WE ARE HZ

From the very beginning, the entrepreneurial spirit was present in its founder, Herman Zupan, and in the generations that continued his work. That is how the small print shop of the early days became a leading Group in the region’s packaging industry. This growth was the result of a constant search for opportunities and an acceptance of the risks involved when seeking to capitalize on them. The country’s economic ups and downs and endemic instability have always represented a challenge that requires a permanent state of alertness, where there is no room for letting your guard down. Flexibility, versatility, adaptability, and agility are essential characteristics for the continuity and growth of any company. To the usual complexity the country has accustomed us to, we must add the overwhelming pace at which changes have taken place in the world in recent years. Not only have technology, telecommunications, and access to information changed. Consumers have always been empowered; today they are even more so. They value practical solutions with no surprises. They are socially aware and expect sustainable, environmentally friendly products and services. As a result of the unexpected arrival of the pandemic, consumers will lean toward products that inspire trust and provide safety. Hygiene, the chain of custody, the origin, and the traceability of what enters households become non-negotiable attributes when choosing. According to recent studies, 67% of consumers will choose products and services that do something to reduce environmental impact, 74% say they pay attention to the origin of the food and beverages they consume, and 62% will purchase more products and services online. In this context, traditional B2B manufacturing companies are used to business models that have allowed us to survive by overcoming the many difficulties that arise. We are clinging to a way of operating. All our daily efforts are focused on solving very short-term issues. It is difficult to find the time and resources to challenge ourselves, explore, take risks, and question whether the current value proposition is what the market of the future needs. Surely, every day business opportunities pass right in front of us that we cannot seize because they fall outside what we “know how to do.” In an increasingly globalized and complex world, companies need to find new mechanisms to drive development, be more competitive, and sustain ourselves over time. It sounds like a paradox, but it is really a paradigm shift: to compete in today’s market, it is necessary to cooperate, even with our own potential competitors. Coopetition (a neologism formed by merging the terms compete and cooperate, popularized by Adam M. Brandenburger and Barry J. Nalebuff with their book published in 1996) is the logic that should prevail in the DNA of every business owner and entrepreneur. Aware of this new reality and with the aim of keeping the Group’s entrepreneurial flame alive, we decided to undertake an Open Innovation process together with INICIA. Through the Emprende HZ competition, we seek to connect with entrepreneurs and startups that can contribute ideas and creative solutions across our value chain. We know the talent and ingenuity of entrepreneurs in our country, and we believe that together with the strength, experience, and support our Group provides, we will be able to drive new business. The four pillars that underpin the competition are innovation in packaging, sustainability and the circular economy, delivering value to the customer, and logistics and distribution. Projects will be accepted through the competition website until the end of November. Opinion column by Pablo García, Regional Sales Manager at HZ Group