♦ Techno Food Group, with business of almost 26 million lei last year, was set up more than two decades ago ♦ Initially, providing bakery equipment, but now it has expanded its portfolio, serving five industries – bakery, pastry, confectionery, chocolate and ice cream.
Techno Food Group in Sibiu was established in 2004 by entrepreneur Nelu Gavrilă. About six years ago, the businessman convinced his daughter, Irina Gavrilă, to join him, and today she is the business director. «My father has been working in the food industry since 1995. In 2004, he has established that he will do his own business, specialized in the marketing of equipment for the food industry. As far as I am concerned, I was with my father, I traveled together at different fairs, I did a secretarial work in different meetings or negotiations, etc.,» says Irina Gavrilă.
How did they get to work together?
Then she went to study abroad and after finishing her master, one day, she woke up with a phone call. «He told me that the company is going well and that he would like to teach me what he knew, to take over the business. I knew instantly that the answer is» yes «.» Previously, she was thinking of staying in Vienna and looking for a job. However, when his father proposed to return to Romania and develop the business together, the decision was clear. «He told me that either he is responsible for me, or with a partner from the outside. In October, six years have been working together. We have not established some rules when it comes to our collaboration, maybe because we are very similar as character. However, in time, we have been able to establish some guides after which we do not work.» She studied marketing and economy and believes that studies have helped her a lot in what she does today. Recommend everyone to study abroad, mainly for the experience itself – develops you very much as a person, teaches you what it means to live alone, to wash your clothes alone, etc. At the same time, the faculty he chose was a great one based on practical experiences.
Lessons and lessons
«I did a lot of projects with various companies in Austria. I learned a lot. However, I do not regret at all that I returned, I am very happy with the decision I made. Sibiu has changed a lot than six years ago when I moved. Many things happen. He states that he came to the company with the desire to continue what his father started, which in Romania is not so sought after by most young people. One of the lessons he handed to him was that she must be the first to come to the office and the last to leave. «If you work in the family, it does not mean that you work a little.» From the beginning, they went to meetings together. Now he has come to do this alone and alone. «Some customers come to us, we go to others. People come to us because they have heard that we can offer them what they are looking for. On the other hand, because we have certain very nicked equipment, we must go to them and offer them explanations. We must always be aware of what opens.»
Beyond the borders
Techno Food Group has a presence throughout Romania and, this year, the company has expanded in Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova. Bulgaria, at least certain fields, such as bakery and pastry, is more developed in terms of technology, says Irina Gavrilă. «They are a few years before us.» If we are to compare ourselves with the Republic of Moldova, things there are now starting to develop. The players in this country are targeting the export, they have no local purchase power. «It is not easy to enter a new market. We have hit many administrative things. However, we chose these markets because we are confident in their future. For example, we believe that the Republic of Moldova will grow a lot due to the approach to Europe and because of the opening to export. We see a great development on the chocolate side. It is surprising. Bulgaria we estimate an upward trend. »
What's the story?
Nelu Gavrilă initially worked with ingredients and improvements. Then there was an opportunity in the area of marketing of equipment. It was an area that was not so well developed on the Romanian market. «He got the opportunity.» In the beginning, he focused his attention on equipment for a single field – bakery. Now, the company serves five different fields – bakery, pastry, confectionery, chocolate and ice cream. For a chocolate, for example, you need other equipment than a pastry. «In Romania, depending on each area, we have different customers. If we talk about bakery or pastry, here we target industrial customers, big factories. An example would be Vel Pitar (the leader of the bakery industry – n.red.). The company's suppliers are exclusively foreign and premium. «We thought of producing us, it is a direction for the future.» Most in Romania, at present, the areas of ice cream and chocolate are developed. Maybe more chocolate because the ice cream area is on a three -year -old trend already, says Irina Gavrilă. On the other hand, the bakery area goes harder. «Perhaps because many projects are based on European funds. And last year, due to the political context, many initiatives have been paused. And we felt this. We are lucky, however, that we have more areas to which we provide equipment.»
What follows?
Beyond the new investments, there is also a bet on the renovation and modernization of the production facilities. «Most recently, we have launched a concept called indeco, comes from inspection, detection, control and also refers to equipment, such as metal detectors. It is about devices meant to see certain metals in food. Development has also come as a result of market requests.» However, Irina Gavrilă says that this year is not an easy year. «We make a double effort from the past years, with an almost good result. We hope that in the second half of 2025 we will see better results.» Last year it was not simple. Techno Food Group has done business of 25.7 million lei, minus 26%. However, Nelu Gavrilă is a shareholder in other companies with a similar CAEN, such as Gerlarte RO, Hermann Standard or Chocoline Europe, and the business of these companies has grown strongly, the data on the platform terms.ro shows. «The most beautiful moment since I joined the company was the end of 2023, I had many projects in the role. It was very difficult to keep up with all the requests I received. At the opposite pole, the hardest was during the pandemic period, but I am glad that I kept the team. Gavrilă. It was present at the Sibiu show, business city and cultural center, a ZF project supported by Banca Transilvania.