positive steps in the process of transferring Mercator and Dijamant to Fortenova Group and optimism regarding the results of the tourist season, which was way better than expected” – said Fabris Peruško, Chief Executive Officer of Fortenova Group at the presentation of the H12020 business results to DR Holders, i.e. owners of the company.

Commenting on the financial results of H12020, James Pearson, Executive Director for Finance of Fortenova Group, said that “in view of the negative impact of COVID-19 we have managed our cash and profitability very well”, stating further: “Fortenova Group now has a very clear and agreed strategy to deliver financial health of the Group. This we will continue to deliver on and we expect to fully comply to our lender requirements going forward”.

Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia revokes Ruling of Slovenian Competition Agency Fortenova group

30.07.2020.

Seized Mercator shares have to be returned to Agrokor

The Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia passed a judgement pursuant to which the shares of Mercator, that were by decision of the Public Competition Agency of the Republic of Slovenia (Javna agencija Republike Slovenije za varstvo konkurence – AVK) temporarily seized late last year, have to be returned to Agrokor without delay.

The State Attorney’s Office of the Republic of Slovenia had filed a request for the protection of lawfulness with the Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia whereby the State Attorney’s Office essentially stated that the Slovenian AVK, by seizing the Mercator shares from Agrokor, had acted unlawfully. With its final and non-appealable judgement the Supreme Court has confirmed such claim and changed AVK’s decision, thus halting the procedure that AVK had brought against Agrokor, in which the Mercator shares were seized. The Supreme Court has thus enabled Agrokor to freely dispose of the shares.

The Supreme Court declared the seizure of shares to be unlawful, argueing that AVK had no legal grounds to issue a ruling to seize the shares. In particular, Item 5 of Art. 201 of the Slovenian Misdemeanor Act stipulates that the decision to seize property can be made if there is a »concern that the perpetrator may hide or travel abroad during the infringement proceedings or prior to the execution of the decision«. The Supreme Court established that it was conceptually impossible for a legal person to »hide, travel to an unknown location or abroad« and that there were no substantive legal grounds to seize the shares from Agrokor. The judgement indicates that, by passing the unlawful seizure decision, AVT completely wrongfully applied Art. 201 of the Slovenian Misdemeanor Act, the goal and intention whereof solely apply to natural persons for whom there is a possibility to »hide or travel to an unknown location«. For those reasons, the Supreme Courts states, Mercator shares have to be returned to Agrokor without any further delay.

This judgement of the Supreme Court provides for the return of property to Agrokor slightly more than a month after the Court Okrajno sodišče of Ljubljana already altered AVK’s decision on the amount of the fine and reduced the original amount of as much as EUR 53.9m to EUR 1m, explaining that not having reported the concentration was not the result of the »intention to bypass the concentration filing in order to cause possible harmful effects on market competition«, but was rather »the result of negligence of the responsible person Ivica Todorić«. Due to the fact that the court has not accepted all arguments, Agrokor appealed against this decision to the High Court of Ljubljana and has continued to apply legal means to refute the argumentation used by AVK in establishing the alleged breach of provisions.

Fabris Peruško, Chief Executive Officer of Fortenova Group, to which the Mercator shares are to be transferred, said: »We welcome the judgement of the Supreme Court, which shows that by protecting lawfulness, key institutions also improve the investment climate in Slovenia. We expect for the free disposal of shares to be made possible within shortest time and are still planning to realize the transfer of Mercator shares to Fortenova Group by the end of this year.«

Peruško also used the occasion to reiterate that transferring Mercator to Fortenova Group as soon as possible was primarily in the direct interest of Slovenia’s largest retail chain, its suppliers and the entire economic environment in Slovenia. »Due to its multiplying effect on the economy, Mercator is a company of systemic importance for the Slovenian economy. By the transfer from Agrokor, a company in bankruptcy, Mercator will find itself in the ownership of the stable and capital-strong Fortenova Group, whose ultimate goal is to make Mercator a strong local-supplier-oriented regional retailer«, Peruško said, concluding: »As already stated several times, in Mercator as part of Fortenova Group the entire Slovenian economy will gain a financially strong and stable partner and buyer of its goods. The cooperation with local suppliers and the maintenance and development of shorter supply chains is one of the key determinants of Fortenova Group’s regional retail development strategy and constitutes an important competitive advantage. After the Mercator shares are transferred to Fortenova Group, the local suppliers can therefore continue to count on their position at Mercator.«

Changes in the Board of Directors of Fortenova Group Fortenova group

14.07.2020.

