Tasty figures

The PKM Duda Capital Group, owner of the Polish meat concern of the same name, reported a net profit of zł.15.5 million and sales revenue of zł.289 million in Q1, marking y-o-y increases of 39 percent and 25 percent, respectively. In terms of sales-revenue growth, Duda's result was record breaking. At the same time, however, revenue from exports grew by only one percent y-o-y, from zł.38.7 million in Q1 2006 to zł.39.3 million this year.

When the firm's results were published, Duda's president, Maciej Duda, announced plans to make further acquisitions in Ukraine, possibly in the second quarter of this year. Other plans mentioned by Duda included the purchase of distribution centers and plots.

"We may sign an initial agreement regarding the acquisition of a Ukrainian firm with products in the low-price segment. Its turnover is higher then Rosan's," Duda continued, making a reference to the recently purchased Ukrainian concern Rosan-Agro.

PKM Duda plans to use its investments in Ukraine and distribution activities to stimulate growth in the near future. "In Ukraine we're interested in repeating [our successes in] Poland, only at a faster tempo," said Roman Miler, vice president of Duda.

The firm has proven to have a rapacious appetite for acquisitions. In addition to its April purchase of Rosan-Agro, Duda finalized the acquisition of Stół Polski in March 2007 and took a 95-percent stake of Ukrainian firm Borys in early 2006. (Reuters)