Rohlig Annual Report 2008.pdf - Röhlig

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Röhlig Customers and Partners,
Last year, the pressure to increase market concentration
in the logistics sector continued unabated.
Family-owned companies are increasingly taken
over by large corporations. In this process, they
sacrifice their identity and the employees lose the
personal relationship with their companies. Röhlig,
though, has set its own course. By combining the
professional competence of a large business with a
family-owned company’s principles and values, we
have successfully asserted ourselves in the logistics
market.
But rather than resting on the laurels of our 156year
history, we are constantly re-inventing ourselves.
That was the driving force behind the complete
makeover of our company image. In future, Röhlig
will have a new logo and corporate design clearly
conveying our core values. We are a vivid, dynamic
company with a solid corporate culture and a committed
customer-driven approach – these are the
features that make Röhlig distinct and unique.
Our company’s development has proved us right.
Just like the rest of the logistics sector, we too are
facing the challenges arising from the financial and
economic crisis. But despite significantly lower
transport volumes and margins in the fourth quarter
2008, Röhlig is still on track. Last year, the consolidated
companies again managed to increase gross
profit from Euro 73.9 to 77.9 million – representing a
growth of 5.4 per cent, which equals a growth of 9.3
per cent when the figures are adjusted to take account
of exchange rate fluctuations. Moreover, with
EBIT at Euro 10.3 million, we have achieved one of
the best results in our company’s history.
We take an optimistic view of the future. In 2008,
we moved forward key strategic measures to
secure RÖHLIG‘s long-term position. These measures
include, for example, globally unifying our
operative IT systems, increasing investment in HR,
and growing sales capacities in Europe, the USA
and Asia. We have also expanded our international
network by founding new country offices in Japan
and Denmark and launching a joint venture in India,
In addition, the „Haus am Fluss“ project provides us
with a new headquarters directly on the banks of
the River Weser in Bremen.
In April 2009, in San Francisco, we ratified our
“Strategy 2018” – a strategy that over 120 employees
from all levels of the company had been actively
shaping since summer 2008. After all, they
live Röhlig’s values and it is their commitment, day
after day, that has helped to build our company’s
success. That is why I want to take this opportunity
to especially thank all our employees. I would also
like to thank you, Röhlig’s partners and customers,
for the trust that has made our success possible.
I am very much looking forward to continuing this
successful cooperation.
Thomas W. Herwig
Managing Partner
FOREWORD
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