OLYMP Bezner posts 8.3% growth in 2013

In 2013 the turnover of Germany's leading branded shirt manufacturer grew by a further 15.5 million euros to 202.4 million euros. This represents an increase of 8.3 percent against the previous year.

The number of employees increased by 49 people to a total of 613 in Bietigheim-Bissingen and at OLYMP stores across Germany. Associated company MAERZ München GmbH & Co. KG, in München-Perlach, also increased its turnover by 6.1 percent to 26.2 million euros. This means that the OLYMP Bezner Group achieved a total turnover of 228.6 million euros in the 2013 finan-cial year.

Mark Bezner, Owner and CEO of OLYMP Bezner GmbH & Co. KG, said: "In 2013 OLYMP made its largest single investment in the company's history since 1951. A total of 40 million euros was invested in OLYMP's modern logistics centre (OLZ) and hence in the medium-term future of our company." 

In the meanwhile, the new logistics centre is now operating with eight of the eleven available storage aisles. Almost 100 full time staff work in the storage and logistics areas, guaran-teeing smooth running and the quickest possible despatch to numerous trade partners in Germany and abroad.

With storage capacity for 265,000 boxes, the OLZ is the largest and globally unique automatic shirt warehouse combining shuttle and overhead conveyor technology.  It can hold almost four million shirts, polo shirts, ties and knitted goods, and prepare up to 10,000 items per hour for shipment.

The medium-sized clothing specialist anticipates future growth primarily in the expansion of its product expertise. In view of the changing needs of the market, OLYMP has been turning increased attention to the leisure and knitwear sectors for some time now.  In the meanwhile, the proportion of casual and knitted goods in the collections is growing apace.

The range of casual shirts in a slim fit has recently been extended under the OLYMP Level Five label. "Because of changed consumer be-haviour in terms of their clothing and leisure habits and the relaxing of dress codes in the business world, casual wear is becoming increasingly more important. That's why we're also seeking to achieve a leading market position in this area, matching our existing status as a business supplier," explains Mark Bezner.

OLYMP is also continuing to focus on healthy growth. Owing to the growing demand for shirts, polo shirts, knitted and woven goods, increasing product volumes and targeted product diversifi-cation in the area of men's outerwear, OLYMP will once again be in a position to create more jobs in 2014 and to strengthen its business location in Germany.

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