Heinro Distribution
Romania keeps everything
under control
The history of Heinro Distribution in
Romania reads like an exciting adventure
book for boys. With a few guilders in their
pockets, the young two-man team of Dan
Vlasceanu and Andrei Busiia entered the
world of business and became importers for
Heineken in 1992. Three years later Heinro
had 25 people on its payroll and the duo
are building up an organisation which is
getting ready for the Great Leap Forwards.
NOROC
14
The brand-new
Heinro office.
Ask a random number of people what they first associate
with the word Romania and the majority of them will say:
Nicolai Ceaucescu, the dictator who became notorious for
his delusions of grandeur. December 21, 1989 finally
brought the rule of Ceaucescu to an end. The uprising start
ed in Timisoara, in West Romania, and quickly spread to the
capital of Bucharest. On Piata Palatului Square in the capital
city the people turned against Ceaucescu in that final
month of 1989 and the revolution was a fact.
After several turbulent months Romania organised free
elections for the first time in many years. To many people's
surprise it was the Communists who won the elections. But
they were not Communists of the old guard. The new
leaders were not unfavourable towards privatising the
industry which had previously been state-owned. Private
initiative was encouraged and the young Romanians who
saw the chance to build up a livelihood of their own seized
that opportunity with both hands.
RUBBER STAMPS
So did Dan Vlasceanu and Andrei Busiia. The two school-
friends, who had completed their study as engineers,
decided to venture in at the deep end. With three guilders