Fortenova grupa d.d. presents financial results Business

02.07.2020.

Last year, marked by increasing revenue and adjusted EDITDA, ends with strong cash position while Q1 2020 shows best results in the past three years

In presenting the results of last year’s operations to its DR holders, Fortenova Group highlighted the growth of both most important performance indicators in 2019 – total revenue and EBITDA, accompanied by building strong liquidity reserves due to which it entered the year 2020 with a cash position of HRK 1.6bn.

The pro forma consolidated total revenue of Fortenova grupa d.d. in 2019 reached almost HRK 24 billion (23,946 million), with consolidated adjusted EBITDA amounting to almost HRK 1.7bn (1,662 million). Given that Fortenova grupa d.d. has been operational since 1st April 2019, the presented results are the pro forma consolidated results of Fortenova grupa d.d. and the 102 companies, net of Mercator, the transfer of which to Fortenova grupa d.d. is not yet completed.

The Core segments, which include the results of 17 core companies of Fortenova grupa d.d., companies from the business areas of Retail and Wholesale, Food and Agriculture, generated a total of HRK 24,805 million in unconsolidated revenues in 2019, or a growth of 3.6 % against the year 2018. At the same time unconsolidated EBITDA of the Core segments saw a year-on-year growth of 13 % and amounted to HRK 1,917 million.

All Fortenova grupa d.d. Core segments experienced total revenue growth in 2019 – Retail and Wholesale of 3%, while both Food and Agriculture generated 4% higher revenues than in the year 2018. Total revenues generated in Retail and Wholesale amounted to HRK 13,934 million, in Food HRK 8,267 million and in Agriculture HRK 2,604 million.

Having maintained the same level of EBITDA as in the previous year, with HRK 1,132 million realized in 2019 the Food Business segment made the largest contribution to the Group total. The highest positive effect on total revenue growth in Food was accounted for by the edible oils and meat divisions.

The highest growth of revenue and EBITDA in the Retail and Wholesale business area was accounted for by Konzum, whose EBITDA in 2019 outperformed the one from the previous year by 25.5 %. Total revenues generated by Croatia’s largest retail chain in 2019 grew by 4.5%, in spite of the fact that it had a lower number of stores than in the previous year. In the Agriculture segment the increase in revenue was mostly accounted for by PIK Vinkovci, while the highest growth of profits in 2019, was generated at Belje with HRK 62 million.

Fortenova grupa d.d. was able to continue the favourable operating trends in Q12020, with consolidated revenues, net of Mercator, amounting to HRK 4.814 million, while adjusted consolidated EBITDA for the period amounted to HRK 93.6 million.

At the same time, in Q12020 the Core segments generated unconsolidated total revenue growth of 8 %, while the unconsolidated EBITDA for the quarter amounted to HRK 245 million or 90 % more compared to the results generated by Agrokor d.d. in the period preceding the Settlement Plan implementation.

„The growth of all key performance indicators, particularly EBITDA, as well as the fact that we secured a smooth operational continuity, have proved that the numerous transformational processes that have been taking place at Fortenova grupa with a view to achieving significant cost control and improving efficiency, have borne fruit. Furthermore, as already known, over the course of 2019 the company refinanced its SPFA debt, implemented changes in organisation and governance and obtained a new capital and ownership structure. At the same time, Fortenova Group has been settling all its liabilities regularly and without exception and entered the year 2020 with a very strong cash position of HRK 1,635 million on its accounts. Hence the measures taken by the Group at the end of Q12020 in order to adjust its operations to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis were primarily directed at maintaining its strong liquidity and employment in order for the Fortenova grupa to be ready to move on once the crisis is over” – said Fabris Peruško, CEO of Fortenova Group at the presentation of the 2019 results to the holders of Depositary Receipt s, ie. the owners of the company.

