Facilicom Services Group acquires Kleentec

All-round provider of facility services Facilicom Services Group has acquired Kleentec with effect from 12 May 2016. Kleentec is the Netherlands’ market leader in cleaning, disinfection and production optimisation for the food industry. The Kleentec name will be preserved and it will become an independent unit of Facilicom’s cleaning services division.

Albert van der Meulen, Managing Director of Gom, and Kleentec Director Bas Niemeijer have joined us at the table. During the discussion, their huge mutual respect soon becomes apparent and they explain that the ‘click’ between the two companies was one of the key reasons behind their decision to join forces. Albert: “We share the same vision in terms of cleaning, entrepreneurship and how you treat your customers and employees.” 

The right partner

Bas Niemeijer, Director of Kleentec: “The major food manufacturers are becoming increasingly global. Dutch production companies are being taken over by international organisations, such as Pré Pain by Aryza or Van Geloven by Mccain recently. These multinationals want to do business with a single partner with a broad focus and specialised knowledge of multiple niches. Although we’re the market leader in food, bigger international organisations saw us as a relatively small player. I was looking for ways of staying interesting for such companies in order to safeguard the continuity of our services to our existing customers while also giving our employees job certainty and growth prospects. In Facilicom, we’ve found a partner who shares our vision, who appreciates the value of what we’ve built up over the past 15 years and who knows how to pursue Kleentec’s growth strategy in the future. That extra developmental strength will enable us to further reinforce our specialised position. The takeover gives us even better nationwide coverage for our activities and will result in an even higher service level.” 

Albert adds: “As the market leader, Kleentec is an innovative specialist with a lot of specific knowledge and outstanding customer service. This acquisition is aligned with the strategy of Facilicom’s cleaning services division to invest in specialisms. I firmly believe that both Gom Food’s customers and Kleentec’s customers will benefit greatly. This marks confirmation of our strategic intentions to strengthen our position in the cleaning sector in general, and the food industry in particular.”

The same services

Facilicom has acquired all of Kleentec’s activities and employees in their entirety and the Kleentec board of directors and management team remain unchanged. Following the takeover, Facilicom’s cleaning services division now comprises over 8,500 cleaning employees. Bas Niemeijer, founder and director of Kleentec, will also be responsible for Gom Food. Gom Food’s activities will be transferred to Kleentec over time but for now the Gom Food label will be retained. The two companies have a combined turnover of around EUR 40 million. “Our existing customers will continue to see the same familiar faces and to receive the same services,” reassures Bas. “But of course if we spot any immediate opportunities for customer benefits we will discuss them directly.”

Guarantees

According to the two men’s analysis there is little growth in the cleaning services sector, yet the needs are becoming increasingly customer-specific. “Cleaning in the healthcare industry requires a different approach than cleaning at food companies. Each market segment has different demands. That’s where we complement each other,” says Albert. Bas: “In the food industry, cleaning is increasingly shifting towards continuous monitoring, 24/7. Everything comes down to the following question: ‘Am I in control of my process?’ The cleaning activities have to be completed faster and faster, while the manufacturing time is expanding. The first step in the production process is to ensure that you can start in a hygienic environment. The way that we both approach that process is something that we’re proud of and also receive positive feedback about. Easing the burden on the customer will play an ever-greater role. Within that, we want to be able to offer our customers guarantees.”

A view of the future

“We will be working together to explore how we can now offer our customers the best of both worlds – Gom Food and Kleentec combined,” states Bas. “We share the same goal, namely to be able to make a real difference for our customers: to relieve the burden on them,” continues Albert. “What we’re going to do now is to examine the strengths of both companies, make optimal use of the knowledge that’s available within both Gom and Kleentec, and look at how we can safeguard things. It will definitely result in improvements for our customers and our employees alike. We stand stronger together now we’ve bundled our expertise.”

www.gom.nl