Strategy, consistency, stability. Strongest membership growth ever

Things are moving forward for MHK Group. Since the arrival of several new executives, MHK Group scored the strongest membership growth ever within one year. Even since the founding of MHK Group.

Last year, Volker Klodwig was appointed as the new CEO of MHK Group. Together with Carolin Kronenberg (CFO), Thorsten Hallermeier (CDO), Dr. Olaf Hoppelshäuser and Frank Bermbach, he took on the task of successfully developing MHK Group and focusing it on the future. This was a challenging task, Klodwig emphasizes. "The market conditions did not exactly make it easy for us in 2023. All the more important for MHK to demonstrate a clear strategy. Klodwig: "And we did. We were able to make it clear to our shareholders in the kitchen and plumbing sector not just with words but with concrete actions that we understand their day-to-day business activities and that we support them in them." 

Investment in trade business economics

In the surely crisis year 2023 in the kitchen industry, MHK Group has invested significantly in supporting its shareholders to cope with the acute effects of the difficult economic climate, but above all to take advantage of this phase. Indeed, MHK is convinced that the desire to consume will return and then the companies that have clearly positioned themselves in the market will perform better.

Strongest membership growth 

This active management attitude, the broad service portfolio, the strength of the profiled trade and proprietary brands and the numerous initiatives for digitalization solutions that increase efficiency contributed to the group's growth in 2023 with a record number of new kitchen and sanitaryware dealers and specialty companies. MHK Group had 4,233 shareholders as of December 31, 2023. That's 356 new shareholders that MHK Group was able to recruit under the most difficult market conditions - the strongest increase in membership within a year since MHK Group was founded. "I think this clearly shows that we have sent the right signals and are living up to our reputation as a leading European industry platform," Klodwig emphasizes.

Commercial, franchise and proprietary brands remain important building blocks for success

Another important building block for success for the partners of all MHK Group's foreign companies are their own marketing formulas and private label concepts. Their importance becomes clear when we look at sales. About two-thirds of sales in the kitchen segment are generated by the five proprietary brands Designo, elementa, neola, selectiv and xeno. The first concept to enter the market, elementa, has been providing true "unique selling points" in the specialist trade for 25 years. The MHK franchise system REDDY Küchen, which is also popular in Belgium and the Netherlands, is also celebrating its anniversary this year. As one of the best-known and multi-award-winning franchise brands in Germany, REDDY Küchen has been enabling successful entrepreneurship for thirty years and supporting partners with innovative products and comprehensive services. As a counterpart to the German trademark "musterhaus küchen," "MHK Küchenspezialist" in Austria and Switzerland and "MHK Kitchen Experts" in Belgium, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Spain provide greater visibility for partners both online and locally. In addition, European branding and a consistent brand appearance of the sales concept are guaranteed.

Cautiously optimistic 

Klodwig is cautiously optimistic about the future. He points out that many unknown factors are currently present, including global crisis areas and unpredictable political developments, among others. "Is the tipping point approaching? Then the specialty trade must stand there with an attractive product and service portfolio. Will AI provide productivity advances? Then it must be integrated exactly where it really benefits our shareholders," Klodwig said. He sees that MHK Group is on track and that the strategic direction is right: "Our project roadmap is well filled and focused." Last but not least, the attitude is the right one: "We have already demonstrated this in 2023 with our proximity to businesses, our service portfolio, which is unique in this form, and our innovation pipeline, where the focus is always on the benefit to our shareholders."