February 22 (SeeNews) - Serbian confectionery producer Bambi, part of Coca‑Cola HBC Group, plans to invest 12 million euro ($13 million) in 2024 to expand its production capacities by building new infrastructure and introducing new technologies, local media reported on Thursday.
The current production capacities of 50,000 tonnes will double on the back of the planned investment, Bambi's director general, Dragan Stajkovic, said as seen in a video published by state-run broadcaster RTS.
"This will certainly increase the number of employees; we will also invest a lot in the automation of production lines along with introducing a new line," Stajkovic said.
Bambi, whose products are already available on four continents, plans to expand to Africa by the end of 2024, RTS said.
Bambi's factory in the eastern town of Pozarevac produces some 120 tonnes of Serbia's favourite bisquit brand Plazma. The brand's output has doubled since 2022, when the company launched a new production line following investment of 12 million euro, Bambi says on its website.
In June 2019, Coca‑Cola HBC completed Bambi's acquisition from investment funds advised by private equity firm Mid Europa Partners for an enterprise value of 260 million euro.
The Serbian company was established in 1967 and now has 640 permanent employees. Apart from Plazma, its biscuits, wafers and savoury snacks brands include Bambi, Wellness, Zlatni Pek, Josh and Loco, among others.
($ = 0.925 euro)