“It is not easy to be an entrepreneur in Romania. Progress has been made in many ways lately, some fiscal notions and procedures have been simplified and clarified to a certain extent, some provisions have been explained. However, a lot is yet to be done to encourage entrepreneurship, as well as investors in general”, stated Anca Vladu for ZF.

Concerning the Catena pharmacies, the 600-unit threshold has been exceeded. The opening of a pharmacy is a long-term process, it must be prepared well in advance, which is why we cannot provide a precise figure. The expansion is also achieved at present, where there is market potential for our group, which has the best financial rating granted to a company in the pharmaceutical sector.”

Among the obstacles encountered in the way of business development, Anca Vlad makes mention of red tape, indicating that a Fiscal Code having over one thousand pages is difficult to be covered by an entrepreneur, particularly without any economic training, although this document presents business organization modes. Another difficulty encountered by entrepreneurs is the emergence of new laws and orders “which reduce the productivity and competitiveness of Romanian companies”. “The obstacles I encountered in my career were exceeded, but it hasn’t always been easy.  I would refer to the economic crisis of 2008 and 2009 as a tough moment in the life of the company. We have fully recovered, but the energy resources and the human quality within Fildas-Catena were strained to the maximum, and total mobilization yielded results.”

Vlad states that the group of companies will reach the objectives established for this year, however, she does not provide information concerning the growth rates or the forecast turnover. She also says that there were some issues concerning medicine supply, against the export of such products, and the strategy of the group targeted the covering of the internal medicine demand.

“Although to profits than can be achieved from exports exceed the ones obtained internally, our company chose not to export any boxes for which there is internal demand. However, we frequently have stock shortages, because the quantities generated by Fildas are insufficient, and the respective products are out-of-stock with the other producers”, stated Anca Vlad.

Concerning the year 2017, Anca Vlad is planning to extend the number of customers and to revise the logistics processes for the Fildas business. The Fildas company registered a net profit of RON 63 million last year, and it ranked fourth among the top actors from the medicine distribution market.

(article published in Ziarul Financiar” – November 2nd, 2016)

The XXVI Gala of Awards for the year 2015 of the magazine “Actualitatea Muzicala” issued by “Uniunea Compozitorilor si Muzicologilor din Romania” was hosted in the amphitheater of the Cantacuzino Palace, National Museum George Enescu. A lot of personalities of the musical world, culture, art or show biz – singers, writers, poets, were present at these event hosted by Adrian Iorgulescu, President of UCMR, George Balint, lead editor for Actualitatea Muzicala, Prof. Dr. Mihai Cosma and Octavian Ursulescu, editors.

During this event, Anca Vlad, the President of the Foundation FILDAS Art and President of FILDAS and CATENA Group will donate to the Uniunea Compozitorilor si Muzicologilor din Romania a bronze bust of the great composer George Enescu. The work is signed by the sculptor Ion Dimitriu Barlad, grandfather of the famous singer Margareta Paslaru and was created in 1919. That year, when he finished this work, the artist, seeking sanctuary in Iasi, was stationed with the Joint Chiefs of Staff (after following the courses of the Military Infantry School from Bucharest), but he was also about to open his first personal exhibition in Bucharest, in the Mozart room, a room that during that time represented the official recognition as an artist.

>>> a video material of the event can be viewed on SensoTV.ro

Anca Vlad, President of FILDAS and CATENA Group has received the Award for the most influential entrepreneur

”Forbes Romania organized the Gala Forbes Woman, during which was celebrated the womanhood of Romania, with the most important personalities of the times; were awarded the ladies of the Romanian business, women that managed to rise to the highest economical, political, artistic or lobby positions” – Raluca Michailov, General manager BP Publishing Media, editor for the magazine Forbes Romania.

At a global level, the women represent the main economic and social models: The run governments and companies, manage budgets and have an active role in a lot of domains and spheres of influence.

A video material is available on Tonica.ro

Fildas and Catena Group have received the Award for excellence in the pharmaceutical domain, during the Awards Gala Romania Top 100 Companies 2016, organized by Finmedia.

The trophy was given to the Executive Manager of the group, Mihai Drumea. “This award means a lot to us and I thank you on behalf of the Fildas and Catena team!”, he said. “And we are not a small team!… In the last 25 years we grew to 4500 people. The pharmacy of the heart is to us more than a slogan – it is a way to work and we do everything so that our 5 million loyal customers receive the best services!”.

You can read the whole story on Fildas.ro

After Catena was for two consecutive years (2014 and 2015) on the first place with regard to the trust of the Romanian consumers, according to the study conducted by Trusted Brands, it is now the time to win the 1st place of the renowned competition SUPERBRANDS Romania for the year 2015.

Celebrating its 10th edition (a decade of activity for evaluation and promotion of the branding culture), the Gala SUPERBRANDS Tribute Event&Awards Ceremony 2015 – 2016 was hosted by J.W. Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel and the organization BDR Associates, the agency for strategic communication that manages the programs Superbrands for Romania since 2005. The event was hosted by Colin Lovering, President of the Romanian – British Chamber of Commerce.

Read the whole story on Catena.ro