Chapter 1
ALPOD GROUP
A family business with 20 % revenue from China
The Alpod family business, which is the largest distributor of wood floor coverings in SE Europe, is based in Cerknica and revolves around selling and laying parquet and other simple floor coverings. In addition to the parent company in Slovenia, their subsidiaries are located in Croatia, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania. In partnership with suppliers worldwide, they provide a wide range of quality, ecologically and technologically-advanced products.
Chapter 2
BLAJ FASTENERS (ANTON BLAJ, d. o. o.)
Passion for engineering, love for bolts
For over half a century, the Blaj family manufacturing business has been supplying special high-end screws and bolts that are critical to the function of a huge variety of machinery. The Blaj bolts can be found in shipbuilding, railways, hydroelectric power stations and machine building. The company combines the traditions of its founder Anton, with the newest, most sophisticated engineering developments and innovations. The list of customers includes large multinationals such as General Electric, Andritz and Siemens.
Chapter 3
HAPPY TOURS (DRUŽINA KRUMPAK, d. o. o.)
A family with tourism in their blood
Happy Tours is one of the fastest-growing European tour operators in the field of incoming tourism. They do not conform to the usual approach of this type of business, but rather act as a B2B agency, as their customers are other tourist agencies. The international team of 50 employees organizes trips for more than 1,000 groups of travellers each year. They are known for their responsiveness, coverage of diverse markets, deep understanding of local environments, network of experienced guides and carriers and 24-hour customer support.
Chapter 4
HUMKO, d. o. o.
Humko: when a teenager establishes a company
The Humko family enterprise is the leading Slovenian company in the field of plant breeding, horticulture and green infrastructure. They have registered a number of patents for their green wall systems and developed over 80 new gardening products, which are sold at various gardening centres of the “Profesionalna vrtnarska družba” (Professional Gardening Company), certain agricultural cooperatives and specialized stores. Tomaž Čufer, a successful entrepreneur since his youth, founded the company when he was just 17.
Chapter 5
LINGVA, d.o.o.
Prototype printed circuit boards chosen by Audi and Porsche
World-renowned giants such as Audi, Porsche, Pipistrel, Gorenje, Elrad International and Intra Lighting are just some of many customers of Lingva, a company specializing in the production of printed circuit boards and SMD stencils. They are well-known for their advanced technology, user support and fast delivery. The company began producing laser-cut stencils 12 years ago, after seizing an opportunity in a market that had just began to develop. Today, they rank among the four largest manufacturers of stencils.
Chapter 6
MEBOR, d. o. o.
Love for wood and family
The Mebor family business is one of the leading providers of complete solutions for primary wood-cutting. They take pride in their machinery’s innovation, robust construction and high performance. Their product range includes machines for small, medium and large sawmills, from small band saws to complete sawmill lines. They have succeeded in combining ambitious business plans with a genuine family atmosphere and have fostered close links with representatives of the local environment. They strongly believe that good quality wood should be handled with the love and care it deserves.
7. poglavje
MEDLE COMPANIES
Experience gives them the edge
The family businesses Roletarstvo Medle, Senčila Medle and Medle IP, have a long tradition of manufacturing and installing blinds, insect screens and windows. The second generation of the Medle family is successfully continuing the vision of their innovative and ingenious father Alojz Medle. All three companies, based in Novo mesto, involve the broader family in managing day-to-day business, carefully controlling growth and maintaining a good working atmosphere – amongst the leadership as well as employees.
Chapter 8
OLJARNA KOCBEK (GORAZD KOCBEK, s. p.)
Tradicional Slovenian pumpkin seed oil, a gourmet ingredient
OIt is a little-known fact that pumpkin seed oil originates from Slovenian soil. Records show that it was first made in the Slovenian part of what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Gorazd Kocbek represents the third generation of the family business, which has, despite many obstacles and challenges, grown steadily throughout its history. Today, their products are recognizable both at home and around the world and are used in the most prestigious gourmet cuisine in Dubai, Japan and the USA.
Chapter 9
PETRE, d.o.o.
Petre tents for any event
The family-run Petre company has operated from Vransko for the past 35 years. The family’s entrepreneurial journey has been remarkable. Through astute business decisions, the company has grown so that it now manages over 50,000 m² of tent capacity. It is also diverse, supplying stages, pavilions, tables, tablecloths, chairs, curtains and flooring, in addition to renting and selling tents and storage halls, some of which are made to order. They pride themselves on serving some of the largest events in Slovenia, and their clients include an array of respected Slovenian companies.
Chapter 10
PLASTIKA SKAZA, d. o. o.
A company that wants to put its products in every home
This year, Plastika Skaza is celebrating its 40th anniversary. With its innovative bioplastic products, the company is looking toward the future, working to ensure a better tomorrow for all. Their products are found in over one and a half million households in 56 countries worldwide. They sell products to world-renowned multinationals such as Ikea, Landis&Gyr and Gorenje, but their most recent success is in the US market. Despite rapid growth, they maintain the values of a family business and a high level of trust in the international market.
Summary
In 2017, we put the spotlight on the following successful Slovenian family-owned enterprises: Alpod, Blaj Fasteners, Happy Tours, Humko, Lingva, Mebor, Medle, Oljarna Kocbek, Petre and Plastika Skaza.
