Swisslion Group
{{Short description|Serbian food and drink company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Swisslion Group
| logo = Swisslion Takovo logo.jpg
| logo_caption = Official logo
| image =
| image_caption =
| trading_name =
| native_name = Свислајон Група
Svislajon Grupa
| native_name_lang = sr
| romanized_name =
| former_name =
| former type =
| type = d.o.o.
| traded_as =
| industry = Food & drinks manufacturer
| genre =
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1991|06|10}} {{small|(Current form)}}
{{Start date and age|1941}} {{small|(Founded)}}
| founder = Ivan R. Milosavljević Bombondžija
| defunct =
| location_city = Partizanska 42, Novi Sad
| location_country = Serbia
| locations = {{ubl|Serbia|Croatia|North Macedonia|Bosnia and Herzegovina|Montenegro}}
| area_served = Worldwide{{cite news|url=http://www.limun.hr/en/main.aspx?ID=759306&pojam=swisslion|title=Eurokrem – SL's top product|date=November 10, 2011|work=limun.hr|access-date=December 27, 2012|archive-date=December 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227091107/http://www.limun.hr/en/main.aspx?ID=759306&pojam=swisslion|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=http://www.ekapija.com/website/sr/page/602431_en |title=Swisslion Takovo moves to Trebinje but does not leave Croatia |date=July 11, 2012|work=eKapija}}
| key_people = Rodoljub Drašković {{small|(CEO)}}
Julijana Škorić {{small|(Director)}}
| products = {{ubl|Confectionery|Ready-made meals|Pasta|Soups|Cereals|Juices|Syrups|Alcoholic drinks|Baby-food|Ice creams}}
| production =
| services =
| revenue = {{decrease}} €8.34 million {{small|(2020)}}{{cite web|title=КОНСОЛИДОВАНИ БИЛАНС УСПЕХА (2020) – Swisslion Group|url=https://pretraga3.apr.gov.rs/docRepo/download?xbcd=7100118664590&xrnd=BC03BF6B90F2034263C1C253127992E88E36CBAD|website=apr.gov.rs|accessdate=January 6, 2022|language=Serbian}}
| operating_income =
| net_income = {{decrease}} {{fontcolor|red|(€0.77 million)}} {{small|(2020)}}
| assets = {{increase}} €54.21 million {{small|(2020)}}{{cite web|title=КОНСОЛИДОВАНИ БИЛАНС СТАЊА (2020) – Swisslion Group|url=https://pretraga3.apr.gov.rs/docRepo/download?xbcd=7100118664583&xrnd=72C82E382950F8276D3AD40C6E529E1BE079C0DC|website=apr.gov.rs|accessdate=January 6, 2022|language=Serbian}}
| equity = {{increase}} €39.77 million {{small|(2020)}}
| owner = DRD Swisslion {{small|(92.86%)}}
Rodoljub Drašković {{small|(7.14%)}}
| num_employees = 488 {{small|(2018)}}
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid = Swisslion Industrija Alata a.d. Bosnia
Swisslion-Takovo d.o.o. Slovenia
| homepage = {{URL|swisslion-takovo.com}}
| footnotes = {{small|Business ID: 08245207
Tax ID: 100719468}}{{cite web|title=Основни подаци о привредном друштву|url=http://pretraga2.apr.gov.rs/EnterprisePublicSearch/details/EnterpriseBusinessName/1038417?code=980FA838EB679EEC53C10882C55C72B22850C3F5|website=apr.gov.rs|publisher=Serbian Business Registers Agency|accessdate=February 28, 2018|language=Serbian}}
| intl =
| bodystyle =
}}
Swisslion Group (full legal name: Swisslion Group d.o.o.) is a Serbian multinational food and drinks manufacturer headquartered in Novi Sad. Its products are produced in its factories located in Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Swisslion Group core activities are the production of confectionery. This includes biscuits, chocolate bars, wafers, sweets, Turkish Delight, Eurocrem,{{cite news |url=http://www.limun.hr/en/main.aspx?ID=759306&pojam=swisslion |title=Eurokrem – SL's top product |date=November 10, 2011 |work=limun.hr |access-date=December 27, 2012 |archive-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227091107/http://www.limun.hr/en/main.aspx?ID=759306&pojam=swisslion |url-status=dead }} pasta, soup, cereals, ready-made meals, baby food, marmalades and jams, fruit juices, syrups, alcoholic drinks and ice creams. Swisslion Group also manufactures private labels for companies internationally.
