A strong alliance as assurance for the future
For decades, Van Hoecke has been a major player as a supplier for the furniture industry and a market leader in the distribution of Blum's functional furniture fittings. For more than 50 years, they have been the exclusive distributor for Austria's high-quality manufacturer in the Benelux.
“As a strongly value-driven family business with a transparent company vision, our company's highest goal has been to ensure the continuation of our activities down the generations,” explains Peter Van Hoecke (CEO). “Alongside shoring up continuity, Van Hoecke also wants to create sustainable growth and real well-being for the 365 employees and all parties involved with the company, whether close at hand or far away.”
The power of healthy ambitions for growth
“The major driver for securing that continuity and ensuring our future is retaining our current market position, supplemented by a healthy ambition for growth,” says Peter. This is why the company has evolved over the decades from distribution to assembly of pre-mounted metal drawers from Blum to a manufacturer of their own TA’OR BOX drawers. These drawer systems were what led to steps being taken towards the international market. “Thanks to this evolution, we've been able to build up some unique knowledge and experience in terms of mass customisation,” says Peter. “After all, all our pre-mounted products can be ordered and manufactured from lot size one. That's unique, and not just to our sector.”
But Van Hoecke also found that international expansion at one's own behest is time-consuming and unpredictable. “This is why the key to solid and successful international growth lies in forging strong alliances,” says Peter. “That makes an alliance with an international global player the best insurance policy for steady and sustainable growth. In so doing, Van Hoecke can rely upon an existing and high-quality distribution network, thereby considerably shortening the time needed to achieve the first good results outside its own borders. The scale-up that will be achieved this way is also the best guarantee for achieving the company's vision, namely its continuation and development in the long term.”
The logical formula: 1+1 > 2
In the quest for the right alliance, it was a logical step to adjoin the company's combined expertise and deep-rooted market knowledge with the world-class expertise of its number one supplier and trusted partner of many years – Blum. The combination of Blum's power in terms of absolute product leadership and expertise in mass production with Van Hoecke's leadership in terms of service and tailored product knowledge is clearly a strong combination for the future. This is why Van Hoecke's knowledge is also a major new centrepiece for Blum's strategic future. “In this situation, 1 plus 1 equals more than 2,” says Peter. “That's why Blum will be integrating Van Hoecke NV and its sister companies Van Hoecke BV (Netherlands) and Halux NV (Manufacturing) 100% into the Blum Group in the first quarter of 2024.”
Assured of a strong future
In integrating Van Hoecke into the Blum Group, the company is taking a clear step forwards in continuing to provide optimum service to customers in the Benelux and introducing new services for the other international markets that Blum serves.
“We retain our identity and autonomy as Van Hoecke within the Blum Group to continue working on the development of new services that support and accompany Blum's products in the best way possible,” explains Peter. “An additional advantage is that Blum is also a 100% family business and is therefore characterised by the same values (long-term vision and major involvement with staff and customers). That means we can continue to guarantee the continuity of culture, service and support for our customers and staff.” “We have not only enjoyed a partnership with Van Hoecke for over 50 years, but also a cross-generational connection between the owners and the companies," explains Blum's Managing Director Philipp Blum.
Van Hoecke's current management is more motivated than ever to continue to develop Van Hoecke into a bona fide competence centre within the group. This is why all the staff will be staying on board to use their knowledge and know-how further too. Van Hoecke's current product portfolio and house brands will also be retained. In addition, this new alliance will also create some new development opportunities for all staff who wish to grow further. “Along with the entire management team, I will continue to make efforts to secure the future of the company and – with the strong support from Blum – develop it into a centre of excellence in the furniture industry,” Peter concludes.