May 29 (SeeNews) - Polish dairy producer Mlekovita is interested in obtaining a licence from Bulgarian state-owned dairy company LB Bulgaricum to make yoghurt based on Bulgarian technology, the economy ministry in Sofia said.
Details of a potential agreement for the use of unique Bulgarian bacteria for production of youghurt are being finalised, the ministry said in a press release on Saturday after a meeting between LB Bulgaricum CEO, Vladimir Rusev, and Mlekovita board chairman, Dariusz Sapinski.
The Polish side expected to be invited to visit Bulgaria within a month to sign the agreement, the ministry added.
Earlier this month, LB Bulgaricum granted a dairy production licence to Mongolian company APU. Earlier this year, the Bulgarian company and Japanese group Meiji signed a preliminary agreement paving the way for the establishment of a joint R&D centre.
Mlekovita claims to be the largest dairy group in Central and Eastern Europe and already has a subsidiary in Bulgaria. The group processes some 8 million litres per day in 22 own factories, producing milk, cheese, butter and milk powder. Mlekovita generates a turnover of roughly 1.5 billion euro ($1.6 billion) per year, with 5,000 staff and 34 logistics centres. It exports 35% of its output to 167 countries worldwide.
LB Bulgaricum has seen its market share rise sharply in recent months, with its products sold in over 100 stores in Bulgaria, according to the press release.
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