According to Andrei Beshliu, general director of the company, the current Easter period turned out to be much more difficult due to a glut of imports. The main suppliers of imported baked goods were supermarket chains, which actively promoted this product in all price categories.
“Among domestic producers, we still lead both in terms of the assortment presented and quality,” said Andrei Beshliu. – This helped us to keep our market positions. Secondly, this year there was a high demand for more expensive goods. In previous years, the main revenue of the company was received from low- and medium-priced products”.
It should be noted that about 300 bakery enterprises operate on the Moldovan bread market, two thirds of which are small businesses. Every year about 10% leave the distance, but others immediately appear in their place. Bread is a high-turnover commodity, so the change of players is not noticeable.
About 85% of the company’s income comes from sales on the domestic market.
The Chisinau-based “Franzeluta” still manages to hold about 30% of the bakery market. It is among the top 5 large operators, along with “Milina”, “Şapte spice”, “Balti Bread Products Combine” (part of “Zernoff” group), “Brodetchi”. For local consumption the plant produces 22 thousand tons of bakery products per year (60 tons per day). The overwhelming part of sales is realized through foreign retail: only 17 out of 47 branded stores of the Chisinau bread factory work.
“Franzeluta” still retains the status of a joint-stock company, where 55% of shares are owned by the state (Public Property Agency). Another 1.36% is owned by the Chisinau City Hall, and the rest is owned by individuals and legal entities.
