Maso Plana sees sales rise - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Eurofood, Feb 1, 2001

Czech-based meat producer Maso Plana has said its sales for the year 2000 will rise, but still expects to end the year in the red. Speaking to the CTK news agency, CEO at Maso Plana Emil Kasper, blamed the expected losses at the firm on adjustments for investments made by the firm's previous owner, as well as a general decline in beef consumption towards the end of 2000, mainly due to the BSE fear spreading from EU countries.

Maso Plana expects to record sales of some CKr1.2bn ([euro]33.9m), up from CKr1.1bn in fiscal 1999, when the firm generated a profit of CKr681 000. Kasper, speaking with reference to the fear of BSE said ofthe firm's products, "While some processors slaughter mostly cows about five years old, we use 20-month old bulls bred in the Czech Republic in 80% of our products."