Gregor Riekena, CEO of Häfele Group, suggests that the global kitchen market has entered a new "era of instability" due to recent challenges. He attributes this shift to factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, political uncertainties, and technological advancements. Riekena highlights threats to logistics, such as issues with the Suez Canal, and acknowledges the heightened stress in the current global landscape.
From a sociological perspective, he emphasises the unpredictability of "tipping point" moments and urges businesses to be prepared for unforeseen problems. Despite the absence of a clear roadmap, Riekena advises other business leaders to rely on culture and positive management as their compass in navigating these challenges.
He emphasises the importance of fostering a family-like culture within companies, believing that it helps retain employees and enables teams to devise long-term solutions to problems. Riekena underscores the resilience of company cultures, which can endure periods of instability.
Despite the current challenges, Riekena remains optimistic about Häfele Group's future and the overall health of the sector. He expresses confidence that realistic but ambitious goals, coupled with optimism, will contribute to continued prosperity. These insights were shared during a conference at Egger's headquarters in Austria, where leaders from Egger and Blum also discussed key industry challenges impacting the current market.
Source: KBBreview
