Wim De Veirman & Jan Helskens: The Greenpan™ Success Story with Over 2,000 Employees

Wim de Veirman and Jan Helskens

Wim De Veirman and Jan Helskens have embarked on the manufacturing sector stoves stainless steel in 2005, choosing Jianmeng, an emerging Chinese city, as their base of operations. Nevertheless, they aspired to more, and soon realized that to continue to prosper, they needed to innovate. Their desire to create their own brand and reduce production for third parties led to the development of a distinct and viable product, which has been a success with over 352 million euros in assets.

The road to Greenpan™ and success:

• In the midst of the controversy surrounding the dangers of traditional non-stick coatings, the two entrepreneurs decided to find a substitute.
• Their collaboration with a company Korean led to the acquisition of Thermolon™, a company specializing in a special coating originally developed for fire doors and solar panels.
• The launch in the United States via teleshopping was a triumph - the fact that stocks were sold out in a matter of hours testifies to the immense popularity of the products.

Today, their company employs around 2,000 people, with extensive operations including several production sites and sales offices around the globe.

Recipe for triumph:

• Calculated risk-taking and boldness seem to be the ingredients of success for these entrepreneurs.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in home cooking reinforced the demand for healthier, eco-friendly cookware.
• The flagship product, Greenpan™ ceramic stoves, manufactured without PFAS, responds to this growing demand for products that respect health and the environment.

Evolution and expansion :

• In 2021, Waterland has invested 159 million euros in The Cookware Company, enabling expansion through key acquisitions such as Lumenflon, BK Holland and Merten & Storck.
• The Group aims to achieve sales ofone billiondriven by strong international and local brands such as Greenpan, Blue Diamond, Royal Van Kempen & Begeer, Greenchef and BK.

Diversification of interests :

• In 2022, Jan Helskens invests in the heritage real estate with the acquisition of Château de Humain, bought from the Belgian noble family.

This overview reveals a dynamic career path, marked by boldness, a clear vision of the future and an ability to capitalize on market trends while continually innovating in the cookware sector. patrimione estimated at over €350,000,000.