Norpe seeks major operator status in Europe
Norpe is growing fast. The international expansion of this company is progressing rapidly, especially in Germany and Russia where Norpe is already serving established customers by its own organisation. The aim now is to expand Norpe’s partner network still further, secure more major customer accounts, and seek a stronger foothold in local markets.
International business director Mika Aaltonen explains that the same principles will govern entry into all markets.
“Regardless of the market, our main idea is to establish close collaboration with the customer. Norpe stresses a local presence, working closely with the customer, and adaptation of the product portfolio to meet the needs of the market. We also seek to reinforce the local partner network especially in installation and aftersales. The smooth running of our operations in Germany and Russia also benefit our current customers with business ventures in these countries.”
Aaltonen gives further details of the enlargement of Russian operations:
“We opened an office in Moscow at the beginning of June and began developing our business operations with the aid of a local team in Russia. There is massive growth potential in the East. In the first six months our business is already up by 50 % compared to last year.”
Business is also growing in Germany. Norpe’s German operations are becoming even stronger, thanks to a local team and customer accounts. Work is under way to begin collaboration with major supermarket operators. All operations are geared to an outcome in which the German market will become a significant source of revenue in 2012. This can be achieved by collaborating closely and flexibly with major customers and building a range of products and services that combine the traditional strengths of Norpe: quality, environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness.
Norpe has previously focused most of its operations on countries in northern Europe. Now this business is expanding into countries that offer major potential but also have fiercely competitive markets. Aaltonen aptly compares this to a sports club moving from a local forum to face a new and tougher competitive situation in an international arena.
Competitiveness will have to be raised to a new level in order to achieve the same success in the markets of larger countries as in the small economies of northern Europe. Norpe possesses the required expertise and mindset for this, and only time will tell how far it can go!
