February the 6th, 2021 - Martina Dalic, perhaps best known for her role in the weird and rarely wonderful Agrokor saga which dominated the Croatian public and nearly sent the economy down the drain just a few years ago, has come to the helm of the Croatian company Podravka following Marin Pucar's premature death.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the corporate, but also very much political news of the week is certainly what many as referring to as the "rehabilitation" of former government minister Martina Dalic by appointing her to the position of President of the Management Board of Podravka.

Martina Dalic was the personal choice of Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, and although the media speculated that some members of the Supervisory Board would oppose it, her appointment was unanimously confirmed by the Supervisory Board on Wednesday. Her term will last until February 2022, because until then the company should have been run by the recently deceased Marin Pucar, who passed away after a battle with an illness.

Although Podravka is two-thirds owned by private capital, pension funds hold almost 49 percent of the shares, and the state has only 24 percent, the company is under "strong pressure" from politics. This, without exception, applies to all policy options, and the “right” to management and staffing is laid from the local to the highest national level. After Pucar's death at the beginning of January, the head of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Luka Burilovic, the director of Adris Cromaris, Goran Markulin, and a member of the Management Board of Podravka for Finance, Davor Doko, were all in the race for Podravka's proverbial ''throne''.

"Personally, I'm glad that the proposal for my appointment was made by the largest individual shareholder of the Croatian Government, it means a lot to me," said Martina Dalic after the Supervisory Board session. She added that one of the first steps she intends to take will be to get to know the associates and representatives of the workers, but that she is not yet thinking about the reconstruction of the company's management.

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the record decline experienced by the entire domestic economy, by the end of September, Podravka had achieved revenue growth of 3.3 billion kuna (+ 2.8 percen), while sales revenues in the food and pharmaceutical segment also grew. The annual results for 2020 will be announced on February the 26th.

To briefly recall, former Deputy Prime Minister Martina Dalic resigned back in May 2018 after the Borg affair revealed that she coordinated a group of individuals who wrote Lex Agrokor for the Croatian Government without contracts and official decisions, who were then charged for their consulting services to the now disgraced concern.

Martina Dalic still claims that she did nothing wrong in the Agrokor affair - and she even referred to the work she did regarding Agrokor as a ''great experience and reference''.

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February 3, 2021 – Mr Plenkovic smiled warmly as he was presented with a special edition Vegeta carton, which replaced the face of its famous chef's mascot with his own. He was on a visit to the makers of the world-famous condiment

When it comes to Croatia's most-famous brands, the cooking condiment Vegeta is pretty much at the top of the tree. Its instantly-recognisable blue packaging and iconic chef's head mascot can be seen at supermarkets across much of the world. No wonder, then, that Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic smiled warmly and laughed when presented with a special edition Vegeta carton, which replaced the face of its famous chef's mascot with his own.

© Danica.hr / Podravka

The Croatian Prime Minister was on a visit to the Koprivnica-based makers of the world-famous condiment when he was presented with the special edition Vegeta. The gift was donated to him by the management of Podravka, the company that makes Vegeta.

Mr Plenkovic's visit actually took place some time ago, but the picture of the presentation of the special edition Vegeta only came to light on Tuesday 2 February 2021 when published in danica.hr, after it had appeared in the Podravka factory newsletter.

The iconic Vegeta chef, who has what some might describe as a 'French moustache', has been the mascot of the most famous exported Croatian food product for many decades. He was put on the packaging way back in 1964 and has been a featured part of Vegeta packaging ever since.

Vegeta packaging through the years, with the ever-present 'French chef' mascot © Podravka

The Vegeta condiment celebrated its 60th birthday in 2019. Vegeta was first devised in 1959 at the food laboratory of Podravka by a team led by Professor Zlate Bartl. In Koprivnica, where it was first made. they call it Podravka's loose gold because Vegeta was the fastest-selling product of the company in its early years and the main reason for the rapid development of the company. Vegeta is popularly put into soups and stews to give them more flavour. Among its ingredients are small pieces of dehydrated vegetables like carrot, parsnip, onion, celery, plus spices, salt and herbs like parsley.

February the 3rd, 2021 - Is former government minister Martina Dalic set to take the late Marin Pucar's place at the head of the much loved Croatian brand Podravka? It might well happen, as has been alleged from several well informed sources.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the pension funds and the Croatian Government have reached an alleged agreement that former Deputy Prime Minister Martina Dalic, who was previously deeply embroiled in the bizarre and seemingly endless Agrokor saga, will take over the management of the Croatian company Podravka.

