Photo source: Podravka d.d. / Media

In the first 9 months of 2026, the Podravka Group generated 787.7 million euros in operating revenue, which is 5.5 million euros more than in the comparable period last year.

Growth was led by food products and pharmaceuticals, while agriculture recorded a decline in revenue. The results were published by the Podravka Group.

Lino Lada grows in foreign markets

The food business segment generated 449.1 million euros in revenue. Sales of own brands brought in 408.1 million euros, or 1.5% more than last year. Growth was led by bakery products as well as creamy spreads and confectionery, among which Lino Lada stood out in the markets of Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

Higher sales of over-the-counter medicines

The pharmaceutical segment of the Group generated 140.8 million euros in revenue, with growth of 8.8%. Sales of products purchased without a doctor's prescription increased especially strongly. Revenue from that part of the business reached 22.5 million euros, which is 19.2% more than in the same period last year.

Agriculture pressured by lower prices and drought

The agricultural business segment generated 204.3 million euros in revenue, or 1.8% less than last year. The result was weakened by lower market prices for pigs, fattening cattle, and raw milk, as well as by drought that reduced yields of certain crops. Still, Podravka produced enough peppers for its own needs for the first time, and it also reports very good yields of wheat and barley.

The Group also reported 57.6 million euros in normalized net profit. This is profit adjusted for one-off items, to make it easier to track the results of regular operations. In the statement, the Management says it continues to invest in development, while it is trying to mitigate the effects of problems in agriculture through more efficient production.

How much do employees earn?

Data on employee earnings from business reports was extracted by Robert Mihaljević for the portal Danica.hr. According to this portal, average monthly net earnings across the entire Group amounted to around 1,600 euros, approximately the same as last year. That amount includes salary and non-taxable income. In the parent company Podravka d.d., excluding affiliated companies, the average was around 1,500 euros, which is approximately 40 euros more than a year earlier. These are averages for all employees, so they do not show how much a worker earns in a specific position.

During the observed period, the Group employed an average of around 8,300 people, approximately 200 more than last year. Podravka d.d. alone had around 3,340 employees, or approximately 40 fewer. For gross salaries and other employee compensation, the entire Group allocated slightly more than 180 million euros in 9 months, on average more than 20 million euros per month.

Business growth, earnings mostly unchanged

The results show that food and pharmaceuticals are offsetting the weaker performance of agriculture. Total revenue and the average number of employees increased, while average net earnings in the Group remained approximately the same as last year. For a more complete picture of wages, data by job position is lacking, especially for employees in production.