Radenska sold almost a hundred million litres of soft drinks last year, two million litres more than in 2014, reporters were told in Radenci a year, to the day, since Kofola completed the takeover.

It has been a very successful year, exciting as well as difficult, said Marian Šefčovič, Radenska director who is also responsible for the Adriatic region in the Czech group.

He attributed good performance to last year's hot summer, favourable prices of raw materials as well as the employees' efforts and substantial investment in marketing.

After EUR 1.2m was invested in the production plant in Radenci last year, he announced even more investment this year.

The key goals for this year are improving business in Slovenia as the key market and enhancing the position in the markets of the former Yugoslavia. Radenska sells its drinks in 25 countries world-wide.

The first step in boosting the position in the former Yugoslavia was made in Croatia by acquiring a licence for the bottling and distribution Pepsi brands and Badel syrup and soft drinks production lines.

Radenska accounts for 7.3% of Kofola's revenue. Data released yesterday show that the group posted EUR 264m in sales revenue in 2015, up 14.6% from 2014. Profit was up 33% to EUR 22m.

Radenska employs 200 people, which as as many as a year ago although some 20 have retired and new staff has been employed mainly in the marketing department.

Šefčovič announced the opening of ten to 15 more jobs by the end of the year, mainly on account of larger bottling volumes.

Looking forward, the CEO announced potential further takeovers in the markets of the former Yugoslavia, in accordance with Kofola's strategy to hold local brands and to supplement them with international ones.