-> Friedrich P. Kötter called for rapid reforms from policymakers
Essen. The KÖTTER group of companies, which is active across Germany, has recorded stable development for the previous financial year. Turnover increased in 2023 by 4.3% to 627 million euros. The family business, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, thus effectively proved its performance strength and was able to hold its ground in the environment of crisis in the economy as a whole.
“I am proud of this stable business performance inextremely turbulent economic times, which we have achieved through a major effort. For this, I in particular thank all 14,800 employees, whom I express my explicit recognition,” said Friedrich P. Kötter, member of the board. “At the same time, our business performance confirms our sustainable corporate strategy, which is based on long-term partnerships and a broad diversification of services and sectors, as well as the attractiveness of our innovative and holistic facility services.”
In this contact, the manager of the family business, however, also emphatically warned against excessive expectations with regards to the current year: “The mix of a deepening recession, high tax burdens and administrative burdens and increasing deindustrialisation due to decreasing investments and business relocations is threatening to lead our country into a permanent economic crisis. With a significant braking effect and burdens, particularly for providers of business-related services such as us. For this reason, we will maintain our orientation towards strict efficiency, as well as further accelerating our strengths in quality, innovation and service.”
The divisions at a glance / Important performance numbers with regards to system and special services
- KÖTTER Security: The Security division achieved a sustainable development and
thus strengthened its position as the largest family business in the security sector in Germany. The quality-focused Smart Security Solutions acted as a driving force for this development, generating new orders and extending ongoing orders for instance in the automotive, food and energy sectors as well as in the protection of critical infrastructures. The portfolio ranged from risk management over security services and security technology to specialised services such as operational fire protection, with which the family business among other things supports company and plant fire brigades, an area that is continuously gaining in importance. In addition, the company has expanded its expertise in fire protection and rescue services by integrating the training specialist MedGravity. - KÖTTER Cleaning: In 2023, KÖTTER Cleaning further consolidated its market position as a potent 360-degree provider of innovative, high-quality cleaning and hygiene concepts. This professional focus on holistic cleaning and hygiene guarantees companies in almost all industries as well as public sector clients the highest quality standards, long-term value preservation of their properties, comprehensive health protection and efficient processes in areas such as production and logistics. Industrial cleaning is a prime example of this: In the last year alone, specialists have cleaned conveyor systems with a total length of almost 4,000 kilometres – equivalent to the distance from Berlin to Gran Canaria – for customers in industry and logistics. In the process, as well as in all other sectors, the family business always observes the use of environmentally friendly processes. After all, KÖTTER Cleaning stands for “green cleaning”. This is also illustrated by the innovative weed management system, which works entirely without chemicals or other toxins using thehot water/hot foam technology. In 2023 alone, these processes were used to clean an area equivalent to over 40 football pitches in an environmentally friendly way.
- KÖTTER Personnel Service: KÖTTER Personnel Service continued to stay competitive in the temporary staffing sector, which was particularly hard hit by the difficult overall economic climate. In doing so, the company rigorously pursued its transformation from a retail specialist to a holistic provider of temporary staffing and outsourcing services as well as sector experts for industry & production, chemicals & pharmaceuticals, office & IT, logistics and skilled trades. In a recovering economy, KÖTTER Personnel Service thus finds itself well-equipped for the future and for the requirements of a wide range of industries. An example from the previous financial year: As a specialist in taking over delimitable business processes on the basis of contracts for work or services, KÖTTER Personnel Service supported a reputable food producer via the packaging of over 40 million fresh food products, for example.
Outlook: Reduction in bureaucracy is the basis of sustainable economic growth
With a view to future development, Friedrich P. Kötter emphasised that the group will strictly continue its sustainability course as a quality provider of integrated facility services. The focus is on further acceleration of the top position in innovation and service, with which the family business has been appealing to customers for decades: For example, in the 1960s, KÖTTER Security was the first security vendor in Germany to consolidate security services and technology. In addition, the family business was a pioneer in the field of judicial services in the 1990s and was a forerunner in developing its portfolio around modern health management around 15 years ago. Under the motto of “If not us, then who?”, this remains the guideline for the future. The key component is the infrastructural system and special solutions, the effectiveness and efficiency of which is strictly pushed – particularly by the consistent use of digitalisation, artificial intelligence and technology with simultaneous acceleration of vocational and further training, including via the academy, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Thus, the macroeconomically decreasing workforce also remains a central topic and constantly requires innovative concepts. A new component is the sustainable employer branding campaign KÖTTER United. Alongside the creative marketing concept, this relies on long-term internal measures in order to strengthen attractiveness as an employer.
With regards to the significant dependence of providers of business-related services on sustainable economic growth, Friedrich P. Kötter also pointed out that “our efforts alone will not be sufficient – after all, we are not acting in a vacuum.” The 57-year-old therefore appealed once more to policymakers to prioritise advances in reforms. His focus was particularly on a general reduction in bureaucracy – “and as quickly as possible. For more and more companies, the excessive bureaucracy is the main reason no longer to invest in this country, or even to entirely turn their backs on Germany.”