Polski Cukier embarks on ambitious consolidation program

This year will be crucial for the sugar holding Polski Cukier (PC) as it fights to protect its market share against a 40% dominance by foreign players. To this end Wladyslaw Lukasik, the group's head, intends to merge all independent sugar plants - a move which promises to secure the holding 37% of the Polish market. A few days ago two companies, Lubelsko-Malopolska and Poznansko-Pomorska, joined forces to become part of Krajowa Spolka Cukrowa (KSC), by virtue of which they also became members of PC. Now other independent sugar plants are also to merge with the holding. "All in all there are 27 entities and I hope to complete this consolidation process within eight months. At the same time we have to build a new trading structure for the whole group," stated Lukasik. The restructuring program has been lying dormant at the Treasury Ministry since December. The manager of the holding did not want to disclose any details until the program had been evaluated by the Ministry. (Puls Biznesu, p.3) A.C.