Winemaker Cramele Recas Says January-September Sales Above Expectations

11.04.2011 By Ioana David

Winemaker Cramele Recas posted over EUR11 million sales in the first nine months of this year, up about 15% compared with the same time in 2010 and higher than the 10% initially estimated for the period. This is the consolidated turnover of the group, comprised of Cramele Recas Prod, which manages the vineyard, Cramele Recas SA, which does the bottling, and Cramele Recas Group, which handles marketing and sales.

The factors that helped the business grow, says Ciprian Rosca, commercial manager of Recas, include the increase in the number of modern retail stores and exports.

The company's portfolio includes such brands as Schwaben Wein, Castle Rock, Frunza (retail) and Cocosul, La Putere, Sole, Solo Quinta, Cuvee Uberland (premium products sold on the on-premise segment and in specialist stores).

The company had two budget scenarios this year and will use the same strategy next year, as well.

"We will probably choose last year's solution to go with two versions [of the budget], a realistic one with an exchange rate of RON4.4 to RON4.6/EUR, and over 10% growth, and a pessimistic one with the euro at RON5.0 and 3% to 5% growth. The trend of the exchange rate is very important to us because we have foreign partners from which we buy bottles, labels and corks, and because we are importers of wines for ten partners," Rosca said.

Cramele Recas official said the company was also interested in buying vineyards, which it had also done in the past and in reaching the slightly above-average income customers with its products.

(English version by Loredana Fratila)