Hello, I am Klaus Hofmann, Group CEO of CCE Group: an aerospace platform focusing on the development of companies with leadership positions in niche markets of the Cabin & Cargo equipment space.
The cabin and cargo equipment ecosystem is a complex and competitive space, and maintaining a competitive edge is challenging, especially for companies that lack the resources or expertise to innovate and expand.
That is where we come in. We are committed to adding value to every company in our portfolio. Whether it is through innovative technological solutions, process improvement, financial investments, or operational expertise. Our work does not just benefit our partners and stakeholders—it helps advance the entire industry by elevating its standards.
You may already be familiar with some of the companies in our portfolio, like AviusULD, a global sector leader that is revolutionizing the unit load device industry, and Driessen, the undisputed market leader in galley equipment solutions with a long and impressive record of success.
These are not just pure acquisitions for us—they are long-term collaborations where we bring our deep industry knowledge to the table, working together to push boundaries and drive continuous growth.
Our approach is unique because we deeply understand the markets we operate in. We are not just looking at short-term gains; we are focused on long-term growth and sustainability. From the moment we step in, we work closely with leadership teams, bringing in fresh perspectives, fostering innovation, and unlocking the full potential of the business.
In this video, I am going to take you through how CCE Group adds value to the companies under our leadership. I will share our philosophy, some key strategies we employ, and a few success stories that highlight the impact we have made.
Boosting Innovation and R&D
Innovation refers to the process of translating ideas into goods or services that create value for which customers are willing to pay. Research and Development involves systematic work, often scientific, to increase the stock of knowledge, which is then used to develop new applications.
In the 21st Century, innovation is not just an option—it is a necessity. However, the path to innovation is often filled with challenges. Global R&D spending exceeded $2.4 trillion in recent years, but only about 30% of R&D projects lead to commercially successful outcomes. Research and Development can be expensive, time-consuming, and resource-intensive. For many companies, particularly smaller ones, dedicating a significant budget to R&D can feel risky, especially when the return on investment is uncertain or speculative.
At CCE Group, we understand these challenges, and that is why we place a strong emphasis on boosting innovation and R&D within the companies in our portfolio. We recognize that innovation requires not only financial resources but also the right expertise and strategic vision to ensure that efforts are focused on the most promising opportunities.
By encouraging and supporting R&D initiatives, we help our companies stay at the forefront of technological advancements without bearing the full burden of risk. For example, CLEO360 by Driessen is a result of this focus on innovation. This cutting-edge dashboard provides full transparency across onboard catering operations, allowing companies to transition from traditional tracking methods to a fully connected, data-driven system. This kind of innovation is crucial for staying competitive, yet it requires a significant investment of time and expertise to develop and implement.
SmartULD by AviusULD is another example of how we drive innovation. Beyond its advanced tracking and monitoring capabilities, SmartULD includes many integrated & patented features, such as fire protection and kinetic charging, which are setting a new standard for safety and efficiency in the cargo sector.
These advancements are not just about keeping up with industry trends—they are about setting new ones. However, getting to this point involved extensive R&D efforts and collaborations within CCE Group that would be difficult for many companies to undertake on their own.
How CCE Group Helps Companies Access New Markets
Accessing new markets refers to the process by which a company or organization enters into a new marketplace or industry, often involving expansion into new geographical regions, customer segments, or product categories.
Accessing new markets is critical for growth, but it is often a daunting challenge, particularly for small and mid-sized companies. According to Harvard Business Review, only 25% of companies that expand into new markets are successful in sustaining their market presence after five years. Expanding into new regions or industry segments requires significant resources, strategic insight, and well-established connections.
At CCE Group, we help our companies overcome these barriers. One of the key advantages we bring to the companies we acquire is our extensive global presence. With operations spanning across five countries and a team of over 1,500 employees, we have a well-established foothold in the main geographies of the aerospace market. This global reach allows us to leverage local expertise and established business relationships to help our partners tap into new markets efficiently and effectively.
By being part of the CCE Group, companies benefit from economies of scope and scale, allowing them to bring products to market more quickly and efficiently. Whether it is tapping into new geographic regions or expanding into different segments of the industry, our global network ensures that our companies are in front of the right people at the right time.
Market expansion is often a major hurdle, particularly for smaller companies. CCE Group’s global presence and established relationships make it easier for companies to enter new markets efficiently. This reinforces the value of partnership with CCE Group, both for companies looking to be acquired and for a broader audience interested in successful market entry strategies.
Achieving Operational Excellence with CCE Group
Operational excellence is the execution of the business strategy more consistently and reliably than the competition, focusing on achieving efficiency, reducing waste, and improving quality.
Operational excellence is the foundation of sustainable growth, but achieving it is often easier said than done. As companies begin to scale, the very growth they have worked so hard to achieve can also become their biggest challenge.
According to the ScaleUp Institute, 70% of high-growth companies face significant operational challenges as they scale, including maintaining quality control and managing supply chain complexities. Without solid operational processes and policies in place, many companies fail just as they should be starting to peak. This is where many businesses stumble—when they do not have the right systems to support their expansion, leading to inefficiencies, quality issues, and even potential failure.
