CBA – National chain of united trade of Serbia – what has been done, what will be done

CBA idea is based on joining of smaller trade companies into the joint chain. The fact is that, today, 15 biggest retail trade companies control over 40% of European market. This trend will be even more present in Serbia, so that the possible respond of small trade companies is - joining.

So far, the result is 13 regional distributive centers (Univerexport Novi Sad 021 420 144, Impex Promet Niš 018 500 110, Jukomerc Kruševac 037 413 500, Trgopromet Subotica 024 548 404, Kvin Kragujevac 034 304 810, Vir Loznica 015 877 558, Coka Smederevo 025 661 600, Žitopromet-Mlin Senta 024 815 879, Gomex Zrenjanin 023 523 665, TPU Company Bačka Topola 024 715 432, Figrad Vrbas 021 795 3200, Rekić Novi Pazar 020 385 599, Džavić Bogatić 015 412 618), 155 retail facilities and 700 franchises.

The joint aim, through keeping of independence and by means of joint procurement and marketing activities, is reaching of both costing and non-costing competitiveness against the big companies, as well as cooperation in procurement and sale with the other 11 countries members of CBA International.

Recently, CBA obtained new general director, Srđan Paunović, co-owner of TRade Company Kvin. He has represented some interesting numbers and plans. He pointed out that 11 regional centers covered about 60% of the territory of the State in less than one year. It is expected that another 2 regional centers will be opened until the end of 2005 and the special emphasis is put on Belgrade.

About 70% of goods in the chain are of domestic origin, the biggest turnover is realized on the domestic goods, first of all, confectioneries – three times bigger sale growth than average.

Edible oil bearing trademark CBA appeared as the first brand during the summer 2005 and, already in November, 1 million liters of that oil will be sold, which represents income of cca €1m. The next brand will show up before the New Year. The plan for the next year is launching of about hundred new brands.

There will also be campaigns for joint import for needs of CBA SCG and the first joint investment in some facility is expected until the end of 2006. The deadline for uniting of companies into unique information system, which is the condition for daily turnover worth €1m, is one year.