Swisslion Group well-known products include Eurocrem, Juvitana (baby food), Eurodessert (chocolates) and Viljamovka (pear brandy).
History
Swisslion Group traces its origins from the Takovo, founded in 1962 in Gornji Milanovac and Swisslion itself was founded in 1991.{{Cite journal|last=Бјелајац|first=Зоран|date=March 17, 2017|title=СЕОСКА ЗАЈЕДНИЦА И ПРОСТОР ИЗГУБЉЕНА ВЕЗА|journal=Политеиа|volume=3|issue=9|doi=10.7251/pol1509207b|issn=2232-9641|doi-access=free}} Takovo was state-owned during SFR Yugoslavia and one of the country's biggest industrial companies. Swisslion and Takovo merged in 2004 under the name of Swisslion Takovo, following Swisslion's acquisition of Takovo through a public tender.{{cite news |url=http://www.vibilia.rs/dokument_new.php?s=vesti&ID=4006271&lang=en |title=Swisslion Takovo acquires 70% stake in PIK Takovo |date=January 9, 2004 |work=VIBILIA business portal}}
Since then, Swisslion Takovo's main factories in Serbia are located in Vršac and Gornji Milanovac. The factory in Vršac primarily produces confectionery. Facilities in Gornji Milanovac spanning on over 30,000 square meters, produce ready-made meals,{{cite news |url=http://www.rpc-group.com/media-article/2012-06-292-pack-creates-a-royale-experience-for-ready-meals.php |title=Pack creates a royale experience for ready meals |date=June 25, 2012|work=rpc-group.com}} pasta, soups and fruit juices.
;2008–2012
In 2008, Swisslion Group acquired the Croatian Euro Food Markt company based in Sisak, to reinforce its position in the Croatian market.{{cite news |url=http://www.vibilia.rs/dokument_new.php?s=vesti&ID=5027848&lang=en |title=Draskovic purchased Croatian company |date=June 26, 2008 |work=VIBILIA business portal}} The deal was reported to be worth €20 million.{{cite news |url=http://www.ekapija.com/website/sr/page/178033_en |title=Owner of company Swisslion Takovo bought Croatian factory Euro Food Market |date=June 26, 2008 |work=eKapija}}{{cite news |url=http://www.limun.hr/en/main.aspx?id=301245 |title=Rodoljub Draskovic buys Euro Food |date=June 26, 2008 |work=limun.hr}}{{cite news |url=http://www.limun.hr/en/main.aspx?ID=651469&pojam=swisslion |title=Only one Serbian investment in Croatia |date=November 24, 2010 |work=limun.hr}}
On January 18, 2010, it was reported that a new confectionery factory in Trebinje worth €18 million had been inaugurated.{{cite news |url=http://limun.hr/en/main.aspx?id=549016 |title=New Swisslion plant worth EUR 18 million inaugurated |date=January 19, 2010 |work=limun.hr}}{{cite news |url=http://www.ekapija.com/website/sr/page/287163_en |title=Swisslion opens production units for confectionery products in Trebinje |date=January 19, 2010 |work=eKapija}} Late in 2010, local media reported that further investment in the factory was planned.{{cite news |url=http://www.ekapija.com/website/sr/page/367342_en |title=Swisslion Takovo invests about 7.5 million euros |date=November 16, 2010 |work=eKapija}} In early 2011, Swisslion Takovo announced that it was investing 5 million euros in new production lines for confectionery products in its factory in Trebinje.{{cite news |url=http://www.limun.hr/en/main.aspx?ID=666748&pojam=swisslion |title=Serbia's Swisslion-Takovo Bosnian Arm Invests 5.0 Mln Euro in Capacity Expansion |date=January 11, 2011 |work=www.seenews.com}}
;2012–2017
