Hoechst, Austria / Sint-Niklaas, Belgium | February 2024

Blum and Van Hoecke to merge

Longstanding representative for Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg to join the Blum Group

Blum plans to integrate the Belgium representative and manufacturer of furniture components into its Group. The first priority is to maintain continuity – both for customers, who will continue to receive the usual top quality service, and for Van Hoecke’s 360 employees, who will be welcomed to the Blum Group.

Austrian fittings manufacturer Blum will buy long-term partner and representative for Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg and integrate the companies Van Hoecke NV, Van Hoecke Nederland BV and Halux NV into the Group, provided the merger is in compliance with competition law. “Not only have Van Hoecke and our company worked together in close partnership for more than 50 years, there is also a close connection between the owners and the companies that has developed over generations,” explains Blum Managing Director Philipp Blum and adds: “Peter van Hoecke’s main concern has always been to safeguard the future of his company and secure the jobs of more than 360 employees.

That is why he approached us and asked about integrating Van Hoecke completely into the Blum Group.” Due to the fact that the companies have very similar values, have worked together closely for many years and built mutual trust, an agreement was soon reached between the two parties. “We both came to the conclusion that a merger would be a win-win situation for everyone involved. Our location in Sint-Niklaas, our services to the market and our employees’ jobs will be preserved in the long run,” reports Peter Van Hoecke.

Strategy to secure market position and use synergies

Blum will merge with its innovative partner for Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg in order to maintain a strategic foothold in the region and jointly unlock international potential. “We want to continue Van Hoecke’s success story and bring together the best of both worlds. Our partner’s expertise lies in service leadership, customised mass production and a wide service offering for customers. We bring in product leadership with a focus on innovation and unique quality. We want to harness these synergies, learn from each other, extend our service offering and evolve to even better meet our customers’ needs all over the world,” adds Blum Managing Director Martin Blum. Peter Van Hoecke will remain in his role as Managing Director until his retirement and will support the transition to the Blum Group, which was agreed on by all members of the Van Hoecke family. The companies Van Hoecke NV, Van Hoecke Nederland BV and Halux NV will stay independent so company contacts will remain the same and the usual standard of service be maintained and guaranteed after the merger.