Natra establishes chocolate subsidiary after reorganisation

Spanish firm Natra has announced a new international chocolate subsidiary as it attempts to improve efficiency and explore new markets.

Natra Chocolate International will focus upon markets in southern and central Europe and Germany though a new sales and distribution platform.

The company said the move would boost commercial synergies within its Consumer Products Division, with regard to sales, logistics and distribution, marketing, and administrative management.

New markets

The company added that plans were afoot to enter new European markets with the subsidiary.

“At a later stage, Belgium, Netherlands and United Kingdom, as well as other markets, will be added gradually,” said the company in a statement.

The company claims that it has tripled its turnover in three years through growth and expansion.

Natra’s turnover for the first nine month of 2011 stood at €235.9m, up 9% on the previous year.

It’s greatest gains came in its chocolate and cacao with earnings up 12.9% on 2010.

Efficiency driver

The company said that the new subsidiary would enable cost-savings.

“All the sale and distribution processes of the different types and varieties of bars, chocolates, spreads and tablets, including the logistics of the same, are to be merged into a single platform, thus avoiding duplication and economic and organizational inefficiencies,” it said.

Under the reorganisation, the company’s operating subsidiaries in France and Spain have been moved its Natra Chocolate International.

Under new management

The decision to reorganise operations comes shortly after Natra made changes to its top brass.

In November last year, the Natra Board of Directors appointed Juan Ignacio Egaña as the company’s new CEO and Mikel Beitia Larrañaga as chairman.