In North Macedonia, production sites are located in Resen and Skopje. In March 2012, Swisslion Takovo announced that it had opened a new production unit in the town of Resen.{{cite news |url=http://www.vibilia.rs/dokument_new.php?s=vesti&ID=5055521&lang=en |title=Swisslion opens a new drive in Macedonia |date=March 22, 2012 |work=VIBILIA business portal}}{{cite news |url=http://www.ekapija.com/website/sr/page/550627_en |title=Swisslion Takovo opens EUR 500,000 plant in Macedonia's town of Resen |date=March 21, 2012 |work=eKapija}}
In 2012, local media reported that the production of "Jaffa cakes" would be moved from Swisslion's factory in Sisak (Croatia) to its factory in Trebinje (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Swisslion Takovo confirmed that it would be shifting the production of "Jaffa" cakes to Trebinje but that it would not be leaving Croatia as its factory in Sisak would continue production of other products.{{cite news |url=http://www.ekapija.com/website/sr/page/601843_en |title=Rodoljub Draskovic is moving jaffa cookie production from Sisak to Trebinje |date=October 7, 2012 |work=eKapija}}{{cite news |url=http://www.ekapija.com/website/sr/page/602431_en |title=Swisslion Takovo moves to Trebinje but does not leave Croatia |date=July 11, 2012 |work=eKapija}}{{cite news |url=http://www.limun.hr/en/main.aspx?ID=831964&pojam=swisslion |title=Swisslion-Takovo shifting biscuit production from Croatia to Bosnia's Trebinje |date=July 10, 2012 |work=www.seenews.com}}
;2017–present
In February 2017, Swisslion Group bought wine company "Vršački vinogadi" for a sum of 4.6 million euros.{{cite news|title=Drašković kupio Vršačke vinograde "upola cene"|url=https://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/agro-biz.php?yyyy=2017&mm=02&dd=10&nav_id=1229272|accessdate=January 25, 2018|work=b92.net|date=February 10, 2017|language=Serbian}} In March 2017, Swisslion Group made a decision to donate "Swisslion industrija alata" company to the Government of Republika Srpska, due to accumulated tax debts.{{cite news|title=Swisslion grupa poklonila Republici Srpskoj "Swisslion industriju alata"|url=http://www.nezavisne.com/ekonomija/privreda/Draskovic-poklonio-Srpskoj-Svislajon-industriju-alata/417427|accessdate=January 26, 2018|work=nezavisne.com|agency=Srna|date=March 15, 2017|language=Serbian}} Since then, the ownership of the company remained unclear due to dispute between the company and the Government of Republika Srpska.
Former subsidiaries
This is a list of the Swisslion Group former official subsidiaries in Serbia and region (as of January 2018):
- Takovo d.o.o. Gornji Milanovac
- Swisslion Miloduh a.d. Kragujevac
- Kondivik Usluge d.o.o. Vršac
- Swisslion d.o.o. Beograd
- Banat 1894 d.o.o. Vršac
- Vršački vinogradi d.o.o. Vršac
Also, other subsidiaries of the Swisslion Group were:{{cite news |url=http://www.limun.hr/en/main.aspx?ID=799401&pojam=swisslion|title=Macedonia's Swisslion Opens New Production Unit |date=March 21, 2012 |work=www.seenews.com}}
- Prehrambena industrija Swisslion d.o.o. Skopje, North Macedonia
- Swisslion Mak d.o.o. Skopje, North Macedonia
- Swisslion Agroplod d.o.o. Resen, North Macedonia
- Swisslion Agrar d.o.o. Resen, North Macedonia
- Swisslion d.o.o. Sisak, Sisak, Croatia
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.swisslion-takovo.com}}
- [http://www.swisslion.hr/ Swisslion's Official Croatian website]
- [http://www.swisslion.com.mk/en Swisslion's Official Macedonian website (in English)]
{{Novi Sad|state=collapsed}}
Category:Companies based in Novi Sad
Category:D.o.o. companies in Serbia
Category:Food and drink companies established in 1991
Category:Food and drink companies of Serbia