J. Macêdo wants to expand investment in 2015

Despite the uncertainty about the economy this year, the j. Macêdo's plan to increase their investments during 2015. Luiz Henrique Lissoni, President of the group, which produces the Holy pasta and flour Dona Petybon products, said the goal is to raise the budget to achieve gain in operational efficiency during the period. "We're not generating additional capacity on the market, what we want to do is replace lines, equipment, can produce at lower costs," said the Chief Executive.
Antônio Carlos Zanella, the company's Chief Financial Officer, added that the economy throughout the year will be a bellwether for whether the allocation of resources will be braked or accelerated. "We are looking to increase or decrease the rate, according to our planning for three years," said Zanella. In 2014, the company invested r $ 114.6 million, which meant an increase of 51.4% vis-à-vis the previous year.
The focus of resources was and continues being in wheat mills and pasta factories, blends and biscuits, informed the company of Ceará. Last year, the Group has managed to control their spending and saw net profit jump 55.6% to r $ 79.5 million.
Net revenues increased by 11.4% to $ 1.51 billion, and Ebitda (stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) grew 45.9%, totaling r $ 147,3 million.
The end of partnership with Bunge in the distribution of commercial flour gave breath to the result and with the volumes being fully accounted for by the bakery group, the billing of the flours and bran grew 21.9%, to R $ 876,4 million.
But this year, the company sees carefully the evolution of the costs. That's because the devaluation of the real against international currencies can endear wheat purchases abroad. The raw material is the main j. Macêdo operation and imports account for a large part of the volume purchased. Even so, the goal is to raise margins in 2015, not through drastic cuts, but with investment in efficiency. "What we put into practice is austerity, have worn well made and well defined. Is a policy much more rational, "said Lissoni.
According to the company's Chief Executive, the search is for manufacturing improvements, logistics and administrative matters. "But we've been through months of uncertainty, we are acting with extreme caution to implement planning at the right time," he added.
About the potential rationing of water or energy, Lissoni said that since last year a more rational consumption came to be adopted by the company, with the use of electricity at times cheaper and more efficient use of water. "No one is quiet today [as the possibility of rationing], but we are prepared for more stringent scenarios," he said.