Bongrain invests in Delaco

One of France’s top three dairies, Bongrain has purchased a major share in the Romanian dairy processor and importer Delaco.
Founded by the Comaniciu family in 1996, Delaco now has 300 members of staff and produces two of the leading slicing cheeses in the country, Delaco and Dell.
Turnover topped EUR50 million in 2009 with major earnings from importing and distributing products from Bongrain including the cheeses Apetito and Caprice de Dieux. Delaco also markets Jogobella yogurts in Romania from the German dairy Zott. Romania business news reported in March that the Jogobella sales alone earned Delaco some EUR10m in 2009.
Bongrain’s move is said by the French company to be part of plans to establish itself more firmly in the promising central and eastern European markets. France’s leading dairy, Danone, is already market leader in Romania whilst number two in the French league, Lactalis, moved into this market two years ago when it took over the LaDorna dairy in a deal reported to be worth EUR100m.