Vecernji list was the publication to initially find out this information from informed sources.

The decision should be made at the meeting of Podravka's Supervisory Board which is currently scheduled for Wednesday. Should it be true, former minister Martina Dalic will come to the post at Podravka with the strong support of Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who apparently didn't remain indebted to her in any sense at all after Martina Dalic resigned due to criticism of the non-transparency of the decisions surrounding the often murky restructuring of the former Agrokor.

The race for the new head of Podravka is starting, here are the main candidates

The appointment will last for one year, for the duration of the term of office of the existing members of Podravka's Management Board, and a confirmation of the full five-year term should follow in February 2022. After the tragic and premature death of Marin Pucar following a battle with an illness, the fund industry proposed their financier Davor Dok as a ''natural'' successor, the local authorities had their favourites, but according to sources, it seems Martina Dalic is set to take Podravka's proverbial throne.

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January the 6th, 2021 - Podravka Chairman Marin Pucar (49) has sadly passed away following a long battle with an illness.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Podravka chairman Marin Pucar, who was a well known face of the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) and was also one of the most prominent Croatian entrepreneurs, has died following a battle with a serious illness at the Koprivnica General Hospital, Vecernji list has learned.

Podravka Chairman Marin Pucar was born in the coastal Dalmatian city of Zadar. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Zagreb, where he completed his studies in "Marketing Theory and Policy", and after that he obtained a degree in Retail Management at Leeds Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom. After graduating, he got a job at Croatia's famous Gavrilovic, quickly advancing to the position of product manager, and then even further to brand manager. In 2001, he began working at Podravka as the sales director for the Danica meat industry, after which he was promoted to the position of sales, marketing and development director. In 2003, he became the director of the company's meat programme sales, and not only for Croatia, but for all of Southeastern Europe.

At the end of 2003, he took over the position of market director for the Republic of Croatia, which he held until he was appointed a member of the Management Board in 2008. In 2012, he moved from Podravka to Zvecevo to work as the President of the Management Board, where he worked until September the 1st, 2016, after which he agreed with the company's owners to terminate his contract by mutual agreement in order for him to be able to complete his doctoral studies in Osijek. In 2017, he was appointed President of the Management Board of Podravka at the proposal of the Minister of State Property Goran Maric.

Marin Pucar leaves behind two daughters with his first wife Tihana, as well as his second wife, Renata.

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.

December the 30th, 2020 - Podravka is as well known to every Croat as the dangers of propuh and arguments over what real burek are. Thanks to EU cash, the much loved Croatian company Podravka has its sights on one area in particular.

As Marija Crnjak/Poslovni Dnevnik writes, for the project of developing innovative by-products during vegetable processing, worth a little less than seven million kuna, the Croatian compan Podravka was approved three million euros in non-refundable funds from the European Regional Development Fund. This is the first research project of the Koprivnica-based food company that will be financed from European Union funds.

As the Croatian company Podravka explains, during the two years of its implementation, an innovative, technologically efficient process of separating nutritionally valuable biowaste from the industrial vegetable processing of Podravka's Kalnik Factory in Varazdin will be looked into for the development of new and innovative food products.

The potential for biogas production from all waste production streams will also be further investigated, and the expected results of this project are the creation of new knowledge and the increase of Podravka's intangible assets through patents and yet more new brands, increasing the efficiency of the production process through the commercialisation of innovative products.

A few years ago, Podravka started analysing the condition and potential of by-products that arise during production in its factories, especially in the Kalnik and Umag plants.

As explained from the company, the research and development sector of Podravka in that period in cooperation with the academic community set hypotheses based on previously published scientific papers, and preliminary tests determined the existence of the nutritional potential of vegetable by-products that could focus on the development of completely new products and added value.

Since additional larger-scale research was needed for stronger evidence to back that up, back in February 2020, the Croatian company Podravka applied for EU funds through this project.

"I believe that the comprehensiveness of the project's goals, which touch on as many as three thematic priority areas of the Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Republic of Croatia (Food and Bioeconomy, Energy and Sustainable Environment and Health and Quality of Life), has greatly contributed to this rapid positive result.

We're extremely proud of this project, which is the result of cooperation between different sectors within the company, management, associates and consultants,'' said Jasmina Ranilovic, the project manager and the director of Research and Development at Podravka.

