HETTICH

A GLOBAL LEGACY – STRENGTHENING ROOTS IN SRI LANKA

Q: What distinguishes Hettich from competitors in the increasingly competitive global furniture fittings and interior solutions market?

Dr. Andreas Hettich (AH): Hettich’s key differentiator is its long engineering legacy. We are a 138-year-old family owned business and have one of the longest histories of engineering expertise in the sector.

This heritage continues to influence how we approach innovation – not only in terms of our products but also our manufacturing processes. Today, Hettich products are manufactured in eight countries, although a large proportion of our production remains in Germany.

Another important aspect that distinguishes Hettich is sustainability. Our products are designed to be highly durable and have long lifespans, which contributes to more sustainable consumption.

We also make extensive use of steel, which has the advantage of being readily recyclable. Sustainability extends beyond our products and manufacturing processes to our factories, where we increasingly use green energy.

Q: How is the company responding to changing consumer expectations around functionality, design, convenience and smart living spaces?

AH: We would say that Hettich is not only responding to these changes but also helping to drive them. Urbanisation has resulted in increasingly smaller living spaces, particularly in major cities, and this has created a growing need to use available space more intelligently.

Our products and solutions enable furniture to become more flexible and efficient, allowing people to make better use of limited spaces. The demographic and lifestyle changes taking place globally are reinforcing this trend. As people increasingly live in smaller homes and more people live alone, demand for intelligent furniture solutions that offer high quality and premium designs will continue to grow.

Q: Hettich has completed 10 years in Sri Lanka. What have been the key milestones in this journey, and how has the Sri Lankan market evolved over the past decade?

Andre Eckholt (AE): The past 10 years have been a wonderful journey for Hettich in Sri Lanka. One of the most important recent milestones has been the establishment of the Experience Centre. We see this as an important touchpoint for customers because, although digital platforms are increasingly important, there is still tremendous value in physically experiencing products and solutions.

The Experience Centre allows us to engage more closely with both B2B and B2C customers. It provides an opportunity to work with interior designers and architects while also enabling consumers to experience the products themselves.

Q: Hettich has recently expanded into built-in kitchen appliances through the Blaupunkt brand in markets like Sri Lanka. What prompted this move into appliances and how does it fit into Hettich’s global portfolio strategy?

AH: Built-in appliances are increasingly relevant because they enable consumers to make better use of space while creating a more integrated kitchen environment.

Through Blaupunkt, we offer a full range of built-in appliances including smart solutions, which fit naturally into the way we see the evolution of modern living spaces. In the B2B market in particular, partners and professionals are looking for a one stop solution. They want to be able to provide customers with a complete kitchen and interior experience rather than sourcing individual components from multiple suppliers.

Q: Hettich’s growth in markets such as Sri Lanka has been supported by longstanding local partners such as Delmege, a company with a 175 year heritage. How important are strong local partnerships to Hettich’s international growth strategy more broadly and what does a partnership like this tell you about how Hettich grows globally?

AH: Partnerships are a very important cornerstone of Hettich’s growth strategy. We have different models in countries, depending on the characteristics and size of each market. In smaller markets in particular, partnerships can play a very important role. A strong local partner brings knowledge of the market, its customers and its business culture. This helps us adapt our solutions to local needs and importantly, become as local as possible.

AE: If we were to enter a market completely on our own, the learning process would take much longer. A strong local partner enables us to learn faster, engage with customers more effectively and build relationships much sooner.

Q: What are Hettich’s priorities for the next phase of its global growth, and how do you see the company strengthening its partnerships and market presence internationally?

AH: Our strategy will involve expanding both horizontally and vertically. Hettich will continue to serve the premium and luxury segments but we are also introducing additional brands that allow us to address more affordable segments.  This will enable us to offer a broader range of solutions and meet the needs of different customer groups.

Geographical expansion is another important area. We are increasingly considering smaller markets such as Sri Lanka where there is potential for long-term growth. Africa is another region that presents considerable opportunities.

AE: We want to cater to premium and luxury customers while also reaching broader segments through additional brands. At the same time, we will continue strengthening our local partnerships and ensuring that our global capabilities are translated into locally relevant solutions.

– Compiled by Suresh Ginige

COMPANY DETAILS

• Telephone: 0777 332634
• Email: supportsrilanka@hettich.com
• Website: www.hettichsrilanka.com