Mokate takes over leading Czech beverage firm Timex

Mokate has a market share of over 50% for cappuccino, tea, hot chocolate and alike. Exports contributed to over 33% in the company's sales in 2005. Timex's yearly turnover totals zł.40 million, of which as much as 25% comes from exports to Slovakia, Austria and the Baltic countries. The company is the leader on the Slovakian and Czech cappuccino, coffee mixes, hot chocolate and coffee cream markets. It also makes instant tea, coffee and other similar products. Meanwhile, Mokate plans to expand into the Central European market. According to Teresa Mokrysz, the owner of Mokate, the company is already present in Slovakia, Czech and Hungary, and is aiming to be in Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine (in January 2006 it opened an affiliate in Kiev). Analysts speculate that the reason for Mokate's expansion abroad is the shrinking Polish cappuccino market which is the main product of the company. After taking over Consumer in 2003, it has also gained a 20% share of the Polish tea market with brands like Lloyd Tea and Bionatural. (Puls Biznesu, p. 10) J.L.