Vegeta - the way to Polish hearts

By cutting the ribbon together in Kostrzyn on Saturday, 28th October, the President of the Republic of Croatia, Stjepan Mesić, and his Polish counterpart, Aleksandar Kwasniewski, opened a new plant for the production of Vegeta, soups and powdered products. This is the first foreign investment in the free economic zone not far from the Polish – German border. Numerous Polish and Croatian high officials, members of Parliament, representatives of city and county authorities, investors and business partners, accompanied by some seventy reporters from both countries, attended the ceremony.
Through this act, Podravka took a large step in winning over Poland – its most significant foreign market – but also created conditions for greater competitiveness in neighbouring countries.

The President of the Management Board of Podravka, Darko Marinac, said about this event:
“ I believe that all of us present here today are equally happy and satisfied. The fact that Podravka is expanding in the production sector in Poland is good news for our consumers, our owners, the stock market, and certainly for the economies of both Poland and Croatia. Our products have long been accepted in Poland as home-produced goods. From now on, our popular Vegeta will be a 100% domestic product here. Also our other food products, like Podravka soups, will be made more widely available to our cherished Polish consumers.”

Stjepan Mesić said: “To open such a factory, we needed the participation of planners, builders, and investors who could see the future profitability of this project, the stimulating model of the free zone of the Polish Government, but we have this factory here today particularly thanks to the person who created Vegeta, and this is Mrs. Zlata Bartl. It is obvious that Polish people like Vegeta, it has become part of their cuisine, and I would like now to invite them to follow the track of Vegeta and come to Croatia as tourists, where they will be welcome as very dear guests”.

The President of Poland, Aleksandar Kwasniewski, accepted this invitation in the name of his compatriots, adding that Croatia is a beautiful country which is now quickly heading in European directions.

“Poland and Croatia have great prospects for co-operation, and the opening of this plant is the best proof that we can be true partners. Podravka, which in one year has built a factory employing 180 people and already possesses its own commercial sector in this country, works both for Poland and for Croatia. And Vegeta is the best way to Polish hearts”, stressed President Kwasniewski.