Vassilis Glinos, PepsiCo Country Manager for Western Balkans - Serbia remains the center of our operations in the region

(Vassilis Glinos)

Marbo Product, the leading manufacturer of snacks in Serbia and a member of PepsiCo, opened a new line for the production of potato crisps, worth 20 million euros, in Backi Maglic-based factory in mid-September. That is currently one of the most significant investments in the domestic food sector, while the expansion of capacities and the increase in the number of employees will also affect the growth of purchase of industrial potato in Serbia.

According to the words of Vassilis Glinos, PepsiCo's Country Manager for Western Balkans and the Director General of Marbo Product, the focus of the company is placed on the improvement of the quality and portfolio of products and the growth of sales in both domestic and foreign markets. The current export amounts to 20% and Marbo Product procures the raw materials for production exclusively in the Serbian market. Except in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the company has a factory in Laktasi, Marbo's products can also be found on the shelves of the stores in Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania and Greece.

- Serbia is the leading destination for investments in the region and it is of strategic importance to PepsiCo because it represents the regional center of our operations in the Western Balkans. Two years ago we bought Marbo Product in Serbia, which has developed strong brands, and that is why it here remains the center of our operations in the region. We will consider every possibility of developing and expanding the operations because PepsiCo, as the world's leading manufacturer of food and drinks, constantly researches the methods for organic development. Also, PepsiCo has special departments that are seeking potential acquisitions and, if they emerge, we will definitely take the necessary steps to enrich the portfolio of PepsiCo - Glinos told eKapija.

Our interlocutor points out that PepsiCo is very satisfied with Marbo Product's current portfolio. Marbo has several categories of products - potato products (Chipsy), baked products (Pardon), nut products – peanuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews (Gud), extruded products (Flipsy, Max, Clipsy) and mashed potato (Minut).

- Our faithful consumers recognize the quality of our products and they got used to constant introduction of innovative and entertaining flavors, for which we are very grateful to them. We are constantly researching the market, tastes and habits of consumers. The last thing we introduced is the "Chipsy World Flavors" range of products. With the development of Marbo and its further integration into the PepsiCo family, we will keep searching for further opportunities for enriching our assortment of products. Marbo Product has its own distribution network that receives our products within 24 hours from the moment of production and our products are present in almost all retail channels. Also, we have recently introduced SAP system in Marbo, which is the best system for the control of procurements, distribution and sales, as well as other segments of management.

The best for potato - New PC32 line

According to Glinos, the new unit in Backi Maglic is equipped with the world's cutting-edge technology, which will enable the company to triple the production. The new line is fully automated, which will reduce the influence of human factor on the quality of products, enable easier and more efficient control of the process parameters, better distribution of spices on products, as well as more profitable consumption of spices.

- The line has the equipment that will improve the efficiency through a smaller fuel consumption in the production, twice as big number of packing machines, and a high-quality exfoliating machine that will ensure a greater use of the basic raw materials. In addition, potato crisps will be packed in the state-of-the-arts polymount foil that will secure the top taste of crisps with longer freshness and guaranteed resistance to external factors - Glinos explains and adds that the investment also includes a waste water treatment unit worth 4 million euros.

According to Glinos, the putting of the new line in operation will create additional 100 jobs in the factory in Backi Maglic and increase the number of employees at Marbo Product to about 1,400.

- This investment will also indirectly create 400 jobs in the potato production sector and the production unit maintenance sector. Also, Marbo is one of the best employers in Serbia, which is proved by the fact that we hired 100 new workers last year, in the middle of the crisis.

PepsiCo is the world's leading manufacturer of food and drinks, formed in 1965. The company has the headquarters in New York, it is present in more than 200 markets around the world, and it employs over 285,000 people. PepsiCo has the world's largest portfolio of the food and drink brands, including 19 production lines such as Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Diet Pepsi, Lay’s, Doritos, Tropicana, Gatorade and Quaker. Each production line brings over one billion dollars worth of sales incomes every year. PepsiCo has total annual incomes in amount of about 60 billion dollars. Marbo Product was formed in 1995 and it became a member of the PepsiCo family in 2008. The company has the headquarters in Belgrade, production units in Backi Maglic in Serbia and in Laktasi in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 1,300 employees. Marbo Product is the largest industrial potato purchaser in Serbia, and its operations encompass potato growing, production, distribution and delivery of products.

T.S.