ZAGREB, 6 June, 2021 - The Golden Basket for the best retailer in 2020 was awarded to the Konzum retail chain, Cromaris was the best producer, and Zagreb's Plac.hr was the best small retailer, the Ja Trgovac website said earlier this week.

The award ceremony for the Golden Basket, an annual award for best achievements in the retail sector and consumer goods industry, was organised by the Ja Trgovac website and magazine.

The DM Drogerie Markt won the Golden Basket for socially responsible company of the year, Datalab was technology supplier of the year, and product of the year was Argeta's Gacka trout spread, designed by experts at Atlantic Droga Kolinska.

The editor-in-chief of the Ja Trgovac magazine and website, Goran Pavlović, said that 2020 had been difficult for everyone, and the retail and consumer goods sectors had been the rare bright examples in that challenging time as they had ensured continuous supply of goods to end-users and created preconditions for a normal life, the press release said.

In those conditions it was clear that these were strategic sectors that were a prerequisite for the functioning of other industries and of the society as a whole even in the most difficult circumstances, Pavlović said.

The Golden Basket, he said, provides a platform for presenting the best examples of doing business and highlights their importance in the Croatian economy and society.

The winners were selected by a jury consisting of members from market research agencies, the Deloitte and Oikon companies, the Institute of Economics Zagreb, the Zagreb Faculty of Economics and Business, sectoral associations (HGK, HUP, HOK), the Croatian Consumer Protection Association, the Commercial Trade Union of Croatia and the Ja Trgovac magazine.

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April the 6th, 2021 - The Croatian Cromaris is set to continue investing in its plant located at Gazenica (Zadar) until the year 2023, regardless of the unfavourable economic circumstances caused by the ongoing pandemic.

As Morski writes, one whole year has passed since the decision of the Zadar City Council to make other changes to the Urban Development Plan, which, way back in 2000, was aptly called the "UPU Ferry Terminal".

Apart from the remarks which could be heard back during the public debate from the Local Arbanasi Board, the changes to the Urban Development Plan, which were allegedly made to be more harmonised with the latest changes to the Spatial Plan of the City of Zadar, were adopted by the City Council last week, also without discussion, according to a report from 057.info.

Other changes to the plan, made by D&Z, were requested by the Croatian Cromaris, whose plant lies within the scope of the same plan. Cromaris was purchased from the Adris group by the former Tankerkomerc Seafood Centre way back in 2012, designed by Ante Uglescic, an architect from Zadar. About thirty or so years ago, it was a production facility that was supposed to house a fish market, valued as an example of exemplary architecture within that area.

Cromaris is still a Zadar-based company that requested and paid for changes to the UPU, due to changes in construction conditions in a predominantly industrial zone - a height of up to sixteen metres and a minimum building plot area covering ​​1000 square metres in total. The answer to a journalist's question of ''why'' came through the spokesperson from the Adris headquarters.

''The project of expanding production facilities in Gazenica is crucial for the further growth and development of Cromaris because it will enable the improvement of technological processes and the expansion of our portfolio of value-added products, which are the basis of diversity in relation to the competition. After many years of preparations, the recent amendment of the Urban Development Plan of the Gazenica zone enabled the harmonisation of the project and the obtaining a building permit, as well as the beginning of preparatory works for the first phase. The design of the other two phases is underway, and the completion of the entire project is expected in 2023,'' reads the information that 057.info received in regard to the Croatian Cromaris.

The plan to expand their plant in Gazenica was announced back in pre-pandemic 2019, when it was said that "the development centre was preparing new products that will meet the growing demands of the fish delicatessen market and increase the profitability of Cromaris' processing."

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As Novac writes on the 9th of October, 2020, Cromaris, which operates within the Adris Group, is the sixth company in the world in terms of the cultivation of gilthead sea bream and sea bass. This year, it won the Labo de l'innovation competition from the renowned French specialised magazine Produit de la Mer, winning the Innovation of the Year award for its sea bass, gilt-head bream and fillets in skin packaging.

The expert jury awarded the unique packaging with an attractive appearance that preserves the freshness and exceptional taste of the product which won the highest marks in the competition of the world's leading producers of fish and fish products, Cromaris announced.

''Cromaris is recognised for its freshness, the highest quality, and also the innovativeness of its products, in which we're already market leaders. High value-added products, ie processed products for easier and faster preparation, are a key element of diversity in relation to competition in the domestic, but above all in challenging export markets that are the main foundation of our growth,'' said Goran Markulin, the director of Cromaris. The share of revenue from differentiated products stands at almost 50 percent.