Fortenova Group extends offer of properties for sale Real estate

15.05.2020.

The website http://nekretnine.fortenovagrupa.hr features almost 200 properties worth more than HRK 139 million

Fortenova Group has refreshed the offer at its specialized website for selling properties http://nekretnine.fortenovagrupa.hr to include more than 50 new properties located all across Croatia. The offer still includes various property types: residential, commercial, agricultural and building land. Those are non-core properties owned by Fortenova Group’s operating companies. Thus the overall portfolio offered on that website comprises almost 200 properties worth more than HRK 139 million in total. As a new feature, all properties offered have additionally been designated with special boards on site with the required contacts in order to make the divestment process as efficient as possible.

The website http://nekretnine.fortenovagrupa.hr features a detailed description of the condition of each property offered for sale as well as the terms of disposal, along with the initial price and instructions on how to submit bids for a specific property. In addition, it is possible to tour and view commercial facilities subject to prior notice. There is also a special telephone line under the number +385 99 531 4000, where additional information can be obtained. Binding bids for purchasing properties shall be received until 31st May 2020.

The bids are to be submitted in binding form and must contain the name of the natural person or firm name of the legal person, PIN/IIN (OIB), contact, proof of residence or registered seat of the bidder, designation of the property (property ID listed with each individual advertisement starting with „AGNE-____“) for which the bidder submits the bid in writing, the offered amount of the sale-purchase price in kuna that must be higher than the stated initial sale-purchase price, proof of security deposit payment, IBAN for possible security deposit repayment, statement of the bidder on acceptance of the terms and conditions of the sale-purchase agreement, signature of the bidder and a list of appendices submitted with the bid. The bidders should deliver the written bid in a closed envelope to the address: FORTENOVA GRUPA d.d., Marijana Čavića 1, 10 000 Zagreb, with the remark – „Bid for the purchase of the property – ID No. AGNE-______, Asset Management Department of the Group“. All details regarding the conditions of sale can also be found at the following link: http://nekretnine.fortenovagrupa.hr/hr/uvjeti/.

The list of properties offered for sale shall continue to be updated regularly and the website will soon be supplemented to include new content and new properties.

Changes to the Management Boards of Fortenova Group operating companies Business

11.05.2020.

As of mid May and early June, respectively, the companies Konzum plus d.o.o. and Ledo plus d.o.o. will be headed by new Presidents of the Boards. Thus Zoran Mitreski will replace Slavko Ledić as President of the Management Board of Konzum and Ivan Babić will assume the management of Ledo instead of Marin Poljak. In order for Fortenova Group operations to be even more efficient in the forthcoming period, Fabris Peruško, Chief Executive Officer of Fortenova Group, has together with the Executive Directors and the Board of Directors introduced changes with a view to further strengthening the management teams and improving the two key business areas of Fortenova Group.

The position of the President of the Managment Board of Konzum, the largest national retail chain, will as of 16th May 2020 be assumed by Zoran Mitreski, former Member of the Management Board of Konzum for purchasing and marketing. At the same time, with a view to further standardizing and strengthening synergic potentials as well as simplifying operations, the frozen food segment within Fortenova Group’s Food Business Area will be integrated in terms of management. As of 1st June 2020 Ivan Babić, currently director of the Turnaround Department at Fortenova grupa d.d., will assume the management of the frozen food segment as Executive Director and at the same time as Managing Director of the company Ledo plus.

Both Slavko Ledić, former President of the Management Board of Konzum and Marin Poljak, former Managing Director of Ledo plus, will continue their careers outside Fortenova Group.

