Interview with Mr. Tudor Borza Teodorescu - Marketing Manager at Lay Condimente

Undoubtedly, for everyone involved in the meat processing sector, Lay Condimente is the epitome of quality. With an experience nearing the beautiful age of 30, Lay Condimente has not only convinced with the quality of its products and services, but also with professionalism and seriousness. Here's what Mr. Tudor Borza Teodorescu, who kindly answered our questions, shared about the company's activities.

Meat.Milk: Mr. Tudor Borza Teodorescu, when was the company established and what is its field of activity?

Tudor Borza Teodorescu: Lay Condimente was founded in 1996 as the sole importer and distributor in Romania of spices produced by the well-known German company, LayGewurze.

MM: What were the main stages of development?

TBT: Throughout our existence, we have been involved in the "birth" and growth of many renowned names in the domestic food industry, including large-scale meat processors, butcher shops, and small-scale food product factories.

But let's go back to our company and our story over time:

In 1996, we introduced LayGewurze products to the Romanian market for the first time, setting an unprecedented standard of quality in the domestic market at that time. Over the years, we have grown alongside the Romanian food industry, becoming trusted partners for established companies and offering them an increasingly wide range of products, as well as the vast experience of our German partner.

In 2012, we obtained the ISO 9001 Quality Standard. With the arrival of 2016, we celebrated 20 years of activity, confirming our belief that what we do is right and that we have our place in the Romanian market. In 2017, we achieved the ISO 22000 Quality Standard.

In 2020, we expanded into a new branch of activity, namely the import and distribution of knives for the food industry, HoReCa, as well as for household use.

2021 marked our 25th anniversary on the Romanian market. In 2022, we became partners in Romania for the renowned German company F. Dick, as well as another major knife and kitchen accessories manufacturer, the German producer GiesserMesser.

At the end of 2022, we strengthened our partnership with the Italian knife and accessories manufacturer, Ambrogio Sanelli, which further expanded the range of products we can offer to our customers.

MM: Which customer segments do you target?

TBT: Our company caters to meat processors, producers of deli meats of all sizes, both for dry-cured and cooked-smoked products, convenience food factories, restaurants, fast-food chains, etc., in terms of spices, complete products, and additives.

Additionally, regarding knives and kitchen accessories, our company serves slaughterhouses, butcher shops, meat processors, restaurants, all kinds of food industry producers, restaurant kitchens, cafes, and home kitchens.

MM: Where does the raw material sourcing for the spice and food industry solutions division take place?

TBT: Our spice supplier is LayGewurze, one of the largest and oldest spice and additive producers in Germany. They offer a wide range of products, including primary spices, complete products, flavors, and seasoned oils.

The products we offer to the industry go beyond just the spice itself. Creating and selecting specific recipes tailored to our clients' applied technologies is also part of our collaborative process to provide the best results for the customer.

Regarding knives, our range of products comes from established manufacturers such as F. Dick, GiesserMesser, Ambrogio Sanelli, and our portfolio includes brands like Victorinox, Swibo, Icel, and Morakniv.

Moreover, we don't limit ourselves to knives only. We offer everything from professional sharpening solutions like F. Dick or Tormek machines, to various types and granulations of sharpening steels, and even different types of stones from the Japanese manufacturer Naniwa.

To make the right choice for our customers' needs, whether they are large or small clients, we provide consultation regarding the type of knives, choppers, sharpening steels, or accessories.

MM: How are the products distributed?

TBT: Our products are distributed using our own employees and resources, as well as courier companies when the ordered products allow for it.

MM: What are the company's future projects?

TBT: With the ISO 22000 Quality Standard, which is renewed annually and guarantees food safety through traceability of raw materials and delivered products, our current focus is on obtaining the ISO 9001 standard for the import and distribution of knives and kitchen or industrial accessories that we market.

As we understand the importance of the trust our customers place in our ability to provide quality solutions and products, one of our main aspirations is to be rigorous in our internal procurement and distribution procedures.

Therefore, our future plans include expanding the range of products and services we offer to our customers, not only in terms of seasoning and additive solutions but also in terms of technical and practical solutions tailored specifically to the individual requirements of each customer.

We have grown alongside the domestic food industry and learned from each of our clients, aiming to become better, more efficient, and offer solutions and ideas in perfect harmony with the needs and particularities of each customer.

MM: Thank you, and we wish you continued success!