Businessman Christos Karathanassis explains how the plant can become viable and stresses that he does not claim to take EVZ.

Businessman Christos Karathanassis explains how the plant can become viable and stresses that he does not claim to take EVZ."We want to operate the sugar factory of Serres, we do not claim the Greek Sugar Industry. Let the government define the legal framework in which Royal Sugar can operate this plant productively, especially this not for a few months a year but for 12 months each year, "said Voria.gr the chairman and chief executive officer Of "Royal Sugar ABEE", Serres Mr. Christos Karathanassis.

The entrepreneur, who first made his proposal to EVZ two years ago, but also to the creditor bank, Piraeus, as well as to the shareholder of the Company, ie the liquidator of ATE bank, still awaits a response, and he said, they send him " Anna to Kaiafa ".

"The plant in Serres, this year, will stay for the fourth year outside the production process. Royal Sugar has secured the support of a European partner who will contribute know-how but also a company from outside the European Community. Our plan is to stimulate the beet cultivation in the Serres plain, to operate the plant for a four-month Greek beet and in the rest of the year to process imported raw cane products by making the necessary, limited amount of additional investment for modifications In the final phase of the production process ".

This additional investment for 'cane sugar' will not exceed, at most, EUR 1 million.

Mr. Karathanassis stressed that with the forthcoming liberalization of the Sugar Market in the EU, it is an opportunity for both Greek farmers and Greek businesses to exploit the possibilities of producing and marketing sugar for the Greek market as well as for the Western Balkans market Namely Albania, Kosovo and FYROM.

"We do not want to buy the EVZ, we do not want to buy the Serres factory, we do not want to get the real estate. We want to get the management for a period of at least ten years so that we can make the necessary investments, "added the head of Royal Sugar.

As he explained, the sugar mill is maintained and in good condition. In the first year the entrepreneur estimates that the plant will be able to process production from 30,000 to 35,000 acres in order to see any problems, while the Serres sugar factory will be able to process the production up to 150,000 acres in the next phase.

Mr. Karathanasis argued that producers, because Royal Sugar is a healthy business, will not be afraid of delays in their payments. They will receive producer prices at the levels for European beet growers and will also have support for supplies and cultivation care.

"Why should the needs of the Greek market be covered by imports from the big European groups - insofar as the production of EVZ is not enough - and not the sugar produced in Greece?", Said Karathanasis, adding that the project Has been developed by Royal Sugar - for cogeneration - reduces production costs, which is also the weak point of EVZ.

Royal Sugar SA has its headquarters and facilities in the Industrial Area of ​​Sindos, Thessaloniki. It has privately-owned production and storage facilities at 3,500 square meters, a silo and silo vehicle as well as a truck fleet. The Company is active in food wholesale, focusing on the processing and marketing of sugar and flour in Greece and Cyprus. It supplies large retail chains, the HORECA market but also food industries, and has also gone through the packaging and disposal of organic sugar.

As far as its financial data is concerned, in 2016 it had a turnover of more than 18 million euros and EBITDA 400,000 euros, with zero bank lending. In 2017 and depending on international sugar prices, its turnover is estimated to be between 22-23 million euros.

Source: https://www.voria.gr/article/royal-sugar-theli-na-litourgisi-to-zacharourgio-ton-serron