Baltona

Baltona (full: Baltona Foreign Trade Company Spółka Akcyjna, former Baltona - zaopatrywanie statków) is a Polish company acting mainly on a duty-free market in Poland and abroad.

Seamen certificate worth US$0.20 in Baltona shops

History

It was created in 1946 as a then private company with the principal activity of supplying ships in polish and foreign ports. In 1949-1951 it was Nationalized and subordinated to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Trade, and was tasked with resupplying Polish ships, planes, diplomatic posts, airports, seaports, border crossings, and even scientific expeditions. In 1960 it extended its operations to airports facilities by settling an agreement with "LOT" Polish Airlines and suppllying company's palnes with goods intended for retail and consumption by crews and passangers. The company grew and became a large export-import company during the 1970s and 1980s. During the time of the People's Republic of Poland, it was one of the few companies offering Western goods to Polish consumers for foreign currency. At the height of its popularity during the mid-1980s, Baltona operated nearly 250 stores and had over 2,000 employees. In 1984 it was transformed into a joint stock company (Polish: spółka akcyjna or S.A.). In 2000' Baltona took over Chacalli de Decke company and made further development on food and beverages sector.

References


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