Univer expands tomato processing facility

Univer Product Zrt. invested HUF 3.5 billion in tripling its previously 25,000-ton raw tomato processing capacity. CEO Károly Molitórisz told Trade magazin that the investment was financed from own resources, a K&H Bank loan and HUF 453 million came from the Norwegian Fund’s green industrial innovation programme. This year the company processes 45,000 tons of Hungarian tomato but from next year 60,000 tons will be processed. In order to give professional help to suppliers in the region, Univer establishes a 111-hectare model farm in Lakitelek, growing tomatoes and offering a wide range professional advice to farmers. The investment created 50-100 new jobs in the region, mainly at family farms. Some of the products manufactured in the new factory will be sold in Hungary, but the majority will be exported to EU countries, chiefly to Germany and Poland.