Dimitris Giannakopoulos: 40 million and an acquisition at the VIANEX table

Of George Lampiris

An acquisition and investments totaling 40 million euros. This is the plan for the two years 2021-2022 for the VIANEX group of the Giannakopoulos family.

In this context, the group acquired the former Beiersdorf facilities in Gerakas, investing a total of 10 million euros in them for their quality and substantial upgrade.

They now house the offices of the subsidiary VIAN (it has a turnover of 96 million euros per year) as well as warehouses of VIANEX and VIAN.

New step of commercial expansion in the Balkans

At the same time, VIANEX is expanding commercially in the Balkans with the same forces, namely in Northern Macedonia, Albania and Romania. Also in the frame is the expansion in Slovenia and Serbia, both with its own products and with the representation of products on behalf of third parties.

In essence, a wide sales network is created in the specific countries for the promotion of the products of the VIANEX group but also of the products of companies with which it already cooperates in the Greek market.

The collaborations that will be developed in these countries will be carried out with independent companies, as part of the investment planning of the company.

The total investment plan of 40 million euros

The upgrade of the new building complex in Gerakas and the equipment of the unit with modern electronic means is part of the overall investment planning of the VIANEX group for the two years 2021-2022, which amounts to 40 million euros.

Among the investments is the creation of a laboratory for research and development of drugs in Patras, the construction of which is in full swing and is nearing completion in 2022.

The new building facilities of Gerakas are located on a plot of land with a total area of ​​37 acres and the covered areas of 18,000 sq.m. are part of the company’s AD factory, as the AEO labels are affixed to them.

In the same space are housed the warehouses of VIAN and VIANEX as well as supporting facilities of the group.

It is noted that VIAN supplies the pharmacies, maintaining the management of the portfolio of prescription drugs and having cooperation with 5,700 pharmacies and pharmaceutical cooperatives on a nationwide basis.

The remaining investments of the group also include the expenditure of 4 million euros in the factory A ‘of the group with the object of adding a new line of vials and ampoules and at the same time doubling the production capacity.

In addition, the plant C ‘of the VIANEX group is planned to add new production lines with a budget of 3.5 million euros to enhance the production of antibiotics.

It is also noted that the creation of the center for research and development of new pharmaceutical products in Patras, is an investment totaling 10 million euros.

The investment of 10 million euros in Gerakas, was made in an effort to more efficiently manage the products and as an antidote to increase the production and distribution of the volume of products of the VIANEX group, while providing strategic autonomy to the company.

It also provides the ability to control the quality of products as well as a customer-centric approach, with VIANEX choosing to set up its own facilities and not outsource logistics management despite the fact that this solution would be at least in the first phase, more advantageous than from an economic point of view.

It is noted, however, that the executives of the VIANEX group stood in the context of the presentation of the new facilities, in the fact that with a recent ministerial decision, Attica is excluded from almost any increase in investment incentives related to the construction of industrial facilities.

In fact, they stated that, in essence, only new factories and investments are made that require a change in the KAD, ie the activity of a company with the ultimate goal of strengthening entrepreneurship in the region.