What is your job at the company? (state accurate function and description).
I am the Director of Gastro /food service/ Sales for Croatia. I am in charge of sales to all food service customers in the Croatian market. Food service sales covers all HORECA segments - hotels, restaurants and coffee bars, industrial and institutional customers - schools, homes, kindergartens, student centres and similar.
The food service channel is also responsible for the placement of all business programmes - Meat, Food, Drinks and Commercial Goods.
What jobs have you had in the company?
I started working for Podravka as Gastro (Food Service) manager responsible for international markets. In the meantime I worked as Head of Gastro Marketing for Croatia and Assistant to Sales Director for the Gastro and Frozen Programme.
What do you consider are the challenges of your job?
The food service market of Croatia has in the last few years undergone prompt restructuring. Privatisation of the hotel sector, its holding and continued increasing quality levels have significantly changed our customer demands and needs. Podravka is among the first companies in Croatia to recognize the importance of the food service market. Today competition in the food service segment is higher than in retail. The end consumer, guest in the food service channel, by rule does not make the decision to purchase. The product brand, apart from the drink segment, is unknown to the consumer - guest in the food service channel. Our competitive advantage of creating added value for our customers, is certainly the greatest challenge.
What do you think are the advantages of working at Podravka?
Podravka is among the rare Croatian companies that makes great investments in its employees and enables them to work in an international environment.
