ROCHE/NICHOLAS FOCUS ON SAVOY

Laboratoire Roche et Nicholas, the French over-the-counter drug subsidiary of the Swiss Hoffmann-La Roche group, is to double its production capacity of mainly effervescent formulations (Aspro, Rennie, Supradyne) at its site at Gaillard in the Savoy region. The increase in capacity will bring annual output to 100 million units, with the production from other European sites being transferred to the plant.

Jean-Paul Morriset, director of human resources, says the Savoy plant has distinct competitive advantages. Some 90 million French francs ($16.2 million) will be invested and 120 new jobs will be created. Roche et Nicholas has two other plants in France, one at Bucyles-Pierrepont in the Aisne region and the other at Arnas in the Rhone region.

The company expects sales of 500 million francs ($90.2 million) in 1993, 80% of which will come from exports. Sales in 1992 rose from 309 million francs to 410 million francs. Net profits were 4.7 million francs in 1991.