At CCE Group, we understand these challenges and work closely with our partners to ensure that their operations are robust enough to handle growth. By helping companies establish and maintain high standards across all aspects of their businesses—be it R&D, production and logistics, customer service, finance or quality control—we help mitigate the risks that often come with scaling.
For example, we have seen companies that experienced rapid growth but struggled to maintain quality standards due to a lack of streamlined processes. Others faced challenges with managing larger supply chains or integrating new technologies. A study by PwC found that improving operational efficiency by just 1% can lead to a 10% increase in profitability.
Our approach is to implement lean management principles, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement strategies to keep our companies agile and competitive, even as they scale.
Lean management focuses on eliminating waste and optimizing workflows, which is crucial in maintaining efficiency during growth. By identifying and removing non-value-added activities, we help our companies streamline their operations and reduce costs. This allows them to allocate resources more effectively, ensuring that they remain competitive in a fast-paced market. Lean management is particularly effective in complex industries like cabin and cargo, where inefficiencies can quickly escalate as companies expand.
Data-driven decision-making is another core element of our operational excellence framework. In an increasingly data-rich environment, making decisions based on real-time information is essential for staying ahead of the competition. We help our companies harness the power of data analytics to monitor key performance indicators, track progress, and identify areas for improvement. By integrating data into every level of decision-making, we ensure that our companies are not only reacting to challenges but proactively anticipating them. This approach helps mitigate risks and supports informed decision-making, which is vital for maintaining operational excellence as companies scale.
Continuous improvement—a philosophy that emphasizes incremental changes over time—is central to our operational strategy. At CCE Group, we foster a culture where teams are encouraged to consistently seek out and implement improvements. This mindset of continuous refinement ensures that our companies do not become complacent as they grow. Instead, they remain dynamic and innovative, constantly evolving to meet new challenges and seize opportunities. Continuous improvement also empowers employees at all levels to contribute to the company’s success, creating a more engaged and motivated workforce.
Moreover, operational excellence is not just about processes—it is about people. That is why we invest in employee training and development, ensuring the workforce is skilled, motivated, and aligned with the company’s goals. By fostering a culture of excellence, we help our companies achieve long-term success and avoid the pitfalls that often accompany growth.
Organizational Design, Leadership and Talent Development
Organizational design refers to the process of structuring a company’s roles, responsibilities, and systems to align with its goals, ensuring efficiency, adaptability, and effective decision-making.
Leadership and talent development refers to the processes and activities aimed at enhancing the skills, capabilities, and overall effectiveness of leaders and employees within an organization, ensuring that they can meet current and future challenges.
Leadership is the cornerstone of any successful company, but even the most promising leaders can plateau without the right support system. According to a LinkedIn Learning report, companies that invest in leadership development see a 25% improvement in organizational performance and a 20% increase in employee engagement. It is a common challenge—leaders who do not have a network of quality peers and mentors often stop developing, and this stagnation can hold back an entire organization.
At CCE Group, we recognize that investing in companies with high potential also means investing in leaders with high potential. As Group CEO, I make it a priority to work closely with the leaders of all the companies under CCE Group. This hands-on approach ensures that our leaders have the guidance, resources, and networks they need to continue growing. Leadership development at CCE Group is not just about management techniques—it is about embracing the principles of empathy, science, and technology. These principles guide everything we do, from decision-making to team dynamics.
What’s more, we encourage mentorship and professional development across the whole organization. For example, regular appraisals and 360-degree feedback sessions are key components of any leadership development strategy. These processes create a culture of continuous improvement, where leaders are not just evaluated but also given the support they need to grow.
CCE Group helps companies under its management enhance their leadership development and talent management by providing a structured framework and resources tailored to each organization’s unique needs.
Additionally, CCE Group implements robust talent management strategies, including talent mapping, succession planning, and personalized development plans, to identify high-potential employees and nurture their growth within the organization.
Through these initiatives, CCE Group ensures that its companies are equipped with a strong leadership pipeline and a dynamic workforce capable of driving sustained growth and innovation in a competitive market.
A study by LinkedIn found that employees who are internally promoted have a 41% lower turnover rate compared to those who are externally recruited. And employees promoted internally tend to stay longer and perform better in their new roles.
At CCE Group, leadership and talent development is more than a program—it is a commitment to the future of our companies, employees and the broader industry.
Conclusion
As you have seen throughout this video, CCE Group is committed to adding value to every company within our portfolio. Whether through innovation, accessing new markets, achieving operational excellence, or developing strong leadership, these are just some of the ways that we ensure that our partners have the resources, guidance, and support needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry.
Our approach is not just about making acquisitions—it is about building lasting partnerships and driving long-term growth for the entire sector. We are proud of the work we do and the impact we make, and we look forward to continuing to push boundaries and set new standards of excellence.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about CCE Group and how we add value to the companies we acquire. We are excited about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead. If you are operating a business in the niche cabin and cargo sector and would like to learn more about joining our platform or explore how we can work together, please do not hesitate to reach out. We look forward to connecting with you.
