Sustainability has always been more than a catchphrase for the natural furniture manufacturer Team 7, based in Ried / Innkreis: “We were already eco when it was out”, said managing director and owner Georg Emprechtinger yesterday, Monday, at an online press conference. From the forest to the sawmill to the panel and furniture factory, the value chain is under control: “This has been a major advantage for consumers since the outbreak of the corona crisis.” For example, we have benefited from our own wood store: “But of course we are dependent on suppliers for certain types of wood, for fittings, glass, leather and fabrics.” Obtaining the raw materials was a great challenge, but there were no delays with the customers.
Team 7 “felt” the fourth corona wave “massively”: There were numerous sick days and quarantine cases, “it was difficult to maintain the production process.” Many sales partners were closed during the lockdown. On the other hand, the importance of living has increased. Team 7 wants to combine living, nature and work and offers a wide range of furniture for the “living office” – from height-adjustable desks to coffee tables for very small apartments.
In 2020 sales were 101 million euros, an increase of seven percent. The 62-year-old did not want to make a forecast for the current financial year, but an increase is expected. A successor is being built with his son Stefan: The 31-year-old currently works for Mutares AG in Munich and is expected to take over management in 2025. He is expected to join the company in 2023. The completion of the “Green Factory” in Ried is also planned for the same year: the construction volume for the new company headquarters and the adventure world is 35 million euros.
News from Fischer
Emprechtinger has also held a new position at another traditional Innviertel company since July: Together with Gerhard Wüest, he forms the management of Fischer Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH (Fischer Sports and Löffler). Predecessor Ingo Natmessnig has chaired the holding’s supervisory board since July. (prel)
Source: Nachrichten
