The Austrian juice and iced tea company, Pfanner, has announced that it is to set up a distribution company in Bulgaria in early April 2003.

The company, Pfanner Bulgaria, is to be based in Sofia and will employ 20 people.

Pfanner said it had not ruled out setting up a production unit in Bulgaria as the second phase in its expansion in the country. Pfanner currently exports around 78% of its production, with Germany and Italy its largest markets. The company expects to post turnover of €175m in 2003.