„In realizing those decisions we were primarily guided by the wish for improvement and continuity, which we have achieved with these appointments. Our colleagues Mitreski and Babić are deeply integrated in the operations of the companies the management of which they are about to assume. With long-standing experience in retail, and particularly in Konzum where he has together with other colleagues run the company through the most challenging stages of its operations, since the deep crisis in 2017, through the Extraordinary Administration Procedure to the stabilization of operations and resumption of excellent results, Zoran Mitreski is the key person for Konzum’s further development. The leadership that he has shown today, under the circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic, has significantly contributed to the fact that Konzum has again demonstrated exceptional strength under significantly aggravated operating conditions.

Similarly, Ivan Babić as head of the turnaround project, particularly important for the processes that Fortenova Group has undergone, had the opportunity to familiarize himself in detail with all our businesses and has with his strategic considerations and operational skills made a great contribution in raising Fortenova Group’s operating profit by EUR 100m through the restructuring over the last two years. The experience he has gained by doing that work and by running the restructuring at MOL, where he worked prior to joining Fortenova Group, guarantee that our colleague Babić will justify the trust placed in him to run the operations of the frozen food segment“ – said Fabris Peruško, Chief Executive Officer of Fortenova Group.

“I feel great pride, but at the same time great responsibility. On the one hand, this confirms that the Management Board that I have been part of in the former composition led the company in the right direction and I can only say that my appointment will provide for positive continuity. We shall continue working on all projects started and, of course, I look forward to all future ones. Konzum is made of people and I am sure that our winning team will continue to overcome all challenges just as it has done so far“, said Zoran Mitreski, the new President of the Board of Konzum.

Ivan Babić, the new Executive Director of Fortenova Group’s frozen food segment, said on the occasion of the appointment: „I am honored by the decision to entrust me with the responsible duty of running the new frozen food segment in the Food Business Area. After two years of very intensive work on the turnaround project and the cooperation with numerous teams from all parts of Fortenova Group, I believe that I have not only sufficient knowledge, but also the experience required to achieve the strategic objectives set. I very much look forward to new business challenges and particularly to the cooperation with colleagues on developing and strengthening the market positions of our companies.“

Peruško also thanked the former heads of Konzum and Ledo for the contribution they made to the companies and to Fortenova Group, particularly over the period of the Settlement Plan implementation and the transformation of the companies.

„The managerial skills, knowledge and personality of Slavko Ledić were key to maintaining Konzum’s operations in the crisis the company went through in 2017. In spite of a number of aggravating circumstances, Konzum survived and within very short time regained customer confidence and resumed its upward trajectory. Ledić headed the team that impeccably realized the Settlement Plan implementation, which was extremely complex in a retail company with more than 10,000 employees. In parellel to that, Konzum continuously improved its business results and was one of the major drivers of operating profit growth of the entire Group. At the end of the day, the period of extraordinary retail operations under challenging conditions that we are currently witnessing is largely the result of Ledić’s organisational skills and knowledge of retail operations. I therefore extend my sincere appreciation to our colleague Ledić for his hard work and engagement and wish him lots of success in his further career“ – Peruško said.

In his acknowledgment to Marin Poljak, former President of the Board of Ledo plus, Peruško highlighted his contribution to developing the organisation, the new vision and the realization of Ledo’s strategic plan. „Under his management Ledo continued to affirm its leading position in product innovation and quality under aggravated operating conditions“ – said Fabris Peruško on the occasion of announcing changes in leading positions at two Fortenova Group companies.

Zoran Mitreski CV Ivan Babić CV

Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and associates visit Belje Agriculture

28.04.2020.

The Government delegation got acquainted with the Mitrovac production system, based on the synergy of a dairy cow farm, a biogas facility and a greenhouse for growing tomatoes, which also illustrates the basic determinants of Belje’s operations – the production of local food and traceability from field to table

Within the scope of their working visit to Eastern Slavonia, Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, accompanied by Marija Vučković, Minister of Agriculture, visited the Mitrovac agricultural complex at Belje, comprising a dairy cow farm, a biogas facility and a greenhouse for the production of tomatoes.

