French sugar producer Tereos, the fourth largest sugar producer in the world, took over Romanian factory Zaharul Ludus in Mures county from Sucreries du Marquenterre Group, and plans to serve clients in Eastern Europe from the location. Tereos used to be a shareholder in Zaharul Ludus until 2007, when it sold its 50 percent package to Sucreries du Marquenterre Group. The value of the most recent deal was not announced.

The Ludus factory produces 34,000 tonnes of sugar a year and gets raw materials from 500 farmers who cultivate 5,000 hectares of sugar beet, according to Tereos' statement.

“Drawing on our agronomic and industrial expertise, as well as our presence in Central Europe for the past 20 years, we have definite assets that will contribute towards improved agricultural yields and the development of the Romanian sugar industry. With this investment, we now have a stronger position in one of the major European regions still importing large volumes of sugar,” said Alexis Duval, Tereos' Chief Executive Officer.

Sucreries du Marquenterre Group set up operations in Romania in 1998 via the company Roumaine de Sucrerie. Zaharul Ludus ended 2011 with a turnover of some EUR 17 million and a profit of EUR 2.6 million.

Tereos has yearly revenues of some EUR 4.4 million and produces sugar, ethanol and starch-based products. It runs factories in France, the UK, Belgium, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, and now in Romania.

editor@romania-insider.com