Hettich confidently looks ahead

 Monday, February 27, 2023

The Hettich Group, the well-known German furniture manufacturer, ended 2022 with sales of about 1.5 billion euros, marking a 10 percent growth over 2021. In detail, 74 percent was achieved in export markets. Globally, Hettich has invested 125 million euros in new products, buildings and machinery. Hettich currently employs about 8,000 people worldwide, including nearly 3,800 in Germany.

The upturn in demand in the home furnishings market that started in the 2nd half of 2020 continued to mid 2022. Home improvement, home furnishings as well as DIY were high on consumers’ agenda across the globe. Many people were investing in their own four walls. The Hettich group of companies did its best to work with its customers in an effort to bring new and beautiful home furnishing solutions to as many consumers as possible.

“We have used the last few months to connect our operating bases even more closely, help each other in coming up with new ideas, improve our processes across the board and, above all, make our work together even more of a pleasure,” Schönfeld beams.

At Future Days, an initial Hettich learning event spanning the globe, colleagues spent three days sharing their knowledge and getting inspiration from external experts. “Our colleagues organised a total of 62 online events and numerous face-to-face meets at our globe spanning operating bases,” Gross is thrilled to say about the new learning format that focuses on honing company strategy.

Challenges, like high steel prices as well as energy and freight costs, geopolitical risks and gas supply uncertainty, will continue to give the company room for thought. In just the same way as Hettich is expecting to encounter local COVID restrictions and a tight supply chain continuing in 2023. “As a strong team, we’re also confident we’ll meet these challenges. With every year that passes, our colleagues around the world are doing a fantastic job. And we know full well, we’ll be able to rely on suppliers and partners we can depend on in 2023 too,” Schönfeld says, describing a team spirit that couldn’t be stronger.

“We’re not just looking at the next few months, but thinking long term,” adds Gross. “The world’s different regions we operate in are developing in very different ways. This is why, in whichever country, we will continue to apply every flexibility in embracing our clientele’s many different needs and take advantage of whatever opportunity arises.” The Hettich team will also work with its customers to create new (mobile) office worlds and address optimisation focused projects in the DIY domain. Hettich is looking forward with confidence to embracing potential global growth and will free up unused production capacity to amaze existing and new customers.

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