2012-01-26

Strong comeback for RAMP company Cellcomb

A year ago its turnover dropped by 40 per cent due to a Chinese competitor, and the bankruptcy in December was inevitable. But now Cellcomb – familiar to those who visited last year's RAMP – has risen again to go all in within two new fields.

"We couldn't have wished for a better start," says sales manager Daniel Carlsson.

When Cellcomb was founded in the town of Forshaga in 1980, its focus was on selling disposable sheets to health-care customers. Hygiene products for the county councils (running most of Sweden's hospitals) still account for a large share of the company's sales, but today Cellcomb seeks to market their environmentally friendly disposable laminate products to customers in other businesses as well.

In March, their sheets, duvet covers and pillow-cases will be available throughout the country in hardware chain Clas Ohlson 's stores. Cellcomb has also chosen to exchange the concept "one-time use" for "short-term use", because these bedding articles can be used for up to seven days. The products will be marketed under the Travel Soft brand, and the idea is to use them for guests, camping, in the summer house, the youth hostel or the boat. All of the products have the Nordic Ecolabel and are fully compostable.

Other negotiations under way

But Clas Ohlsson is not the only company that has shown interest in selling the innovative bedding items. Negotiations are being conducted with several major retail chains.

"We believe this will grow immensely. The simplicity speaks for itself: 'Sleep and throw away'. It's all made from renewable raw materials, even the packaging," says Daniel Carlsson.

At last autumn's RAMP event in October, Cellcomb highlighted the bedclothes for private customers. That gave the company the opportunity to show that they are available not only in hospitals and for industrial use – but now also in the retail business.

"RAMP confirmed to us that we have really good products, and we were immediately contacted by customers who wanted to buy them."

Most rapidly growing field

Another thing Cellcomb focuses on now is the patented solution for a new type of absorbing pads for food packaging: Food Pad. Development is conducted in close co-operation with one of the country's major paper manufacturers, SCA. The Food Pad absorbs the juice from meat, fish, fruit and other foodstuffs to keep them fresh and tasty for longer periods of time. Food Packaging is currently Cellcomb's most rapidly growing business area.

80 per cent of the company's turnover comes from export: primarily Germany and other European countries, but Cellcomb sees a growing market in the USA and Japan as well. The number of employees on the payroll was reduced from 25 to 14 as Cellcomb restarted with new management and owners.

"We're careful this time: we hire temporary staff when needed. And we do need staff, because we have just as much to do now as when there were 25 of us," Daniel Carlsson adds.

A bright future ahead

Last December, ownership was taken over by the company CC09, headed by ex-Värmlander and businessman Mikael Sohlberg. The employees have been offered to invest in the company, and the response is to be evaluated shortly.

"In general, our staff have been given more responsibility. Today they're present throughout the process, all the way from purchasing to product planning."

Daniel Carlsson sees a bright future ahead. If the positive trend continues, Cellcomb will need to grow and hire more people.

"We've worked up a good customer base and we've been lucky not to lose our customers despite the bankruptcy. Now we're putting one heck of an effort into keeping every single one of them. Within two years we're going to at least double today's turnover of SEK 30 million!"

Photo above: Sales manager Daniel Carlsson has great expectations for the future and works hard to double the company's turnover in the years to come.

Text and photo: Kristina Ohlsson