Atlantic builds its first solar photovoltaic power plant at LDC Zagreb

Although it may seem that the global economic situation is stabilizing and inflation is easing, the business world still feels the ‘tails’ of the recent peak of the crisis in its operations, and the war in Ukraine continues.

We are in full swing preparing for the largest Lider conference, the Day of Big Plans, which is being held for the 15th consecutive year, and this year it will take place on September 27 at the Westin hotel in Zagreb.

This year, we expect leaders from various industries in Croatia, representatives of the public sector and state institutions on stage, from whom we will learn firsthand what awaits the entrepreneurial scene and the Croatian economy as a whole in 2024, how all economic stakeholders are facing existing challenges and preparing for upcoming ones, and what their forecasts and predictions are for the next year.

One of them is Emil Tedeschi, founder and majority owner of Atlantic Group and one of the largest entrepreneurs in Croatia. Tedeschi is a recipient of numerous awards from the profession and media, and in 2010 he received the award from the President of the Republic of Croatia for special contributions to the economy. By participating in the work of the National Parliamentary Committee for Monitoring Negotiations, he was actively involved in the process of bringing Croatia closer to the European Union. He was a member of the Economic and Social Council, served as president of the Croatian Employers’ Association from 2005 to 2007, and from 2010 to 2015 he was a member of the Economic Council of the President of the Republic of Croatia. He is the Honorary Consul of Ireland in the Republic of Croatia, a member of the Trilateral Commission, the Dean’s Council at the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, the INSEAD Alumni Association, the Program Council of the Zagreb School of Economics and Management, and the Business Council of the Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana.

According to the latest financial reports, Atlantic Group recorded a sales revenue of 459.7 million euros in the first six months of 2023, which represents a growth of 15.8 percent compared to the same period last year. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) remained at the level of the first half of last year at 44.4 million euros, while net profit decreased by 5.5 percent to 20.9 million euros.

– In the first half of 2023, Atlantic Group achieved strong sales growth in all business and distribution areas and in all major markets. This growth largely compensated for the negative impact of still high raw material and packaging material prices, logistics services, and energy costs. Additionally, a significant increase in personnel costs, resulting from wage increases implemented over the past year, also affected the slight decline in profitability. We are particularly pleased with the strengthening of distribution foundations by expanding the principal network in Slovenia and opening a modern logistics-distribution center in North Macedonia, the growth prospects in the coffee category in the Serbian market, and the results of launching new products – Tedeschi emphasized in Atlantic’s statement.

In the first half of the year, Atlantic Group agreed on cooperation with Podravka Group, which involves Atlantic’s distribution of Podravka’s products in the Austrian market, alongside Podravka’s distribution of Atlantic’s assortment in the US market. In Slovenia, significant progress in business development was achieved through cooperation with the new principal Haleon (Sensodyne, Corega, Parodontax, Aquafresh), while in Skopje, long-term development was secured by concluding a 12 million euro investment in the newly opened logistics distribution center. In May, Atlantic submitted a binding offer to purchase Strauss Adriatica, a company known in the Serbian market for the Doncafe and C kafa brands, and the completion of the transaction is subject to prior approval from the Competition Protection Commission in the Republic of Serbia.

In the Croatian market, the production of green energy has begun with the construction of the first solar photovoltaic power plant at the central logistics distribution center in Zagreb, which reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 3,250 tons annually.

Over the past 14 years, the Day of Big Plans has become a hallmark of Lider’s conferences. It has gathered around 5,000 participants and 250 speakers, mostly industry leaders, macroeconomic experts, and leaders from political and public life. The conference has gained the status of a political-economic ‘must be’ event, and this year it will confirm its status with its program and speaker selection.

Do not miss the opportunity to network with the most successful entrepreneurs; register in time to participate in the 15th Day of Big Plans which will be held on September 27 in the crystal hall of the Westin Zagreb hotel. More information can be found at the link.