Chapter 1
BARJANS, d. o. o.
Setting new standards of cleanliness
The Barjans company is a wholesaler of sanitary paper, professional cleaning agents and cleaning tools. They offer virtually everything in the hygiene field, from cleaning machines and sanitary supplies to consumables for the catering industry and paper products. Their range includes more than 4,000 items, aimed at all levels of professional requirement and various price points. Last year, they achieved revenues of just over €8 million, but the company’s success is built on far more than its sales volume. The Barbo family believes that their depth of knowledge is perhaps even more important to the provision of an effective cleanliness and hygiene system than their range of good quality products.
Chapter 2
BIO-SAD, d. o. o.
Bottles full of quality and family tradition
Bio-Sad, a family company, has more than 25 years of tradition in producing non-alcoholic, alcoholic and wine-based beverages. From its humble beginnings in Jakobski Dol, the company is about to expand its plant in Lenart to 15,000m² in 2020. It is a holder of the International Food Standard (IFS) certificate and produces beverages under both its own and the Apis brand. The company also bottles beverages for other brands, using their recipes or Bio-Sad’s own. Three years ago, the founder, Vladimir Černčič, passed the torch to his son Andrej.
Chapter 3
HUBAT, d.o.o.
Their main focus is quality
The Hubat family business from Kamnik was founded in 1992 and has “travelled” a long way since. From beginning with one truck, it has become one of the leading transporters of dangerous and flammable liquids in the region. Its development has been based on safe and reliable transport and logistics solutions, active partner relationships and constant innovation. It now has a 25-year tradition in offering transport services, considering itself a stable company. Gregor Hubat and his brother Aleksander evolved the company, modestly started by their father, into a renowned international logistics company.
Chapter 4
INCOM, d.o.o.
Frozen innovations from Ajdovščina are taking over the world
A family-owned business from Ajdovščina, Incom is Slovenia’s largest producer of ice cream and frozen confectionery, under its own brands Leone and Leone AL!VE. As an innovator and producer of ice cream for other brands, the company exports more than two million ice cream cones, lollies, pots, tubs and other varieties all over the world every day. It has more than 400 employees and invests profits into innovation and development. This year’s revenue will reach €66 million, which is €11 million more than last year. However, owner Andrej Slokar values development, innovation and interpersonal relations with family members and employees more than profits alone.
Chapter 5
KODILA, d.o.o.
When you know what you eat and can create a gourmand experience for your guests
Janko Kodila took over the company from his dad in 2000 and carried the name throughout Slovenia. Today, everyone has at least heard of the Kodila brand and its products, from pork rinds and pâtés, to hams, and recently also some non-meat products. Furthermore, the mouths of true gourmets and lovers of traditionally-praised Prekmurje cuisine start to water when they hear the name Kodila. They employ around 50 people and will achieve €5.5 million revenue this year, with 17% growth.
Chapter 6
LABENA, d.o.o.
Laben helps us conquer the highest peaks
Irena Lemut Čeh got the idea for her own company during the economic crisis which struck Yugoslavia at the beginning of the 1990s. Today, Labena has more than 75 employees in offices throughout all the former-Yugoslav countries, markets its services in many parts of Europe and cooperates with partners worldwide. They provide development and research services to the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies and health institutions. All this is reflected in its performance, with last year’s revenues of over €8 million representing 15% growth on the previous year, and the plan is to reach €10 million this year.
Chapter 7
PEKARNA PEČJAK, d.o.o.
The Pečjak family knead into the future for a third generation
Pekarna Pečjak’s beginnings date back to 1972, when Stanislav Pečjak opened a biscuit shop. The company is today renowned for quality frozen and fresh bakery products, as well as pasta. In 2018, their turnover was more than €36 million with net profit of more than €700,000. Today, all three of Stanislav’s children, along with their partners, work for the company. Aside from development, one of the key competitive advantages of Pekarna Pečjak is flexibility, with agility and adaptability becoming increasingly important in the baking industry.
Chapter 8
POBLES, d.o.o.
Boutique furniture makers offering their customers a one-stop shop
The story of the Pobles family business began in the 1990s, at the location of the failed Brest woodworking company in Cerkno. Company founder Branko Petrič used the courage and experience and started producing custom-made furniture with a small group of carpenters. Today the company is led by Branko’s son Primož, who established Pobles as a boutique producer of unique furniture in a higher price bracket. Their competitive advantage is their personal, integral approach. Customers find everything in one place, from conceptual design, planning and production to assembly and repair.
Chapter 9
ŠKERJANC, d.o.o.
Škerjanc: From tabourets to the stars
Mitja Škerjanc began in 1993 as an independent entrepreneur, producing elk skin sponges in his garage, before quickly shifting his focus to chair upholstery. Because he saw greater opportunities in commerce than production, he found his niche in the manufacture of light footstools known as tabourets. Highly successful sales of these items led to the growth of a company that now offers complete furniture solutions mainly for hotels and restaurants, but also for offices, hospitals and nursery schools. Their range includes chairs, tables, garden furniture from different materials and furniture specifically for restaurants. They also custom-make higher-quality products according to customers’ wishes.
Chapter 10
TEHNOS, d.o.o.
You can learn skills, but your values come from within
In Tehnos, they say that their values are already hidden in their name: technology, aesthetics, speed, innovation, responsibility and professionalism. Their story began with a small undertaking, which has developed into a company with 125 employees, producing mulchers and other agricultural machinery under its own brand, plus components for the automotive and electrical industries. The company is the child of Anton and his wife Vera, the employees are their family and work is their way of life. All this is reflected in their attitude, in the atmosphere they have created and in the company’s incredible growth.
Summary
In the 2019 Family Business Slovenia book, we are showcasing ten successful and inspirational family owned enterprises: Barjans, Bio-Sad, Hubat, Incom, Kodila, Labena, Pekarna Pečjak, Pobles, Škerjanc, Tehnos.
