Kolański's plan to consolidate herb and chocolate companies

Jan Kolański, owner of Ziołopeks and shareholder of confectionary producer Jutrzenka, is considering merging his businesses with other companies from the confectionery, herbs and tea sectors, which would allow him to create a group with annual turnover of more than zł. 400 million within two years. Ziołopex is the second largest herb company on a market which has an annual turnover of around zł. 800 million. The firm recently opened a new and modern plant in Wykroty, Lower Silesia. "Wykroty has good communications with the port in Hamburg, from which we receive our raw materials, and is close to the EU markets, on which we are already present thanks to our subsidiary in Germany," explained Kolański. According to sources, Kolański is planning to increase his involvement in Jutrzenka to exceed a 50% stake by the end of the year. Last year, the company had sales of over zł. 115 million, which are likely to grow to zł. 135-150 million in 2003. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B4) M.M.