Mlekpol continues to consolidate market prior to EU entry

Grajewo-based milk holding Mlekpol has successfully expanded the number of its dairies from four to six. The dairies, which have been officially acquired by the company on November 1, are located in Zambrów and Augustów. At present all of the plants will have a total of over 16,000 suppliers. The take over was based on the law governing cooperatives. Their new parent company informed that the dairy processing factories will continue producing the same products in which they had so far specialized in. "The consolidation of the plants will simplify conquering the market after Poland joins the EU and it will also make our products offer more attractive," claims Mlekpol president Edmund Borawski. At present, exports already account for 20% of total sales. Mlekpol Holding is perceived, as the largest sector company in the country. According to company data, in 2002 the holding bought and processed 500 million liters of milk, which accounted for about 7.2% of all the milk bought in the nation. (www.onet.pl)M.M