The Government delegation was acquainted with the Mitrovac production system, based on the synergic connection of a dairy cow farm with a capacity of 2000 cows, a 2 MWh biogas facility and a 4.5 ha greenhouse. The biogas facility uses raw material from the farm to produce electric power and heat, used in the greenhouse for a year-round production of tomatoes.

The Mitrovac agricultural complex thus illustrates the basic determinants of Belje’s operations – production of local food, traceability from field to table and sustainability, which have in these challenging times proven to be very important for the Croatian economy.

As Croatia’s largest agricultural and industrial complex, Belje boasts an agricultural production that follows all global trends and can produce sufficient quantities of local food. Belje tills 20,000 hectares of arable land and 650 hectares of vineyards, produces 35 million litres of milk a year and accounts for 35 per cent of Croatia’s pig production as well as 14 per cent of Croatia’s cattle production.

„With the agricultural potential that Belje has, just like the whole of Slavonia and Baranya, Croatia can produce sufficient quantities of food, primarily for its own needs but also for exports. Belje has systematically invested in the development and strengthening of its production capacities and has continuously produced local foods from our fields and farms. In spite of the challenging circumstances that we are facing, all agricultural works have been carried out according to plans and all our productions work at maximum capacities, as best witnessed by the results of the animal feed factories that in March recorded the largest monthly production in the company’s history“ – said Davor Bošnjaković, Managing Director of Belje plus.

Vlado Čondić Galiničić, Executive Director for the Business Area of Agriculture at Fortenova Group and also President of the Agriculture Group of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, as well pointed out that the corona crisis has proved the importance of local agricultural production and the food industry tied to it.

„This knowledge can be used to strengthen the national agricultural strategy and resourse management. What we need now is a serious structural determination as to what we want and can produce in the forthcoming period, ie. a decision with what products we strive for self sufficiency and we should then develop in that direction. In our country we can produce sufficient meat, milk, cereals….. as there is enough room, experience, historical knowledge and people willing to work“ – Čondić Galiničić said.

Fabris Peruško, Chief Executive Officer of Fortenova Group, among other matters, drew the attention of the Government delegation to the fact that Fortenova Group’s strategic determination to develop the regional agricultural and food production of local origin on all markets where it operates, and the emphasis on products of local origin in purchasing and sales, was one of the key levers during the corona crisis in securing the supply of the market with the most important food products.

„Fortenova Group’s specific advantage in doing so was its regional footprint and cooperation, as the commercial flows within our region were functioning despite the global crisis“ – said Peruško and added: „Companies like Fortenova Group can lead the way in strenghtening the offer of local products both on the domicile market and in exports. This particularly applies to agriculture and food production, because we have all the prerequisites – heritage, high product quality and consumers who are used to those products and appreciate them highly. Hence, in a more intensive development of local production we should count on an even stronger local consumption, which shall also become a strong contribution to preserving economic activities and jobs in Croatia.“

Fortenova Group purchases and donates half a million protective masks to the Civil Protection Directorate Social Responsibility

10.04.2020.

The protective equipment worth almost HRK 2 million is intended for users working in the field to implement health protection measures against the coronavirus

Half a million disposable protective masks were donated by Fortenova Group to the Civil Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Croatia. The protective equipment worth almost HRK 2 million, collected today from the Konzum warehouse, is intended for users who work in the field, implementing protective measures against the coronavirus.

Assistant Minister Damir Trut, PhD, thanked for the donation and said that it would contribute to increasing the safety of people taking part in activities related to fighting the novel coronavirus epidemic.

„The donation of protective masks will provide for safer work conditions and the protection of all workers, primarily in the health system, but also other operating forces in the civil protection system and I would therefore like to say thank you for this praiseworthy donation. It is only with joint forces that we can contribute to reducing the spread of the novel coronavirus and to increasing the safety of all citizens of the Republic of Croatia“ – the Assistant Minister said.

