January 4, 2020 – A map showing production across the former Yugoslavia details the sustained prosperity of many Croatian favourites as some of the strongest Croatian brands are shown not only to have survived but have succeeded following independence

Media across Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia have surprised younger readers and reminded older readers with the publication of a map detailing production in the former Yugoslavia. While this trip down memory lane has caused a range of reactions across the countries of the former republic, looking at the map from a purely Croatian perspective gives some enlightening information. Namely, many of the strongest Croatian brands visible on the map are recognisable today. Some of the strongest Croatian brands not only survived independence but have since grown.

Bajadera - one of the most popular products made by Zagreb-based chocolate and confectionery manufacturers Kraš

Zagreb-based chocolate and confectionery manufacturers Kraš, Požega-based confectionery and drinks manufacturers Zvečevo, oil company INA, Koprivnica-based food company Podravka and Koprivnica-based pharmaceuticals company Belupo, vitamin drink Cedevita, Varaždin-based food company Vindija, Vukovar shoemakers Borovo, Varaždin clothes designers and manufacturers Varteks and multi-use condiment Vegeta are just some of the strongest Croatian brands that are present on the map. You are still likely to see these brand names on many Croatian high streets. Some have succeeded in reaching further into international markets since Croatian independence.

Croatian-made condiment Vegeta is sold all over the world

Of course, not every brand visible on the map of Yugoslavia production has fared so well. In their coverage of the map, Ri.portal reminds that “Some of the Yugoslav products were used by literally the whole world - ships, cars, planes, trucks, weapons and even computers were produced... However, many of these companies no longer exist or are bankrupt.”

In their coverage of the map, Bosnian website Klix reminds that Croatian shipyards Uljanik in Pula and 3 Maj in Rijeka were at world level and produced large ships for customers from all over the world. Split-based shipyard Brodosplit, which can also be seen on the map, survives to this day.

Croatian vitamin drink Cedevita comes in a range of flavours

Ri.portal goes on to remember that Yugoslavia was one of only five countries in Europe at the time that manufactured its own computers. “Probably the most famous is the Galaxy, while the first computer produced was the CER-10,” they say. One of the Yugoslav computer makers on the map, popular in the late 1970s, was Digitron, based in Buje in Istria.

Sadly, not all of the strongest Croatian brands have made it until today. Famous tractor and agriculture equipment manufacturer Tomo Vinković of Bjelovar is no longer in production. Their famously-reliable machines are much in-demand on the secondhand market. Two new tractor manufacturers, Hittner doo and the Prima tractor factory still make tractors in Bjelovar.

The Croatian shipbuilding industry hasn't been doing well in recent years. The Uljanik shipyard in the Istrian city of Pula has been the location of what has often looked like absolutely harrowing scenes of unpaid workers striking and demanding their hard earned wages, and that isn't even half of it. Following an extremely concerning and turbulent period, some excellent news has come out of Rijeka's formerly ailing 3 Maj shipyard - a new ship has officially been contracted.

As Morski writes on the 20th of December, 2019, the keel for this brand new polar cruiser, which is a sister ship to the one built in Pula's equally troubled shipyard Uljanik, is due to be laid out during the second quarter of next year.

The new vessel 3 Maj is set work on is a new polar cruiser for the Australian shipowner Glenn Moroney, the owner of Scenic. This more than encouraging news was confirmed for Novi list by the director of the 3 Maj shipyard in Rijeka, Edi Kučan.

The launch of this vessel should take place in the first quarter of 2021, and 3 Maj will be responsible for the building of the ship's hull and partially equipping the polar cruiser.

Details of the value of the contract are not yet publicly known, and the Rijeka shipyard's director Edi Kučan merely said that they were very satisfied with the deal.

He also noted that Moroney intends to build four more such vessels, which opens up the possibilities for further work for 3 Maj, Novi list reports.

Could this mark a turnaround for the Croatian shipbuilding industry as a whole in 2020? After tumultuous times and extremely difficult financial periods, as well as tussles with the state, it's high time that this industry in particular got a break, and 3 Maj's new jobs might just be the beginning of a positive change for the coming year.

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