In conversation with Gottfried Denner, CEO of The Denner Group
April 22, 2024
In our interview, Gottfried Denner discusses overcoming challenges and steering Denner Group towards a sustainable and innovative future.
In April 2023, The Austrian-based Denner Group acquired the assets, technology and business of UK-based Environmental Business Products Ltd (EBP) through a newly created company, Dennner Environmental Products Limited (DEBP).
DEBP’s acquisition has positioned it at the forefront of the European inkjet cartridge remanufacturing industry, and it continues to be a technical innovator. It employs over 65 people in the UK and across Europe, focusing on supplying high-quality, private-label inkjet cartridges to retailers and resellers across Europe and the UK.
The company specialises in supplying high quality private label ink cartridges to retailers and resellers throughout Europe and the UK.
Their vision emphasises staying ahead of the market, focusing on cost-effective, environmentally friendly solutions for printer cartridges.
A year later, we caught up with Gottfried Denner, the CEO of The Denner Group, to see how the acquisition and reorganisation of Environmental Business Products had progressed.
SU: Could you describe the vision you had for Environmental Business Products when you first took over, and how has that vision evolved over the past year
GD: When Environmental Business Products Ltd (EBP) was acquired by the Denner Group in April 2023, our vision was to re-optimise the business in London while strengthening the Denner Group as a whole. This vision has evolved steadily over the past year to focus not only on efficiency gains but also on innovation and sustainability to ensure long-term competitiveness.
A key objective of this acquisition was to close our 360° recycling loop with printer cartridges made in Europe, and I am pleased to report that we have successfully achieved this goal.
SU: What were the biggest challenges you faced during your first year at the helm, and how did you address them?
GD: The biggest challenges in the first year were restructuring legacy processes, adapting to regulatory changes, and reorganising staff. We have tried to overcome these challenges by investing in new technologies to optimise processes and ensure smooth collaboration across the entire Denner Group.
We realised from the outset that the relatively high fixed costs at the London site would make it difficult to achieve competitive prices. Nonetheless, the UK market is extremely interesting, and the expertise and quality of the products produced in London are unrivalled.
SU: Now that you have moved your production facilities to the EU, what potential benefits and challenges do you foresee with such a move?”
GD: It was very important for us to secure the expertise and quality within the Denner Group and, after a reasonable period of time, to transfer it to a country where we can realise comparable standards at lower fixed costs. The time has now come when we feel we are in a position to relocate these processes.
The relocation of our production facilities outside London and to Eastern Europe offers several potential benefits for our customers and our group of companies.
Through comprehensive planning and successfully overcoming potential challenges, we will ensure that we can guarantee our customers the long-term success of our business.
SU: Denner Environmental Business Products was recently placed into Insolvency. Can you share the background behind that decision?
GD: The decision to close Denner Environmental Business Products Ltd. was a difficult but necessary measure to ensure the long-term stability of the entire Group. This was done after careful consideration of all options and with the aim of continuing business activities in the Denner Group with the same quality but on more favourable terms. We are working closely with all parties involved to organise this transition in a transparent and responsible manner.
SU: Environmental sustainability is crucial for the industry. Can you elaborate on any new initiatives or changes you’ve implemented to enhance your company’s environmental impact?
GD: Environmental friendliness is a key concern for us. We have already implemented initiatives to reduce our environmental footprint, such as investing in renewable energy, optimising packaging materials, and promoting recycling programmes, most notably with our own toner shredding facility. In addition, we are exploring partnerships with suppliers who share our sustainability goals further to improve our environmental footprint along the entire value chain. We have also set up our own consultancy company that focuses intensively on the topic of ESG (environmental, social, and governance). This company not only advises the Denner Group itself on ESG but also our customers. Through this initiative, we want to ensure that we actively contribute to improving our company’s environmental impact and, at the same time, support our customers in implementing similar best practices.
SU: Could you please highlight your unique selling points or unique selling propositions that set the Denner Group apart from other companies in the industry and give you a competitive advantage?
GD: Our USP lies in our comprehensive 360° recycling loop, which we organise entirely in Europe. From the monthly collection of around 500,000 inkjet and toner cartridges to the production of our own ink under the OCP brand, the refurbishment of printer cartridges to the same quality as the OEM, as well as distribution to retailers and marketing in our own e-commerce shop. We also shred non-reusable toner cartridges and return the raw materials from these cartridges to the recycling loop. As an add-on, we issue CO2 certificates for each of our customers on request, stating exactly how many printer cartridges have been collected and how much CO2 has been saved by recycling these waste items.
SU: Looking forward to the next year and beyond, what are the main goals and priorities for Denner Group, and how do you plan to achieve them?
GD: Our goal for the future is to continue strengthening our market position, driving innovation, and intensifying our sustainability efforts.
Thank you for your time today, Gottfried.
It was an enlightening interview with Gottfried Denner, CEO of The Denner Group, and it’s clear that the journey through restructuring, strategic acquisitions, and focusing on environmental sustainability has positioned the company for a prosperous future. Despite facing numerous challenges, including the insolvency of Denner Environmental Business Products, Denner’s leadership has shown resilience and strategic acumen. Looking ahead, Denner Group remains committed to innovating within the remanufacturing sector and strengthening its market position through sustainability and efficiency. Their story is a testament to the transformative power of visionary leadership and adaptive strategies in today’s dynamic business environment.
Categories : World Focus
Tags : Business Denner Environmental Business Products Denner Group EBP Interview One Year On