Despite the great challenge in purchasing equipment which is currently the most sought after product on global level, Fortenova Group managed to import a sizeable quantity thereof, part of which is intended for the protection of Fortenova Group employees, while the majority of the masks will be provided to those who currently need them most.

„Everything we get from medical workers, policemen, fire fighters and all the others who have over the last weeks non-stop been taking care of the safety and health of us all, is invaluable. At Fortenova Group we know this very well, as thousands of our workers have daily been taking care of the smooth supply of goods for the people in the region. This why we very much appreciate the value of caring for safety and health and the importance of investing in that safety at this point“, – said Fabris Peruško, CEO of Fortenova Group.

Fortenova Group companies in Croatia – Konzum, PIK Vrbovec, Jamnica, Zvijezda, Belje and Ledo – have since the beginning of the crisis been helping hospitals, the Red Cross and various associations taking care of those in need. In Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, countries of the region in which they operate, the companies have as well helped to a significant extent in providing the basic necessities in fighting against the coronavirus spread.

„With this most recent donation of protective masks the overall amount of Fortenova Group donations across the region to date has reached almost HRK 4 million in direct contributions to the communities in which we operate. This is also a way to show our gratitude to everyone who are in their workplaces daily, irrespective of the risks“ – Peruško highlighted.

PIK Vinkovci invite small agricultural producers from Croatia to apply for the repurchase of products to be placed on the market through Konzum Business

30.03.2020.

PIK Vinkovci invite all interested small agricultural producers and family farms in Croatia who want to place their products on the market through Konzum to contact them at their collecting stations or through the email address: otkup@pik-vinkovci.hr.

Namely, PIK Vinkovci have together with Konzum taken part in the initiative launched by Fortenova Group in cooperation with the Agricultural Chamber and the Ministry of Agriculture in order for agricultural produce, which small producers cannot sell through green markets due to the extraordinary measures, to be placed through Konzum’s retail network.

The placement will be realized through distributors, who will repurchase their produce subject to meeting highest quality standards. At Fortenova Group that will be PIK Vinkovci, given their long-standing tradition in agricultural production and repurchase of produce as well as the current collaboration in repurchase with several hundred contract farmers from all over Croatia.

The partnership which PIK Vinkovci within the scope of this project offer to small local producers whose existence is directly jeopardized by the closing of green markets, shall provide them with an essentially needed new sales channel. Thus the fact that Konzum is the largest national retail chain with over 600 points of sale, which will from now on additionally become an efficient sales channel for all small producers and family farms that so far offered their products mainly to local communities and green markets, has become particularly important in this project. This all builds on Konzum’s already existing focus on Croatian production, given that products of Croatian origin account for 80 per cent of Konzum’s turnover in the fruit and vegetables category.

PIK Vinkovci plus d.o.o. started gaining experience in vegetable, crop, livestock and seed production and repurchasing back in 1962 and today, measured by its storage capacities of 86,800 tons in total as well as silo and drying capacities, the company is among the largest in the Republic of Croatia. It is also one of the leading companies on the territory of the County of Vukovar and Srijem, tilling more than 5,000 ha of land, employing over 500 people and investing in development and new technologies.

„PIK Vinkovci have an exceptionally good and fair cooperation with more than 500 contract farmers a year, from Eastern Slavonia and from all across Croatia. Through five collecting centers, which strategically cover the agricultural production of the entire Republic of Croatia, they repurchase over 20,000 tons of fruit and vegetables a year. We take pride in the contribution that we have made to the integrated development and preservation of traditional and natural values, as we daily meet people’s needs for quality local food on the Croatian market. In cooperation with Konzum as well as our existing and future contract farmers, whom we herewith once again invite to join us, we will certainly be able to keep fulfilling our basic mission – to supply all our customers with quality local products“ – Vlado Čondić Galiničić, Executive Director of Agriculture at Fortenova Group, commented on PIK Vinkovci’s initiative.

