On to a new phase!

The Mennens Group has been a household name in the Netherlands since 1888. The fact that Mennens operates as a single group in the market, however, is more recent. Until 2003 there was actually a collection of trading companies with a common owner. Although there was cooperation, it was mainly "every man for himself and God for all". This didn’t change until 2003 as a result of the management buyout by the management at the time.

A holding company (Mennens Group BV) was established, and as the various parties acquired a stake in the holding company, it became clear that the whole is more than the sum of its parts. This manifested itself in increasing cooperation and heralded a prosperous period for the Group. In less than 10 years, sales have doubled, and the number of employees has grown from fewer than 300 to more than 400.

It was a time when the various branches had great freedom. Local entrepreneurship was paramount; after all, each region has its own characteristics. The Rotterdam region requires different services than the Hengelo or Groningen area. The companies were responsible for their own profits but recognized that there was also money to be gained in working together. Joint purchasing and inventory, using each other's expertise, corporate training, carrying out joint projects and much more.

None of this went unnoticed, and in 2012 the Swedish multinational Axel Johnson International came forward to inquire about Mennens' interest in joining their fast-growing Axload division - the division dedicated to lifting and hoisting technology with multiple branches in many European countries. It turned out to be a perfect match. Axload filled the Benelux blind spot. For Mennens, it meant that it could benefit from Axload's network and expertise. It gave employees the opportunity to work in an international environment and meant continuity for the Group.

Now the Group is entering a new phase – clear evidence that it always knows how to adapt to a constantly evolving environment.