Beverage firm Gellwe to build factory in Katowice SSE

In 2001 beverage company from near Krakow, Gellwe, which produces instant desserts and cappuccino, is planning to build a new zl. 50 million plant in the Katowice Special Economic Zone (SSE). The firm also plans to takeover two smaller enterprises. "We will produce baby food in the new plant. We plan to finance the project differently and we are conducting talks with funds and banks," said Gellwe president Wieslaw Wlodarski. Gellwe is also looking for a partner and it is said that an American fund, but not Enterprise Investors, is interested in the investment. According to Wlodarski, Nestle, which owns Winiary, has a 33% market share in desserts and Gellwe is second with 18%. In cappuccino production Gellwe is third after Mokate from Ustron and Maspex from Wadowice. "Our sales increase by 60-70% each year and we plan to reach a turnover of zl. 150 million in 2000," said Wlodarski. "It is easy to show such rapid jumps in sales, if you start from a very low level. We will see how Gellwe will do in two-three years," said one of Gellwe's domestic competitors. (Puls Biznesu, page 1, 3)