Fabris Peruško, CEO of Fortenova Group, pointed out that Fortenova Group has in this project secured the repurchase of Croatian agricultural produce through PIK Vinkovci and their placement through Konzum’s retail network.

„We have thus, in these challenging times, used the key segments of our operations to create an important link and platform to preserve small agricultural production in Croatia. At the same time, we have once again demonstrated our overall strategic orientation towards Croatian production and made an important contribution to the future of Croatia’s agricultural production. By providing an alternative distribution and sales channel in circumstances of the rigorous measures introduced to prevent the coronavirus spread, we have proved how important a business partner small agricultural producers and family farms are to us. Moreover, we have conveyed a message about the values that we share – the importance of buying Croatian products, focus on the self-sufficiency of national and local production and strengthening of local supply chains“ – said Fabris Peruško, CEO of Fortenova Group.

INVITATION BY PIK VINKOVCI TO SMALL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND FAMILY FARMS

Key agricultural crops to be repurchased by PIK Vinkovci: watermelon, cabbage, new potatoes, melon, cucumber, crystal lettuce, kale, leek, tomato, apple, zucchini, red cabbage, grapes, pumpkin, asparagus, parsley, chard, onion, pepper, plum, celery root, peach, nectarine, pear, garlic, eggplant, red beet, apricot, kohlrabi, sweetcorn, celery, cherry, radish, spring onions etc.

The fruit and vegetable repurchase will be realized according to defined quality standards and with all new contract farmers a cooperation agreement will be signed to define the contractual relations. A constituent part of each agreement will be a product quality standard regulation.

Contact repurchase/collecting stations:

Repurchase Slavonia

Collecting Center Lipovac, Cvjetno naselje bb, Lipovac

Collecting Center Čeminac, Školska 5a, Čeminac

Repurchase Dalmatia

Collecting Center Polača, Industrijska zona Primat bb, Polača (near Zadar)

Collecting Center Kaštela, Trogirska cesta broj 5, Trogir

Repurchase Zagreb

Collecting Center Zagreb, Kelekova 47, Zagreb

The contact email address for all small producers is: otkup@pik-vinkovci.hr, the contact number for Dalmatia and Zagreb is: 023 662 548, while the contact number for Slavonia is: 032 270 084.

Konzum to open essentially needed sales channel for local producers as green markets close Business

26.03.2020.

Fruit and vegetables of local origin already account for over 80 per cent of turnover in that category at Konzum and through the new initiative we are ready to offer our repurchasing capacities and sales network to those who have no possibility of putting their products on the market as the green markets have been closed

Citizens will soon be able to continue buying local producers’ fruit and vegetables, that they, until recently, were purchasing on local markets, at Konzum stores all across Croatia. Konzum’s initiative was prompted by the decision of the Civil Protection Committee of the Republic of Croatia on the measure of suspending the operations of green markets and all accompanying facilities. Products of local origin already account for more than 80 per cent of Konzum’s fruit and vegetables turnover and with this initiative Konzum shall secure additional space on its shelves all over Croatia for local producers who had offered their products mainly in local communities so far. Interested farmers can contact the distributors PIK Vinkovci, Marinada and Fragaria, who will repurchase the goods and deliver them to Konzum with guaranteed highest quality standards. The project can also be joined by small fruit and vegetable growers who have applied to Konzum’s „The Best from Croatia“ competition, once they make arrangements for the cooperation with the aforementioned distributors.

In collaboration with the Small Croatian Producer cluster Konzum has offered a selection of quality local products from small local producers at specially designed areas in several of its stores. With the new initiative and in agreement with the Small Croatian Producer cluster we shall continue to place on the market goods of producers acting within the scope of that cluster who have already participated in the project „The Best from Croatia“.

