Common values and visions

German Suki Group has acquired the French group VT Fastware. Both Suki Group and VTF are active in the distribution of DIY products (hardware in a wider context, hand tools, self-adhesives and other DIY essentials). And they emphasise: the two groups share common values and visions of the challenges and future opportunities in their markets.

Sebastian Laus, CEO of Suki Group, says: “I’m happy to welcome VTF in the growing Suki Group. The acquisition of VTF is a unique opportunity for the future of the two groups. Together, we will be even better able to serve our customers in different regions and sales channels.”

Hervé Hacot, CEO of VTF, adds: “The DIY market is becoming increasingly global and more and more complex with new skills to be developed to meet increasing demands. With Suki Group we found the ideal and fully complementary partner in Europe, geographically and in terms of product ranges, with hardware as a common point. In all other ranges we will be able to take advantage of our individual skills.”

Above all, Suki Group strongly supports the industrial relocation project initiated by VTF’s Vynex brand and this should become a major accelerator for the group. Sebastian Laus underlines: “We are excited to become VTF’s initiative producers of high-quality woodscrews ‘made in Europe’.”

For Vynex, this is a major opportunity to further strengthen its Rocket brand, the main brand of technical wood screws for the building and renovation industry in France. This prospect of international sales development will help to consolidate the industrial relocation plan in France and consequently to increase the volumes produced in the Ardennes through growth, the new partners are convinced. Herve Hacot: “Together, we are eager to distribute Rocket through Suki’s European wide structures and subsidiaries.”

Additionally, Suki Group business units Facido (multichannel provider for many innovative DIY manufacturers of decoration, flooring and sanitary ranges) as well as DBM.S (merchandising organisation in many European countries) will deliver further synergies and opportunities.

Finally, VTF's packing centres in China and Vietnam will of course offer their services to Suki Group; more generally, a sharing of suppliers in Asia will allow the management of the supply chain of both groups to be improved.

For obvious reasons of complementarity, all existing activities and sites of VTF and Suki Group will be preserved; no reduction or contraction of activities is envisaged. Suki Group and VTF wish to further strengthen their development and innovation resources. “The grouping of our companies will enable us to pool and extend our efforts in marketing and purchasing.” Sebastian Laus says.

The management team of VTF will remain in place in its entirety and work jointly together with the Suki Group board; Hervé Hacot will remain CEO of Vynex and Tréfilaction, Sebastian Laus is the CEO of the enlarged Suki Group.

About VT Fastware group (VTF)

VTF is based in Thelonne in the North-East of France at the premises of Vynex and was founded more than 100 years ago. Tréfilaction is based near Nîmes in the South of France; the VTF group has a trading organisation, packaging centres and logistical premises in Asia (China and Vietnam).

With a team of 300 people (France and Asia), VTF has a turnover of EUR 85 mio, mainly achieved in France. VTF is a leading French provider of product solutions, merchandise presentation as well as logistics and in store services for DIY stores, supermarkets and professional hardware stores (builder’s merchants). VTF distributes its own brands and manages private labels for some of its customers; Vynex owns Rocket, the main brand of technical screws for the building and renovation industry in France.

Vynex is currently setting up an industrial plant in the Ardennes to partially reshore the manufacturing of wood screws to France. This project benefits from financial support from the French state and the French Grand Est region.

VTF has been owned since the end of 2017 by its management team.

About Suki Group

For over 70 years, the Suki Group has been one of the leading European providers of product solutions, merchandise presentation as well as logistics and services for various forms of European trade.

The focus is on the home improvement and craftsmen sectors. International sales offices offer a high level of service in over 40 countries. The group employs more than 650 people and generates a turnover of more than EUR 200 mio.

The business model is based on three pillars: Suki offers assortment solutions for hardware, hand tools and self-adhesive products for DIY and home improvement as well as for specialist retailers. Facido is a specialist in trade logistics for innovative suppliers, both for their online business and for stationary trade. DBM.S provides POS and merchandising services for the suki group and many other partners throughout Europe.

Suki’s brand portfolio ranges from own brands, Suki, fix-o-moll and MagnoDur, to integrated manufacturer brands as well as retailers' own brands.

Suki Group is a member of the Serafin diversified industrial group of companies, whose entrepreneurial tradition dates back more than 150 years. Serafin generates with this new acquisition an annual turnover of approximately EUR 1 bn with 4 500 employees. Serafin is a long-term shareholder, without outside investors. The company assures that it has no objective to sell its assets.