''Following the trends in the food industry and the needs of our consumers, at the end of 2019 Cromaris presented sea bream, sea bass and fillets in a new skin package which, as a practical and healthy product ready to be prepared in just a few minutes, quickly found its way to customers, and this recognition given by the profession is an additional confirmation that we're on the right path of development based on top product quality and innovation,'' concluded Markulin.

After Cromaris, despite the continued unfavourable circumstances caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, achieved record sales during the summer months, the positive trend also continued throughout September. 829 tonnes of fish were sold, which, compared to the previous year, represents a growth of 20 percent. Price growth of two percent and revenue growth of 22 percent were also achieved. If we look at the first nine months of 2020, 7,665 tonnes of fish was sold, which represents a volume growth of five percent and revenue growth of almost seven percent when compared to last year.

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The ongoing coronavirus pandemic brought many previously seemingly untouchable companies to their knees in Croatia and abroad, but for Croatia's fastest growing mariculture company, Cromaris, the negative effects of the pandemic on the economy only further confirmed the toughness this company has managed to acquire. Cromaris received recognition for its top quality.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 11th of August, 2020, the Italians, and Italy is the primary export market for Cromaris, have long rated their products as far better than their competitors. An additional confirmation of all this is the "Superior Taste Award" for various fish which draw their origins from this particular Croatian company.

''The award is given by a jury composed of about 200 international chefs who evaluate the items without knowing who produces them,'' said Goran Markulin, the director of Cromaris, for HRT.

Cromaris is currently the most heavily certified company in the entire Mediterranean manufacturing industry. The average growth rate for years has stood at about twenty percent. Things got a little sticky during the lockdown, however, exports didn't stop even then.

''In March and April, we fell by 15 percent when compared to last year, but we returned slightly in May. From June and July, we've on the path to re-growth,'' revealed Markulin.

''All Cromaris farms are certified with the most important and demanding eco-certificates in the AFC world and we're the only company in the seabass and gilthead seabream industry that has 100 percent of its farms certified with this standard,'' the company noted.

Aquaculture, for which significant funds have been allocated so far through the Maritime and Fisheries Fund, will soon have its own development strategy lasting until 2030.

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ZAGREB, July 1, 2020 - Cromaris sold 956 tonnes of fish and processed products in June, which was 18% more than in June 2019, this leading company in the aquaculture sector in Croatia stated on Wednesday.

The sales revenues increased by about 20% this June as against the same month in 2019.

In the first half of 2020, the corona crisis slightly affected the level of sales, however, the adverse effect was offset by higher prices. As a result, 2020 H1 business revenues are likely to be similar to the company's performance in the corresponding period in 2019.

Cromaris, a member of the Adris Group, introduces itself on its website as "a company that specializes in growing, processing and sale of indigenous Adriatic fish."

"We were established in 2009 through a merger of Croatian and European aquaculture pioneers. Our fish has present in the European market for over 40 years."

More than 80% of the factory's production is exported.

"We are currently present in the markets of Croatia, Italia, Slovenia, Germany, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Hungary."

As Novac/Jozo Vrdoljak writes on the 5th of June, 2020, Croatian fish farmers are worth their weight in gold, and Cromaris, which operates as part of the Adris Group, has received recognition for the top quality of its products - the Superior Taste Award.

The aforementioned award is the most prestigious award in this food segment in the world, and has been being awarded by the International Taste Institute in Brussels since 2005. Cromaris is the winner of the Superior Taste Award 2020 for all three of its registered products: sea bass, sea bream and meagre.

The products are evaluated by the method of blind testing based on appearance, smell, texture and taste, and the judges selected from the most prestigious European culinary associations are not aware of the brand or origin of the tested product. Cromaris sea bass received a maximum of three gold stars this year for its exceptional taste and became the only product from the fresh fish category to win the Crystal award. For its exceptional taste, both gilthead sea bream and meagre were rated as excellent, meaning that Croatia's very own Cromaris is the only winner of the award for sea bass, gilthead sea bream and meagre among Mediterranean white fish producers.

''Top product quality is our imperative. We offer our consumers only fish with impeccable freshness and a superior nutritional composition and taste, which was recognised by the expert jury this year as well. Today, Cromaris is recognised on the market as a leader in quality, which, along with consumer trust and numerous certificates, is further confirmed by such recognitions,'' said Goran Markulin, CEO of Cromaris.

Cromaris is certified according to ISO standards 9001, 14001, 22000 and IFS Food for quality, environmental management and food safety. It also holds GlobalG.A.P certifications among other things. In addition, Cromaris believes in organic production, which is a growing trend across the world and is in line with the growing health awareness.

