Press Room

Kwintet Raises Customer Focus Through Restructure

May 2011

KWINTET, the largest workwear, PPE and corporate wear uniform supplier in Europe, has implemented a restructure to offer a more efficient, comprehensive and responsive operation to customers. In the UK, the business turns over more than £50m and has more than 250 personnel. Across Europe the Kwintet Group has more than 4,000 employees supporting a turnover of more than 700m euro.

The restructure redefines the Kwintet Group from a sector specific operation to a brand-led operation with geographical locations, with five zones of activity representing the business across the continent. The number of brands across continental Europe will be reduced, which is designed to focus resources and investment into developing fewer power brands within the industry. In addition, procurement and service processes for customers will be more streamlined, with multiple-sourcing through Kwintet's various arms being reduced.

Richard Wright, vice president for Kwintet UK and International, said: "We are Europe's biggest supplier of workwear, PPE and corporate wear thanks to a series of acquisitions in recent years. Now is the time for us to use the strength of the group by integrating and uniting the various strands of the business to make us stronger. Rather than operate as a series of small business units, we can utilise the combined power of the group."

Wright says the move is about efficiencies for customers and suppliers, and not a cost-cutting exercise.

"Workwear is a highly competitive market. We have seen consolidation, mainly through acquisition and merger. For us to protect and grow our own business, we need to take advantage of our scale. We, like the rest of the apparel market, are also experiencing unprecedented increases in raw materials and distribution costs. For us to work effectively in this environment, we need a focused structure."

A key aspect of the restructure in the UK will see the headquarters for Kwintet UK based at the current Simon Jersey site in Altham, Lancashire, to be renamed Kwintet House. The expertise from Kwintet's seven UK sites will be harnessed through a best practice exercise.

For further information, please contact the press office:
Slater PR
Catherine Prest
East Park Lodge
East Park Road
Blackburn
BB1 8DW

Tel: +44 (0)1254 295 580
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