Fornetti expanding into Scandanavia and US

Having gained popularity through 20 master franchises in European countries, Hungarian-owned frozen pastry franchise Fornetti Kft is planning a market entry in Scandinavia and in the Benelux countries in 2005 and is also eyeing the U.S. market, according to József Palásti, a founding member of the company. Fornetti adopted the International Food Standard system a few days ago to meet the food safety requirements of international wholesale chains such as Metro, Aldi or Rewe. The company is spending Ft 700 million on the expansion of a factory in Kecskemét, central Hungary, while a new 12,000-sqm production base, which will be the largest of Fornetti plants, is scheduled for completion in Romania in mid-2005. Started in 1997 as a family business with Ft 20 million, Fornetti expects Ft 5 billion in sales this year. (Vg 12) P.P.