The recently presented project for the development of innovative products from the category of food for special medical needs is being co-financed from EU funds, which together included the Rudjer Boskovic Institute (RBI) and the pharmaceutical company Belupo. The value of the joint research and development project stands at an impressive nine million kuna, of which 6.1 million kuna was co-financed with European Union money.

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The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has seen businesses, even those who are themselves struggling, step forward and selflessly help out those who are working tirelessly on the front lines of the battle against the spread of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Podravka, a well known and much loved Croatian company, has made a generous donation to the Koprivnica General Hospital to help them in their fight against the new pathogen.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, as part of its socially responsible business and continuous support to those in need across the community, and especially due to the pressures caused by the pandemic, Podravka handed over valuable donations to the Koprivnica General Hospital, for which it set aside an impressive 635,000 kuna in total.

The last in a series is the donation of respirators and five devices for high oxygen flow therapy used to treat the most severe clinical pictures among COVID-19 patients, all of which was presented to the director of the Koprivnica General Hospital, Dr. med. Mato Devcic.

It's worth noting that recently, Podravka also donated funds to the same hospital for the purchase of incubators, examination beds and cabinets for the needs of the pediatrics department, as well as other much needed and highly appreciated equipment.

Part of the pediatrics department of the Koprivnica General Hospital is now decorated with playful wall coverings from which some favourite characters of Croatian kids smile, and the equipment is adapted to children of different ages. Additionally, the newly renovated common area of ​​the department is now equipped with various fun and educational toys, board games and picture books.

"Feeling for the needs of the community is an indispensable part of the way we do business, especially when it comes to the needs of healthcare institutions that care for the sick and which, due to the current health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, carry the greatest burden of all. In this way, we want to contribute to their daily exceptional efforts in treating those who are sick. We're especially sensitive to the needs of the youngest in our society and we're glad that in these challenging times, with our donation to the pediatrics department of the Koprivnica General Hospital, we can help to procure all of the necessary equipment and provide children with a space that encourages them to get through their difficult days in hospital,'' stated Marin Pucar, President of the Management Board of Podravka.

''The Koprivnica General Hospital is grateful to Podravka for the multiple valuable donations it has provided that will greatly help us in treating coronavirus patients, but also improve the quality of children's stay in the pediatric ward of our hospital. This is an example of how, with a good idea, the quality of the healthcare system can be influenced by the economic segment,'' said Mato Devcic, MD, the director of the Koprivnica General Hospital.

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As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 18th of November, 2020, the Management Board of the Croatian Podravka made a decision on the payment of a one-time award to the company's loyal employees in the amount of 1,000 kuna net based on the achieved business results for the first nine months of this year and as a thank you for their contribution and engagement during these extremely difficult times dominated by the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition, in accordance with the provisions of the Collective Agreement of the Podravka Group, every employee of the Croatian Podravka who has a child under the age of 15 who is entitled to healthcare is paid a gift on the occasion of the quickly approaching Christmas holidays in the amount of 600.00 kuna net.

"On this occasion, I would like to especially thank all of our workers for their enormous contribution and engagement in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. During this year, the economy has been exposed to many negative impacts, but we have shown that this company is ready to transform its business in a very short time and respond to the many challenges we face every day. I'm convinced that we will continue to successfully deal with all of these challenges and continue to build an even more successful Podravka,'' said Marin Pucar, President of the Management Board of Podravka.

The Croatian Podravka has already rewarded its employees twice this year. Back in March this year, Podravka's employees in the production and logistics units and directly related services were rewarded with 1,000 kuna net for working in three shifts, given the then increased market needs for Podravka's products, and in July with recourse up to the maximum non-taxable amount of 3,000 kuna net. The company also paid a bonus to all employees in the amount of 1,000 kuna net.

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As Novac writes on the 10th of October, 2020 - Lino Lada ice cream, created in collaboration with Podravka and Ledo, won the Golden Basket (Zlatna Kosarica) for the best product in the year 2019, a prestigious annual award given by the magazine I TRGOVAC.

In the category in which there are traditionally the largest number of applicants and strong competition of top Croatian products, Lino Lada ice cream won the expert jury over with its unique taste and innovation. The Golden Basket is a new big recognition for Lino Lada ice cream, which was declared the best in the world at the International Ice Cream Consortium in Sweden last year.

