Description of activity

The Company’s principal activity generating approx. 80% of its income is the production of standard matches manufactured according to the European norm which specifies the environmental, functional and safety requirements. The Company also produces several formats of box-type and book-type advertising matches as well as fancy match products such as torch matches, fireplace matches and grill/fireplace lighters. In terms of production output and sales volume the Company takes the second place among match manufacturers in the EU countries. The main customers of the Company include wholesalers of tobacco products and large shopping centres (standard matches), as well as advertising companies (advertising matches and the so-called fancy match products).
The Company operates mainly on the wholesale market. The export sales constitute nearly 35% of the total sales value. The main suppliers cooperating with the Company are: the State Forests (matchstick timber), trade companies from the paper industry (cardboard for boxes) and trade companies selling chemicals. The Company’s yearly production capacity amounts to approx. 650 million boxes of standard matches and approx. 30 million boxes of advertising matches and fancy match products combined.
Due to the decreasing demand for standard matches the Company’s strategic objective is to expand the production of advertising matches, fancy match products and semi-finished products to be used by manufacturers of the finished products. Another Company’s objective is to maintain its present market position (standard matches), to search for new customers and to increase its production capacity by improving its technological process. The Company is searching for new customers for its products mainly abroad.