Fidelinka from Subotica has ranked among the most successful companies in Serbia through successful business and high quality products and this year, 2007, marks six decades of operation. During its long history the name Fidelinka has become synonymous with first-class quality flour, pasta, baked goods, starch and agricultural products.

Regarding the new tendencies of development for the company, Predrag Vučetić, Deputy General Director for Commercial Affairs, says:

“Fidelinka has put into effect several strategic development-investment projects, among which are segments of the bakery, confectionery industry, specialised milling, expanding the assortment of pasta and modernising the production of gluten and starch as well as moving in the direction of the raw materials sector.”

“When talking about the bakery industry, Fidelinka, besides the existing regional production centre in Subotica, opened a modern production facility in Novi Sad and Belgrade where all types of baked goods are produced. We have also upgraded the transportation fleet with modern delivery vehicles. Fidelinka sees its big chance in the possibility of extending the shelf-life of baked goods. We have invested around two million euros in this project this year.”

Vučetić adds that the second part of the project of the bakery includes the construction of a factory in Belgrade, which would be the most modern bakery in Southeast Europe and in which the entire assortment of the bakery programme would be produced, from bread, baked and flaky pastries, to a large assortment of confectionery products as well as an unlimited possibility for finalised processed products. This factory’s distribution would cover the entire territory of Serbia as well as the countries of Southeast Europe with the planned value of investment at around 20 million euros.

After six decades in production of grains and pastas, Fidelinka, in its own strategic direction of development, has also begun creating new brands. This is how the chain of café-bakeries Bread&Co came into existence. The specialty lies in the rich offering of bakery and confectionery products, sandwiches, salads, coffee and other beverages as well as in the pleasant and unique interior and good service. There are currently three locations in Belgrade and one in Subotica. Fidelinka plans to open fifty such cafés in all larger cities in Serbia by 2009.

Fidelinka has aimed its market orientations on the domestic market as well as on the markets of other countries in the region. With the introduction of the CEFTA agreement by the member countries, the company plans to become one of the main players in sales in the region. The implementation of the HACCP Certificate and the adherence to ISO standards has fulfilled an important prerequisite for access to the European market.

The positive directions of development have resulted also in the rise in value of Fidelinka stocks on the stock market.

The growth of Fidelinka’s stocks from July of last year until September of the current year has been recorded as a leap of more than 45 percent, which leads us to the conclusion that investors, by all means, recognise the value and power of Fidelinka – asserts Vučetić.

Partnership as a Prerequisite of Success

The good results of the company from Subotica could not have been reached without constant and reliable partners from all areas of business. Above all through the long-term good business cooperation with large sales and distribution chains: Delta Maxi, M Rodić, DIS, Metro, Idea, Merkator, Pekabeta, Zdrava Alijansa, CBA Trgovina, Univereksport, Trgopromet, as well as with all other renowned trade companies. When considering banking support, Fidelinka's partners are Hypo Alpe Adria Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, Continental Bank, Kulska Bank, Vojvođanska Bank, AIK Bank and leasing firms.

Business 21.11.2007