The producers of the Romanian traditional sweet bread better known as “cozonac” could reach sales of over RON 1.5 billion (EUR 331 million) this year, up 6.3% compared to 2015, according to an analysis by local financial consultancy firm KeysFin.

During the winter holidays, pastry shops and bakeries rely on a consumption of nearly 10 million cozonaci.

The turnover of the companies producing cozonac have steadily increased in the last years, from RON 1.19 billion (EUR 263 million) in 2011 to RON 1.41 billion (EUR 312) in 2015.

Some of the most-known companies producing cozonac are Vel Pitar and Boromir, which also produce bread, pretzels, and other pastry products.

In total, the local market has over 50 producers, with 12 of them being established in 1994, according to KeysFin. The oldest six companies in the field were set up in 1991.

The profitability of these companies doubled between 2011 and 2015 from RON 36.4 million (EUR 8 million) to RON 82.2 million (EUR 18.1 million).

“Statistics only considers companies that have declared they produce this type of product. There is, of course, a high statistical margin, given that around Easter or Christmas, there are many bread manufacturers which reorient their production to cozonac, pasca (traditional Easter cake), and other specialties,” according to KeysFin experts.

How to make the Romanian cake cozonac

editor@romania-insider.com