RAJA continues its economic and social growth

The RAJA Group achieved a record turnover of EUR 1.02 billion in 2020. This is in line with the Group’s target of a 39.5% jump. The operating result amounted to EUR 89 million, up 58% on the previous year. The company, which operates in 18 European countries with 25 subsidiaries, thus overcame the ongoing health crisis by adapting quickly to market conditions. In the Czech Republic, it increased the number of customers by almost 40%. In addition to financial growth, the company dedicated last year to supporting charities and its foundation activities.

Results for 2020

Demand for packaging supplies and equipment, which account for 50% of Group sales, was boosted by an explosion in online sales across Europe. The crisis also massively increased corporate demand for protective equipment and hygiene supplies. The RAJA Group’s subsidiaries specialising in the distribution of office supplies and equipment managed to maintain good results. This is despite a decline in this product segment during the last year. Sales of industrial and warehouse equipment remained at the same level as in the previous year.

Sustained sales growth, a substantial increase in operating results and continued investment in logistics and digital projects – these are the main hallmarks of 2020 for the RAJA Group. And this even at a time of unprecedented pandemic crisis that has shaken the global market and its performance.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank our teams across Europe for their unflagging commitment and motivation. In the face of this unprecedented crisis, our companies continued to work and our 14 distribution centres continued to operate without interruption. We have responded and adapted to our customers’ demand and continued to supply them with the products they need for their operations. We are particularly proud that we have managed to strengthen the bond with our 1 million customers in such a difficult year. In addition, we also won the trust of 250,000 new customers in Europe,” said RAJA Group CEO Danièle Kapel-Marcovici.

RAJA Czech Republic achieved a 12.1% year-on-year increase in turnover in the local market last year, thanks in part to a 7.5% increase in customers.

Solidarity stronger than ever

During 2020, in line with its values of solidarity and social responsibility, the Group companies supported a number of initiatives to combat the health, economic and social consequences of COVID-19 by supporting a number of charitable associations, in addition to the actions and sponsorships of the RAJA-Danièle Marcovici Foundation . By the end of 2020, the RAJA Group had donated €1 million to charities across Europe. RAJA Czech Republic, which has long been involved in activities to help vulnerable women facing domestic violence, also supported the non-profit organisation ROSA, to which it donated CZK 155,000. RAJA also donated packaging material for the packaging of drapes and protective equipment to the Faculty of CTU to fight covid. Furthermore, to the Academic Centre of Student Activities within the project “I want to help” in the form of bags and hygiene supplies and to Gigamat, which provided material for the distribution of medical supplies within the project “People in the service of people”.

Ambitious goals for 2021

For 2021, the RAJA Group is targeting an 8 to 10% increase in turnover. “To achieve this ambitious target, we will need to consolidate our position as a multi-specialist in Europe. We will strengthen our organisation and continue to develop our customer base. The gradual economic recovery in Europe, the continued growth in online sales and the growing demand for environmentally friendly products are factors that will help us achieve our goals. The Group’s stable financial position will allow us to continue our investment programme across Europe,” adds Danièle Kapel-Marcovici.