Strongest Croatian Brands Survived and Succeeded After Independence
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.
Vindija Group Donates Respirator to Varazdin General Hospital
December the 5th, 2020 - The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has caused havoc in every sector and industry possible, and while numerous businesses struggle, the institutions suffering without much aid at all are the healthcare facilities. As such, the Croatian Vindija Group has donated a much needed respirator to the Varazdin General Hospital.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Vindija Group has expressed its deep respect and gratitude to all doctors and medical staff, as well as all other people working in the public service sector working to fight the coronavirus pandemic on a daily basis and make superhuman efforts to preserve public health. As a concrete gift which attests to the above, the company donated a respirator to the Varazdin General Hospital, which is currently at the heart of one of Croatia's hardest hit areas.
Vindija believes that it is in these extraordinary circumstances, it is their duty to continue to contribute to the fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus in the spirit of solidarity and of social responsibility. Ever since the very beginning of the epidemic, they have donated their products to Zagreb's "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic'' Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Sisak General Hospital, Varazdin General Hospital, the Red Cross and the Cvjetno naselje student home for those worst affected by the earthquake which struck Zagreb in March, and they're only continuing forward with such activities.
Encouraged by the increasingly poor epidemiological picture across Croatia and the continuous growth of the number of coronavirus patients in Varazdin County, the Vindija Group donated a respirator to the Varazdin General Hospital, and donations of products with the Vindija Quality signature were also sent to the Cakovec County Hospital, which is also unfortunately streadily recording a large number of hospitalisations.
In the period ahead of us, the Vindija Group will continue to monitor and, in accordance with its capabilities, respond to the needs of hospital systems across the country in any way it can.
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