Major wine producers are upbeat

Major wine producers such as Murfatlar, Cotnari, Recaş, Halewood and Angelli have budgeted higher or flat sales from 2010 for this year, after two challenging years with weak figures for most of them, when the entire market felt the purchasing power decline.

The positive trend, say producers, is supported both by new product launches and by moves to tap into new export markets. Several producers have already marked 50 launches, while others are preparing the first shipments to new foreign destinations.

On the wine market, valued at 350m euros last year, around 10% of sales are made during the Easter period, so that producers are rushing to catch this consumer spending peak with new products.

While large companies have set their growth directions for this year, things are different in the category of small and medium sized enterprises.

The first test for companies will come on Easter. It remains to be seen whether they will pass it or not.