„While we appreciate all decisions made by the Civil Protection Committee of the Republic of Croatia as they are intended to protect the population’s health and safety, we also want to help primarily small family farms to whom an important sales channel is not available any more and whose existence has thus been jeopardized. Since the very beginning Konzum has been fostering partnerships with local producers and this initiative is a continuation of our strategic focus on supporting Croatian production. In the current situation that we have been faced with due to the coronavirus epidemic, self-sufficiency has proved to be particularly important in maintaining the supply chain and hence we all together have to work on strengthening the local agriculture“, said Zoran Mitreski, Member of the Management Board of Konzum.

Konzum already cooperates with more than 4000 small and large fruit and vegetable producers from all over Croatia, via direct deliveries to own distribution centers, their repurchasing stations or its strategic parterns.

With this initiative we are ready to offer our repurchasing capacities and sales network to those who have no possibility of putting their products on the market.

Fortenova Group production companies work regularly to secure sufficient product quantities, Konzum has goods to meet the demand over several months Business

17.03.2020.

Observing Italy’s experience, Konzum started preparing stocks several weeks ago, its key advantage being the strategic cooperation with local suppliers of many years

You can see the video of the statement in Croatian here.

In all of its production and agricultural facilities as well as in retail, Fortenova Group implemented a number of measures to secure continuity of operations under the extraordinary conditions of defense against the coronavirus spread. Under intensified measures of sanitary and personal hygiene, the employees of Jamnica, Zvijezda, PIK Vrbovec, Ledo, Belje, PIK Vinkovci and all other Fortenova Group companies are working normally to secure products for the shelves and stocks in retail, thus guaranteeing availability of those goods on the market in the forthcoming period.

Given that the exceptionally strong demand over the last days at Konzum stores created jams that made it very difficult, in spite of the employees’ efforts, to fill the shelves in the stores at the same pace at which customers emptied them, Fortenova Group points out that Croatia’s largest retail chain has sufficient quantities of goods, particularly food and hygiene items, which are in highest demand in the current situation. The high demand also resulted in an increase in turnover, which was significantly higher than usual at individual Konzum stores in the peak periods.

„The increased demand, particularly after specific articles, is the only reason why the shelves are empty from time to time, as long as our staff does not have the time to replenish them. We have started to get prepared for that situation weeks ago, observing the experience in Italy, and have additionally increased our stocks. The warehouses are full and there are sufficient goods to meet the demand over several months. Food stores will certainly stay open, in compliance with the national measures of defense against the coronavirus disease and at Konzum, ie. at Fortenova Group we will make sure that there are sufficient quantities of all key products“ – says Fabris Peruško, CEO of Fortenova Group.

Peruško particularly pointed out that in the current situation Konzum’s great advantage was its strategic cooperation with local suppliers of many years, which was also a guarantee that there would be no delivery disruptions nor price increases at Konzum stores.

„Although the majority of our food items are of local origin, for some time we have also been working on establishing alternative sources of supply, in case there should be any major limitations or stoppages in the supply of goods that are imported from the most affected countries. We would like to ask our customers for their understanding – large surges make pressure on the stores, which increases the health risk both for our customers and our employees. I would therefore like to appeal to our customers to comply with the provision of keeping distance at the cash desks and in the store as well as using primarily contactless, ie. card payment, as those measures are key in preserving the health of everyone in the stores“ – said Zoran Mitreski, Member of the Management Board of Konzum for Purchasing and Marketing.

„All our employees, particularly those whose work is not visible as they are either in production or in the logistics chain, give their best to maintain operations under circumstances that are significantly more difficult. This is an opportunity to say thank you to them as well as to Konzum’s employees for all the efforts that they have been exerting for the system to function under extraordinary circumstances, for the supply of goods to be sufficient and for all customers to be served. As employers we will find a way to reward them for this extraordinary engagement“ – said Fabris Peruško and reiterated that the Fortenova Group food production as well as Konzum’s stores would keep on working and that it was most important now to overcome the days of probably even stricter measures of defense against the virus spread that are ahead of us with calm heads and no panic.

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