''The Golden Basket for Product of the Year confirmed that, together with our partner Ledo, we've recognised the potential of expanding the range of Lino Lada cream spreads into new innovative categories such as impulse ice creams. In the past period, Lino Lada ice cream has achieved exceptional results and delighted consumers on both the domestic and global markets. The Lino Lada brand is once again proving to be a favourite cream spread, and winning the Golden Basket for the product of the year for the second year in a row is an additional confirmation of the quality and innovation of Podravka's products,'' said Vesna Visnic, Podravka's Director of Kids' Food, Sweets and Snacks.

''We're extremely honoured to have received this award as another proof of the quality of what we do, for Lino Lada ice cream, which we made in collaboration with Podravka, which is truly the perfect partner for such an attractive and innovative product. In addition, it is a confirmation dedicated to the hard work of our employees, and especially the development team that successfully turns their creative ideas into the finest ice creams and frozen products. So, congratulations to them too! Every year we try to develop some new flavours and combinations and take a step further in the desire to innovate and enhance our creativity to meet the most diverse requirements of our customers and consumers, because they're our number one priority. This shows that we're succeeding in that,'' said Stela Ilijas, Assistant Director of Marketing and Development.

Lino Lada ice cream was first launched on the market in April 2019. In just a few days since the launch, the first stocks were sold out, making it the most sought-after dessert in all of the Republic of Croatia, and a total of 2.8 million pieces of Lino Lada ice cream were sold on the Croatian and foreign markets last year.

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As Zlatko Simic/Novac writes on the 17th of June, 2020, Dalibor Kezele (45) has been working as the director of the agricultural sector in Podravka since the beginning of this year. He was born in Koprivnica and graduated from the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb in 1998. Quite logically so, he got a job at the much loved Croatian company Podravka.

After fourteen years of gaining experience in Serbia, Montenegro and the Czech Republic, he returned to Koprivnica in 2017 to take up the position of director of the Food Business Programme, being put in charge of categories such as fruits, vegetables and other Podravka products.

Many years of experience in marketing and management positions haven't gone unnoticed in the profession, and Dalibor became the president of the Association of the Food Industry and Agriculture and a member of the Association of Food Processing Industry at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK). 

The coronavirus crisis is behind us. What situation did you find in your fields at the beginning?

Vegetables such as peas, beets, eggplant and tomatoes are fully provided from domestic fields. Most other vegetables must be imported in a certain percentage, such as cucumbers, pepperoni and peppers. For the last few years, our goal has been to provide these vegetables (peppers, cucumbers, pepperoni) that aren't entirely domestic from Croatian fields through the encouragement and development of family farms. We know that domestic raw materials are of the highest quality and are the most favourable because the whole production process is supervised and controlled by Podravka.

What has changed since the crisis began?

Unfortunately, the coronavirus crisis has shown us the importance of domestic raw materials and domestic production. During this crisis, we embarked more intensively on a promotional campaign towards farmers who are engaged or who want to engage in vegetable production, with a special focus on cucumbers, peppers and pepperoni. We encourage the production of these vegetables by stimulating purchase prices, lending to agricultural production, education, and we offer assistance during their production.

In what way do you work on connecting small producers to ones such as yourselves, the big ones?

In order to develop domestic agriculture and stop deruralisation, it's necessary to support small producers who can't compete with producers and processors like the large ones, and connecting small family farms with large producers is necessary to improve their productivity. That's why, in the last few years, we've been trying to strengthen our cooperation with existing subcontractors, but also to encourage new farmers to decide to produce vegetables for Podravka, all in order to provide as many vegetables from Croatian fields as possible.

What do you offer them to encourage them to produce vegetables for Podravka?

We offer them professional assistance during the entire vegetation period, from sowing to harvest, we educate them, we offer them the possibility of lending with seeds, seedlings and raw materials, and stimulating purchase prices. The average Podravka producer of, for example, cucumber or pepperoni, is a small family farm of a family of four that produces this vegetable on an area of ​​1000 to 2000 m2, which requires labour-intensive production. Therefore, our goal is to keep, encourage and be available to these small producers in every respect. Our production organisers are at their disposal and they will purchase the vegetables from them directly from the field.

What's so special about the vegetables that are produced for processing in Podravka?

Systematic care for the production of quality raw materials has been carried out by Podravka for many years now, and it begins with the creation of varieties of top quality which have adapted for cultivation in the local area. Therefore, any variety must undergo at least three years of quality and adaptation testing to local production conditions before any commercial production. Thus, the red peppers that Podravka uses for the production of ajvar are the result of many years of work and research by Podravka's agronomists.

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