Top FMCG Distributors: Lebanese-owned Companies Still Largest

05.25.2011 ZF English

A strong growth in 2010 put Bacau-based Simba Invest alongside Lebanese-owned Interbrands and Top Brands Distribution in the top-three largest distributors of fast moving consumer goods in Romania last year.

Interbrands, Top Brands Distribution and Simba Invest were the biggest distributors of fast moving consumer goods in 2010, cumulating nearly EUR1.7 billion in sales, up 7% against the previous year, according to data supplied to ZF in view of putting together the "Biggest Players in the Economy" yearbook, which will hit the newsstands in June.

Whereas the top two players, controlled by Lebanese investors, kept their positions in the last few years, the surprise comes from Simba Invest, controlled by two Bacau-based entrepreneurs, which entered the top three after an increase by over 70% in sales.

Aqula Group and Macromex rank on the fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

There was bad news for one of the top 10 players, Astral Impex, held by brothers Ioan and Floare Cuc in Arad, which went insolvent last year, after ending 2009 with EUR123 million in turnover. The company has not provided data on its turnover evolution in 2010.