De Nolf family: Builders of a 289 million euro media empire
De Nolf family
From the humble beginnings with De Krant van West-Vlaanderen, later transformed into De Streekkrant, the company Roularta Media Groupbased in Roeselare, has forged its media empire. Founded by lawyer Willy De Nolf in 1954, this company has prospered on a model of local free newspapers, distributed to millions of residents, and now the De Nolf family fortune is over €280 million.
Expansion into news magazines such as Knack and business publications such as Trends in 1971 marked a turning point for Roularta. This was also the case for their French-language counterparts, Le Vif/L'Express and Tendances. Participation in the VTM commercial chain testifies to their diversity of media interests. They have also invested in local media, such as the business-focused TV channel Kanaal Z, providing a comprehensive platform for advertising.
The transition of leadership at Roularta gradually shifted to the next generation, with Xavier Bouckaert and Katrien De Nolf taking the reins. Their assumption of power was accompanied by significant restructuring of the company. This reveals the strategic importance of family support during economic challenges, underlining the dynamic sales culture that characterizes Roularta.
Expansion in France with the acquisition of Groupe Express-Expansion in 2006 subsequently led to significant losses. It was a challenging time for Roularta, leading to a substantial loss in 2014 and 2015This prompted the Group to sell its French activities and concentrate on its domestic market.
In addition, the 2017 sale of their stake in Medialaan marked a period of strategic reorientation. The De Nolf family reinvested part of the sale proceeds in the acquisition of the women's magazine portfolio of Sanoma Media Belgium, adding brands such as Libelle and Flair to their collection. This consolidated their position in the women's magazine market.
| Year | Key event |
|---|---|
| 1954 | Founding of De Streekkrant, the basis for Roularta's future expansion. |
| 1971 | Launch of Knack and Trends magazines, as well as Le Vif/L'Express and Tendances. |
| 2006 | Acquisition of Groupe Express-Expansion in France. |
| 2015 | Roularta sells its French activities after significant losses. |
| 2017 | Sale of share in Medialaan and acquisition of Sanoma Media Belgium portfolio. |
Roularta's constant reinvention and attention to market dynamics continue to define its path in the marketplace. the media industry. Driven by dedicated family leadership, the company strives to remain at the forefront of media evolution while preserving its local roots and core values, and the De Nolf family has a rich heritage in the field. of over €289,000,000.
