Success Stories
<h>Winners of the BEB</h>competition in Poland celebrated their success at a high-level event in Warsaw on November 15. An automotive parts supplier, a bus company and a petrol refinery took home top honors. Held in the Royal Castle, the Best of European Business competition in Warsaw was imbued with a regal spirit from the start. Polish TV personality, Marcin Kydrynski hosted the event, with over 200 high-level guests and twelve members of the distinguished panel of judges in the audience. Artur Pielech, Managing Partner of Roland Berger Strategy Consultant's Warsaw office and Werner Schopff, Senior Vice President of advertising sales for pan-European media partner, CNN, welcomed the guests ahead of the awards ceremony. In total, 15 companies were shortlisted for the award in the second annual competition in Poland's capital. All nominated companies were represented by their CEOs or top board levels. With the contenders in all categories strong, the jury's task in identifying the final winners was not an easy one. In the "Growth" category, the award went to bus manufacturer Solaris Bus & Coach, S.A. Here, the jury acknowledged the growth in sales, and the fact that the company had succeeded in establishing a brand that is recognizable abroad, good financial results and stable growth perspectives. Particularly astounding: the company's revenue growth over the past three years, during which it nearly tripled its turnover. | ||
Zbigniew Drzymała, President of Inter Groclin Auto S.A. was particularly pleased with having been chosen as the winner in the "Europeanness" category, as competition was stiff. Jury member Pierre Hamon, of Telekomunikacja Polska presented the prize, noting that the jury had paid particular attention to the share of consolidated revenues 2005 from countries of the European Union excluding Poland (UE -24) to determine this category's winner. Inter Groclin's strong showing, in particular in the countries of "old Europe," had impressed the judges. PKN Orlen, the winner in the third category of the evening, convinced the jury with its strong showing following the acquisition of Unipetrol. Its market leader role in Central and Eastern Europe could clearly be attributed to this successful acquisition, according to the jury. The evening's guest speaker, Poland's former Foreign Minister, Stefan Meller said that the winners vividly proved that two years after enlargement, Poland was firmly anchored into Europe's economy and that its companies had understood how to position themselves within the single market. | ||
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And the winners are…
Growth Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. outshined the competition with its 28% growth rate and its ascent to the top of its industry. The jury underlined the company's growth strategy for the European market and the introduction of a hybrid vehicle model into its line as main reasons for its decision. Europeanness Automotive parts manufacturer, Inter Groclin Auto S.A. was the winner in this category. The company supplies car seat upholstery to leading European car manufacturers such as Volvo, Mitsubishi, Renault, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Smart and Audi. More than 90% of its turnaround is achieved in European countries other than Poland. The jury also looked favorably on the fact that Inter Groclin is expanding to the East, having opened a production plant in Ukraine in 2003. Cross-border M&A Central Europe’s largest refiners of crude oil, PKN Orlen, was awarded the BEB prize in this category. Following its take-over of around 500 filling stations in northern Germany in 2003, the polish company went on to acquire the majority stake (63%) in Czech gas station chain Unipetrol in 2005. The buy-up of Unipetrol made PKN Orlen the market leader in Central and Eastern Europe. Its retail network now covers 2.700 outlets offering services in Poland, Germany and Czech Republic. If you have questions or comments regarding this, or any other story on this website, please do not hesitate to contact us:  |
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