TAKKT division KAISER + KRAFT EUROPA established subsidiaries in Poland, Portugal and Ireland

Continuous advancement of European market penetration

Stuttgart-based TAKKT AG, the leading business-to-business mail order supplier for office, business and warehouse equipment in Europe and North America, is expanding its market presence in Europe. KAISER + KRAFT EUROPA, the division with the highest sales volume within the Stuttgart-based group, has set up new companies in Poland, Portugal and Ireland. “By establishing these new business locations, we are continuing to expand our market penetration in Europe,” Franz Vogel, board member for sales at TAKKT AG, commented on the company’s increased commitment.

KWESTO Poland
The KWESTO subsidiary in Poland is the sequel to the successful establishment of KWESTO in the Czech Republic one year ago. Both KWESTO companies complement the existing business of KAISER + KRAFT EUROPA with a product range that contains articles mainly from Eastern Europe and is geared toward the market requirements of small and medium-sized companies. “We consider Eastern Europe and especially Poland a future market,” Franz Vogel said.
The new company, whose employees ensured a smooth start of business, is based in Wroclaw and will focus on business and warehouse equipment for small and medium-sized companies to tap more intensively into the market potential in Poland. “Together with the synergies and economies of scale of TAKKT AG, our individualised local customer service represents a very convincing offering,” said Janusz Wlazel, managing director of KWESTO in both the Czech Republic and Poland.

Ireland and Portugal
Apart from KWESTO Poland, the newly established companies in Portugal and Ireland also show that TAKKT AG is able at any time to apply its multipliable systems business to new regions easily, quickly and cost-effectively. With the new company in Lisbon, KAISER + KRAFT will expand its presence in Portugal which has so far been serviced by Spain. Furthermore, the company is now present in Ireland with an own catalogue. These steps show that KAISER + KRAFT EUROPA is committed to intensifying its market penetration in Southern and Northern Europe. Both campaigns focus on better customer service as compared to the competition. For example, in Ireland all items are delivered for free and without freight surcharge. In Portugal as well as in Ireland now exist service offers that are comparable to those of other KAISER + KRAFT companies.

KAISER + KRAFT EUROPA
At EUR 366.4 million, KAISER + KRAFT EUROPA, which consists of the KAISER + KRAFT, Gaerner, Gerdmans and KWESTO groups, is the business division with the highest sales volume of TAKKT AG. From more than 37 locations in 16 European countries, KAISER + KRAFT EUROPA offers 30,000 business, office and warehouse equipment products via catalogue, the Internet and CD-ROM.
The KWESTO subsidiary in the Czech Republic, which exceeded all expectations during the past financial year, was established in May 2000.

Stuttgart, July 20, 2001

Contact:

Georg Gayer Tel. 07 11.50 01-239
Dr. Felix A. Zimmermann  Tel. 07 11.50 01-861