A meeting was held at the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia in support of “Makprogres” – Vinica, the company that suffered major damage from a fire last week. The meeting was initiated by the President of the Chamber, Branko Azeski, and was attended by the CEO of Makprogres, Gligor Cvetanov, representatives of the largest retail chains, distributors, the Foreign Investors Council, and several associations.

At the meeting, it was concluded that increased domestic consumption of the well-known brands Vincinni, Sunny Valley, Natura, Donia, and Fantasia will be the key mechanism for the faster recovery of the company. For this purpose, teams of Makprogres will offer special campaigns and promotions to retail chains.

At the beginning of the working meeting, the President of the Chamber, Branko Azeski, emphasized that the tragic event must not jeopardize the company’s future, and this initiative is an example of how the business community knows how to unite in crucial moments.

“First, I would like to express regret on behalf of the Economic Chamber for everything that happened at Makprogres, because I also feel it as a personal blow. This is a factory that is the pride of the country – exporting to more than 50 countries, generating the largest turnover in the confectionery industry, and equipped with modern technology. The Chamber stands behind every company that is a driver of the domestic economy. With this initiative, we want to show that we must not allow one fire to jeopardize the long-term operations of Makprogres, nor the livelihoods of their employees. I believe that with joint efforts we will ensure quick stabilization and a new impulse for growth.”

For his part, the CEO of Makprogres, Gligor Cvetanov, expressed gratitude for the support the company has been receiving from the Chamber, institutions, the business community, and citizens.

“This is an example that chamber association is necessary for every company, because the Chamber protects the company as a whole – not only the owners or directors, but also the employees and all those who depend on the firm. I want to personally thank you, President Azeski, because from the very first moment you were actively involved and, together with the institutions, helped to activate as many firefighting services as possible to save what could be saved. Thanks also to everyone who supported this initiative. We are grateful for every product purchased, for every message, and every initiative on social media. We decided to retain all employees and maintain their salaries, because we know how hard it is to find good and loyal workers.”

At the meeting with a large number of business representatives, Cvetanov presented the company’s future strategy for the restoration of production. As a sign of solidarity, Makprogres reduced the prices of over 100 products by 10%, and launched a promotional sale of about 15 products for September. Additional special promotions are also being prepared for each client individually, to respond to the strong public support.

“The goal in the coming months will not be profit but the restoration of capacities and the retention of over one hundred employees from the three production lines affected by the fire, who are currently reassigned to other workplaces. We also have support from foreign partners, but that will arrive in a few months. That is why domestic consumption is most important right now,” Cvetanov emphasized.

Regarding the timeline for restoring the facilities, Cvetanov announced that negotiations are underway for the procurement of new equipment and for a bank loan. The plan is to have a production hall near the factory, already 80 percent prepared for production, operational within two months. With the purchase of second-hand equipment, he said, it could function temporarily for six months. They have also received a promise for new equipment for the production of wafers and wafer rolls, currently being negotiated with a renowned Swiss company.

Cvetanov confirmed that the fire did not start in the factory itself, but the investigation is still ongoing. The group employs 650 people.

On behalf of the Government, Deputy Minister of Economy Marjan Risteski, who attended the meeting at the Chamber, also issued an appeal to domestic companies for solidarity.