Two Slovak dairy companies with ties to businessman Ladislav Kuľka are facing bankruptcy proceedings,raising concerns about potential disruptions to the regional food supply. Bardejov Dairy and Bardejovská mliekareň I, once suppliers to major retail chains like Kaufland and Lidl, have both been declared insolvent after accumulating significant debts totaling nearly 1.8 million euros [[number]]. The failures highlight increasing financial pressures on businesses within the country and follow previous investigations into kuľkaS business dealings and personal conduct.
A pair of dairy companies linked to a prominent Slovak businessman are facing bankruptcy and mounting debts, signaling potential disruptions to the regional food supply. Bardejov Dairy, once a supplier to major retail chains, is now embroiled in insolvency proceedings.
Throughout the year, reports have surfaced regarding financial difficulties within the businesses of Ladislav Kuľka. In January, VÚB Bank initiated bankruptcy proceedings against Bardejovská mliekareň. The company subsequently attempted to reverse its financial decline by filing for restructuring, but those efforts proved unsuccessful.
According to a recent report from Forbes, the court declared the company bankrupt in October. “The debtor failed to demonstrate its solvency to the court. A statement from the debtor delivered to the court indicates that the debtor has negative balances in its bank accounts,” the Prešov District Court stated in its ruling.
Another Kuľka Company Faces Bankruptcy, Debts Revealed
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The troubles extend beyond Bardejovská mliekareň. In July, the court also declared bankruptcy for another company owned by Kuľka, Bardejovská mliekareň I., which is based in Bratislava. VÚB Bank also filed the initial bankruptcy request for this entity in January.
Creditors have already filed claims totaling nearly 1.8 million euros, with company officials listing assets valued at over 4 million euros and claims against the estate of almost 270 euros. VÚB Bank is the largest creditor, with claims of approximately 1.3 million euros. The case underscores the growing financial pressures facing businesses in the region.
Other creditors include the Financial Administration, the Social Insurance Agency, the General Health Insurance Company, and the Regional Court of Bratislava. A similar group of creditors has also filed claims in the case of Bardejovská mliekareň.
Dairy Once Supplied Major Retailers
The Bardejov-based company manufactured milk and dairy products, including tvaroh, cheese, processed cheeses, and bryndza. Established in 2010, the company’s products were previously available in retail chains such as Kaufland and Lidl. In 2015, the company processed 3,000 liters of milk daily, and three years later, set a goal to process 30,000 liters daily.
The company’s website is currently non-functional. “In practice, this may mean that the company has definitively ceased operations. In bankruptcy, assets will be sold to satisfy creditors. The possibility of finding a new owner for the company is also on the table,” the magazine noted.
Businessman Previously Investigated, Briefly Sought by Police
Kuľka previously hosted a former Fico government during an outreach meeting at his farms. He was previously investigated for allegedly assaulting farmer Ivo Belejčák, who, according to reports, was physically attacked by five assailants, robbed, and threatened with being run over by his own car. The alleged motive was to prevent Belejčák from mowing a meadow on land claimed by a competing company. He was not sentenced to prison.
In October 2022, a warrant was issued for his arrest, with police announcing that he was charged with aiding and abetting, actively hiding, and failing to cooperate with law enforcement, thereby obstructing the investigation of serious crimes. The police lifted the warrant after a few days, stating that the reasons for its issuance had ceased to exist.
