June 23 (SeeNews) - Croatian ailing food-to-retail concern Agrokor will be shifting its focus to Bosnia, where its units are facing troubles with suppliers, the receiver of Agrokor said on Friday.
"My focus in the coming period is on Agrokor’s business activities in the Bosnian market", Ante Ramljak said in a press release following a meeting with Bosnian officials in Sarajevo.
Ramljak noted he will be spending more time in Bosnia, where Agorkor operates eight units, including troubled retailer Konzum.
In May, the receiver said Agrokor will put its Ljubljana-based unit Mercator [LJE:MELR] in charge of its retail operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, replacing its peer Konzum, in order to improve the concern's long-term position in the country.
On Friday, Ramljak said that the process of reintroducing Mercator will be conducted in phases.
"The concept of rebranding Konzum into Mercator is highly complex and we are working on it in stages", Ramljak said, adding that meetings between both retailers and external consultants are currently being held to ensure a smooth transition. "It is exceptionally important for this process that we all keep a long term goal in mind which is to create new value, for Bosnia and Herzegovina to have a competitive market and to preserve jobs."
Ramljak and Agrokor's extraordinary administration are set to meet with Bosnian suppliers next week.
Agrokor employs over 5,000 people in Bosnia, mostly in Konzum.
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