2024 Financial Report: Häfele holds its own in a challenging market environment
A forward-looking approach with a relevant value proposition and strong partnerships
Nagold – 05.02.2025
The world’s leading specialist for intelligent hardware and fitting systems, electronic access control systems, lighting and networking is on a solid footing and, as is characteristic of the family-owned company, is dynamic: Häfele is committed to building strong partnerships that generate new solutions and business opportunities. The reorganisation of the company structure into sales regions, which was completed in the previous year, is paying off in terms of coordinated and target-oriented international cooperation. With sales growth of 1.5%, or 2.7% adjusted for currency effects, compared to the previous year, the Häfele Group performed well in 2024 in a market environment that remains very challenging. Even if the market environment remains challenging, there is confidence at Häfele for 2025.
Häfele entered its second corporate century in 2023 with Sibylle Thierer as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and Gregor Riekena as CEO. Photo: Häfele
Craftmanship proves to be an important sales driver in the domestic market – robust development worldwide despite multiple crises
The year was characterised by geopolitical tensions, falling yet persistently high interest rates and political uncertainties relating to elections in various countries. In this environment, consumers around the world were reluctant to make major investments, which was also true for real estate and the corresponding interior design. Häfele has stood up to the test of this environment: As of 31 December 2024, the Häfele Group, with subsidiaries in 38 countries, recorded a turnover of 1.74 billion euros with a foreign share of 82 percent.
However, trends in the Häfele sales regions were not uniform. Business in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America region developed very well in 2024. Growth in the three regions of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the USA and Western Europe was cautiously positive. After being growth drivers in 2023, the Asian markets recorded a slight decline in sales overall. In the domestic market Germany the craftmanship market segment proved to be the most important driver in a market environment that remains challenging.
In many markets in 2024, it was clearly noticeable that the persistently weak economic situation in the real estate sector will remain a major challenge in 2025.
Shaping the living and working environments of the future together
In 2025, customers in the craftmanship, furniture industry, hotel industry, construction industry, architecture and interior design can expect Häfele to deliver inspiring ideas and solutions. CEO Gregor Riekena: “Our purpose, ‘Maximising the value of space. Together.’ serves as a compass both for our company and our partners. If we listen to each other and motivate each other in our partnerships, then we can find new solutions for the living and working environments of the future that will benefit our customers. This helps us all to move in the right direction – even in challenging market environments.”
The world’s leading trade fair, interzum, will bring Häfele’s purpose to life
In May, Häfele will use interzum, the world’s leading trade fair for the supplier industry, to bring its purpose to life: At Häfele, maximising the value of space, together, involves taking different interests into account. For example, users and occupants of a room see the room from a different perspective to planners, furniture manufacturers or operators. Sometimes it’s all about functionality, at other times the atmosphere takes centre stage. Added to this are aspects such as networking, intelligent solutions and sustainable consideration of the customer process. All of this will be brought to life at the Häfele trade fair stand: Visitors to the Häfele stand will experience how these ‘dimensions’ dovetail in various application areas such as the kitchen, the office or in concepts for living in small spaces.
A driving force with a unique selling point in the market: Häfele Lighting
The solutions and services of the Häfele Lighting brand play a special role in room design. With its sophisticated combination of furniture and room lighting as well as other networked solutions to create an integrated and connected overall experience, the brand has become a trendsetter and enjoys a unique selling point in the market.
Working together to ensure continuity and a vision for the future
Häfele’s appearance at interzum marks an important milestone in the realisation of its Strategy 2030. This has seen the company outline its course into its second century, which coincided with a change at the helm, with Gregor Riekena taking over from Sibylle Thierer in 2023.
Häfele CEO Gregor Riekena embodies a young generation of managers who are very much accustomed to thinking and acting in a global context. This now also involves the rapidly changing scenarios on the international markets.
The foundations of the international Häfele Group are rock solid, thanks in part to its committed and intergenerational Board of Directors chaired by Sibylle Thierer. One experienced generation and one young generation from the shareholder families, now the fourth such generation, have joined forces on the Board. Together, they embody continuity and a common vision for the future.
The vision in built form – the future takes shape at Wolfsberg in Nagold
The high-tech building complex at Wolfsberg in Nagold promises to be a pioneering project for the future. The building, which meets all the criteria for sustainable construction, has been taking shape before our eyes since construction began in 2023. The first section of the building, the logistics centre, will open at the end of 2025. According to Gregor Riekena, “in future, it will be possible to fulfil orders all over the globe in an even faster, more eco-friendly way that is also more ergonomic for our employees.” Altogether, Häfele intends to make an investment in the high double-digit million range in this and other projects in 2025.
2025 – Creating growth momentum together
Häfele has stated that it is only possible to make limited forecasts for the year 2025 at present. While some markets are expected to remain stable, and there are signs of a slight recovery in the USA, there is ‘little tailwind’ from other regions, according to Gregor Riekena. “In a world in transition, it is more important than ever to have the right strategy to identify opportunities internationally, to adapt quickly and flexibly to new circumstances and to create our own growth momentum in collaboration with partners,” says the CEO, in summary.
In the domestic market Germany the craftmanship market segment proved to be the most important driver. Photo: Häfele
In 2024, the company showcased how Häfele is able to maximise the value of space together with Egger in "The Moving Tree". Thanks to its flexible and modular design, the oversized tree trunk enables comfortable living in the smallest of spaces. Photo: Andreas Wimmer
Beautiful living with situationally adaptable lighting is possible in "The Moving Tree". Photo: Andreas Wimmer
Häfele unveiled the new Häfele Lighting brand in 2024. With its Nimbus, Connect and Loox ranges, Häfele Lighting has become a pioneer in the application areas of “Light in furniture” and “Light in rooms” by combining them into an integrated and networked holistic experience. With the new, universal OneCable solution, the lighting can be individually and creatively adapted to different room situations. Rendering: Häfele
Ambient lighting, but also the emphasis on furniture and furnishings or light accents on paintings and art objects. Häfele Lighting can do all of this. What's more: If the use of a room changes completely over time, the lighting system can easily adapt to the new use. Rendering: Häfele
Company contact
Sarah Grünler
Phone: +49 7452 95-510
E-Mail: sarah.gruenler@haefele.de
Contact for journalists
Rainer Häupl
bering*kopal GbR, Büro für Kommunikation
Phone: +49 711 74 51 759-16
rainer.haeupl@bering-kopal.de
www.bering-kopal.de
Forfurther information, please contact
Häfele SE & Co KG, Postfach 1237,
D-72192 Nagold, Tel.: +49 7452 950,
Fax: +49 7452 95-200,
E-Mail: info@haefele.de
