Adrian Cadar, Founder of Bio Holistic and Obio – on organic products entrepreneurship and the future of Romania’s organic market

Discover the story of Adrian Cadar, founder of Bio Holistic and Obio, discussing the growth of Romania’s organic products market, entrepreneurship, healthy living, and the future of the organic industry.

Adrian Cadar is the founder of Bio Holistic and the Obio organic products brand, passionate about nature, music, and a healthy lifestyle. He founded the company in 2008, while the Obio brand was launched in 2012.

C&B: If you were to look at the narrative thread of your career, what were the key moments that defined you?

Adrian Cadar: Certainly, the moment when I joined a multinational company, which gave me early access to everything related to systems and processes within a large organization. And later, of course, the moment when I decided to leave the multinational environment and embark on the entrepreneurial journey on my own. However, both moments are rooted in my self-taught mindset and my early determination, from around the age of 18–19, to know what I wanted from my career. Of course, I did not know at 18 that I would work in the organic products industry, but I knew I would be independent and that I would eventually have my own business.

C&B: Bio Holistic has grown to a portfolio of more than 2,500 products and hundreds of partners. What were the most important strategic decisions behind this growth?

Adrian Cadar: Probably the most important decision was creating our own organic products brand, Obio. Choosing suppliers is also crucial, and we were fortunate to establish partnerships with some of the most renowned European suppliers in the organic market. Another important decision was focusing our energy on the traditional trade segment, or the specialized market as we often call it.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, regardless of obstacles?

Adrian Cadar: Yes, from a young age I had the desire and ambition to be independent and to have my own business. Around the age of 18, I came across a book called “Secrets of the Mind, Secrets of Success,” which completely changed my perspective on what is needed to succeed in life. My personal development journey started with that book. I consistently applied everything I learned from all the self-development books I read. There was no internet back then, and books were the only source of information. To this day, everything I have set out to achieve has come true, without exception.

C&B: How would you describe the evolution of the organic products market in Romania from the time you started until today?

Adrian Cadar: The market grew rapidly until after the pandemic. Over the past two or three years, growth has slowed, but not only in Romania; there has been a decline or stagnation across Europe. We know that the European economic situation has not been particularly favorable in recent years, and this is reflected in the organic products market as well. Of course, the share of organic products is still very small in Romania, which I estimate at around 1% of total products, while in developed countries it can exceed 10%. There is significant room for growth, and the market will certainly continue to expand in the coming years. In countries such as Italy, France, and Germany, there are hundreds and even thousands of specialized organic stores, whereas in Romania we cannot yet really speak of organic stores (with the exception of 3–4 stores in Bucharest), but rather organic sections or corners within larger stores.

C&B: If we met your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?

Adrian Cadar: They would probably say that we are very serious, that we operate with a high level of professionalism, and that we are trustworthy.

C&B: What is the most important decision you have made, one that changed your trajectory?

Adrian Cadar: Although I knew from a young age that I would eventually have my own business, I did not know in which field. So I would say that the decision to open a small natural products store in Oradea in 2008 was the one that ultimately introduced me to organic products and the organic products market.

C&B: In your view, what does a truly “holistic” lifestyle mean, and how do you translate it into business?

Adrian Cadar: Holistic essentially means seeing things as a whole, as I like to say. A holistic lifestyle means taking care of the body, the mind, and the soul (or spirit, if you prefer). I would say that an organization such as a company “lives” holistically when it pays equal attention to all aspects necessary for its proper functioning.

C&B: How do you select suppliers and brands for your portfolio in order to maintain quality standards?

Adrian Cadar: Of course, there is a technical selection process, so to speak. We look at certifications and product sources. But there is also the element of feeling, of value alignment with a supplier, something that cannot be translated into software. And very often, that is what makes the difference. If we do not resonate with a potential supplier, we do not start the collaboration. There are quite a few cases where we turn down partnerships. We have brands in our portfolio that we have worked with for many years, brands with which we share the same values and the same high quality standards, and which place great importance on what is called business ethics. We are proud of that and of our suppliers.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and which moments of the day bring you the greatest satisfaction?

Adrian Cadar: In the morning, I wake up, drink one or two large glasses of water, and head to the office. I check my emails and read the business news when I arrive, then move on to the tasks for the day. Around midday, I pick up my youngest son from school and we go to the gym. Of course, he does not actually work out; he just supervises me, but I hope this routine becomes ingrained in his subconscious so that he will stay active when he grows up. After the gym, we go home for lunch, which is also my first meal of the day. I return to the office for another one or two hours, and by around 5–6 p.m. I am back home, where we have dinner together as a family. By 10 p.m. at the latest, I am in bed, as sleep is extremely important for recharging my batteries for the next day. As you can see, nothing unusual, perhaps even boring for some people. But I believe that routine and consistency produce the best results over time.

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them every day?

Adrian Cadar: I try to be fair, transparent, and to encourage those around me to look at life with optimism and confidence. I strongly believe that we cannot receive unless we first give. If I can do a good deed, I do it, because I know it will come back to me in one form or another. We always receive what we give in life.

C&B: How did the Bio Holistic story begin, and what motivated you to enter the organic products and healthy lifestyle sector?

Adrian Cadar: It all started in 2008 when I opened a small natural products store in Oradea. I chose that business because I was passionate about nutrition and healthy living and had completed various complementary therapy courses at the time. Alongside the physical store, I also launched an online store. While searching for organic products, both for my family and for the store’s customers, I realized there was very little variety among suppliers at that time. So I began looking for suppliers myself. Initially, I brought products only for my own store, and in 2012 I launched the B2B distribution channel as well. That same year, we launched our first products under the Obio brand and launched the website www.obio.ro. It is a wonderful field in which I feel useful, helping people pay attention to what they eat while also protecting nature at the same time.

C&B: How do you see the evolution of this sector over the next 5–10 years, both in Romania and internationally?

Adrian Cadar: The current global context is a complicated one, and certainly the organic products market may also be affected. On one hand, we have wars that are significantly increasing energy costs, and on the other hand, Romania’s complicated situation caused by the political class. Despite this, I remain optimistic that the organic market will be less affected than other sectors. In the long term, Romania still has considerable room for growth, and opportunities lie primarily in processing, as there are currently very few organic product processors in the country. We export a great deal of raw materials and import many finished products. Within five years, we could witness a doubling of the market if both the global and national economies recover.

Adrian Cadar’s journey demonstrates how long-term vision, consistency, and a passion for healthy living can turn an idea into a leading business. Through Bio Holistic and Obio, he contributes to the development of Romania’s organic products market by promoting quality, sustainability and responsible consumption.