VPK Group triumphs as 2024 ambassador of the Family Business Award of Excellence®

VPK Group confirms its position among family businesses as a leader in sustainability, sound governance and growth.

Presented by EY in partnership with BNP Paribas Fortis, De Tijd, L'Echo, FBN Belgium, GUBERNA and WorxInvest, the prestigious Family Business Award of Excellence^® has honoured Belgium's outstanding family businesses for the last 10 years. Chaired by Guido Vanherpe, CEO of La Lorraine Bakery Group, the jury upheld VPK Group as a paragon of mature and strong family entrepreneurship, a great example for other family businesses. The 2 other finalists Sioen and Ziegler also deserve recognition as vibrant exponents of family entrepreneurship. VPK Group succeeds last year's winner, Decospan.

Eric Van Hoof, EY Belgium Family Business Leader: “Family businesses form the backbone of our economy, not only creating prosperity, but also strengthening the fabric of our ecosystem. Their commitment to long-term vision and sustainability translates not only into successful companies, but also into creating high-quality jobs. As finalists of the Family Business Award of Excellence^® and strong examples of how the new generation is taking over the reins, Sioen, VPK Group and Ziegler embody the true potential of family entrepreneurship, serving as entrepreneurial examples for the family business community."

The jury of representatives from leading Belgian family businesses considered that VPK Group met all the criteria in the best and most balanced way. Guido Vanherpe, CEO of La Lorraine Bakery Group and chairman of the jury adds: “After thorough deliberation, the jury unanimously decided to name VPK Group as Ambassador of the 2024 Family Business Award of Excellence^®. VPK Group confirms its position among family businesses as a leader in sustainability, corporate governance and growth.”

Arguments leading to this decision included:

• A strong and determined long-term vision: VPK Group stands out through its very strong and determined long-term vision revolving around sustainability and circularity. This vision forms a positive and very ambitious story for the future.
• The right family-company balance, with a focus on sound governance: a strong bond and good balance exist between family interests and company goals. There is a clear focus on the sound governance of both the company and the family.
• Powerful family charter: focusing on the right themes, VPK Group's concise but powerful family charter was considered mature and relevant by the jury. The family has taken the daring step to give up the traditional branch model and implemented effective mechanisms for better decision-making.
• Broad-based family involvement: at VPK Group family involvement extends from young to old, across all branches, including spouses. Share ownership is seen as a conscious choice and not a golden cage.
• Professional opening up of share ownership: opening up share ownership on the stock exchange at strategic moments, VPK Group has since quit the stock exchange, while maintaining sound and professional governance.
• Impressive growth thanks to ambition, vision and talent: the combination of ambition, vision and talent within VPK Group has led to impressive growth, both organically and through acquisitions.
   

VPK Group

VPK Group is a leading packaging group that since 1935 has grown from a local player to an international supplier of sustainable packaging solutions in corrugated board, solid board and tubes & corner protectors. Its packaging is 100% recyclable and biodegradable and is mainly paper-based which ensures a circular business model. VPK Group's continued growth is mainly the result of its long-term vision and commitment to sustainability, both ecological and economic. Today VPK Group is led by the third and fourth generations. The group employs more than 7,000 people in 20 countries and turns a turnover of €1.9 billion.