Organic sea bass and gilthead sea bream are grown with the application of very strict ecological standards, as evidenced by their certificates for organic production: the European eco-certificate, Bio Siegel, Agriculture Biologique and Naturland. Cromaris is also the holder of the ASC certificate, the most demanding certificate in the industry, which confirms the sustainability of its production, the regulation of environmental impact, social relations in the company and the like.

Today, Cromaris is the fastest growing and most export-oriented company. Cromaris fish is present in all major European markets, and the share of exports accounts for more than 80 percent of sales. The main export market is Italy.

Adris has invested more than a billion kuna in the development of the company since its founding back in 2009, resulting in a strong growth of all business indicators. The company grew an average of 22 percent per year, and sales increased almost tenfold with numerous technological and production innovations.

In 2019, Cromaris achieved sales of 9,557 tonnes of fresh fish, marking a significant increase of eight percent. The total amount of products sold comes to 8,761 tonnes and is seven percent higher than it was last year. Volume sales in export markets increased by seven percent, most of them in the Italian and Austrian markets.

In line with the growth of quantities and prices in 2019, sales revenue increased by eight percent. Revenues from the sale of various products, primarily freshly cleaned and packaged fish, increased by 23 percent. High value-added products currently account for 44 percent of Cromaris' total sales, up five percentage points from the previous year.

Despite the global economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Cromaris notes that they are doing well. In the first quarter of this year, it achieved sales of 1,830 tonnes, which is just three percent less than in the first three months of last year. The majority of its revenues continue to be generated by exports.

Cromaris delivered fish to Italy on a daily basis throughout the coronavirus epidemic, which was very demanding and almost unthinkable for many. It is now working on preparing new projects for new recyclable and sustainable packaging, expanding its range, organic farming and reorganising the processing process to maintain high growth rates.

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As Morski writes on the 27th of May, 2019, Prof. Dr. Matthias Gauly, a professor at Bolzano University and President of the European Association of Animal Science (EAAP), one of the largest animal breeding associations in Europe, has been in the Zadar area in recent days.

With the help of doc. dr. sc. Ivan Župan from the Department of Ecology, Agronomy and Aquaculture of the University of Zadar, he got better acquainted with Zadar's local aquaculture. Namely, EAAP didn't have a section on this aspect of agricultural production, which was recently established by Dr. Župan. Gauly got to know the production processes which take place in Cromaris and with Kali tuna out in the field, and he's leaving Zadar with positive impressions, according to HRT Radio Zadar.

''Our department was actively involved in the co-organising of the EAAP Congress last year in Dubrovnik, where we presented, along with other participants such as AGRRA and Cromaris, the state of aquaculture and our scientific work. Nearly 2,000 participants from all over the world participated in the congress, and in our section there were thirteen speakers. This year, we continued our activities. So far, we have fifteen registered participants and we're trying to create a working group that would further enhance aquaculture within this association,'' stated Dr. Župan.

A working visit was an opportunity for Dr. Gauly to understand how aquaculture is developed in a county that hold over seven percent of the state's entire share. With deputy professor prof. dr. sc. Slaven Zeljić, they visited Cromaris and Kali Tuna, where they could see how production is done live in the sea. The whole process of production was explained to them, from getting younger fish to the aspects of fish processing, which left an obviously good impression.

''As a department, we want to connect more tightly with the economy, but also with the businesses involved in fisheries and aquaculture, we're closer to the associations that can help them in their production. EAAP covers all aspects of livestock production, poultry farming, cattle breeding, general livestock farming, but so far, we have not included aquaculture as one of the fastest growing branches. This will also provide opportunities for advancement to scientists and businesses,'' said Župan.

EAPP covers a number of topics that are important to manufacturers such as health, genetics, and environmental protection.

Gauly says he has positive impressions of what he saw in Zadar and is impressed with everything he has seen there, in terms of scientific work and in terms of the collaboration with Zadar's local producers.

"I've been convinced that the production takes the environment into account and that it has a future because it's viable. I appreciate that from the beginning, the owners have collaborated with the industry, and given feedback on the state of the environment so researchers can continue to lead them. It is very positive that students are involved in all of this, who have a very critical approach. I've seen a lot of young professional people who can stay here where they are educated and who like to work. Our association also has a platform for young scientists, who will be able to express their potential through it, working with colleagues from other countries,'' noted Gauly.

The EAAP brings together experts from all European countries and better connects them with the industry.

"What I've experienced over these twenty or so years is that we gain a much better understanding among people through co-operation. I think that's more important today than ever. The friends I met at the beginning of my engagement today, I understand now much better than I ever did before. Although we differ, we retain our identities in many things. As far as Zadar University is concerned, it's very active, it's been involved in our activities from the very beginning and I look forward to our future cooperation,'' concluded Gauly.

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