KWINTET 简 介

Kwintet is the Pan-European leader in the development and supply of professional wear.

Kwintet group

The Kwintet Group has been created through a coming together of strong workwear brands- integrating differing but complementary skills- to- provide an unrivalled selection of workwear for industries across Europe.

Kwintet’s heritage is a story of innovative entrepreneurs who established companies and created legendary brands within workwear targeting professions all over Europe.

Kwintet are proud to continue the legacy of putting the needs of working people first, which was the guiding principle shared by founders like Adolphe Lafont (Lafont®), John Magnusson (Fristads®), Henri and Gilles Bragard (Bragard®), Poul Larsen (Kansas®), Lars Wenaas (Wenaas®) and Jean Chabert (B&C®).  

The Kwintet Group has grown organically through a series of mergers with leading Pan- European companies who share our samevision.

Highlights from our history: Late 19th–early 20th century

The companies that now make up our combined Kwintet Group were just starting out producing workwear in countries all over Europe. They were laying down the very foundations, which make us market leaders in workwear clothing.

1995

The leading Danish and Swedish workwear companies Kansas Workwear and Fristads merge under the name Kansas Workwear. Besides traditional workwear, the new company offers clothing for the service industries, sold under the 'Hejco' brand.

1999

The merger of Kansas Workwear and Norwegian Wenaas is completed – with the creation of the Kansas Wenaas Group. Wenaas brings a leading position in the Norwegian workwear market, especially within the offshore industry. The Wenaas organization also comprises activities in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Axcel Industri investor A/S announces its intention to acquire the share capital of Kansas Wenaas A/S and enlist the company from the Copenhagen and Oslo Stock Exchanges. Axcel intends to contribute to the continued expansion and evolution of theKansas Wenaas Group.

2000

The Kansas Wenaas Group combines activities with the EHCO-KLM Group in the Netherlands. EHCO-KLM adds leading brands, including Adolphe Lafont, and market positions in Holland, France and Germany.

2003

The Group changes its name from Kansas Wenaas to KWINTET.

2005

IK Investment Partners, a leading European private equity firm, acquires Kwintet A/S from a group of investors led by Axcel Industri investor A/S.

2007

Kwintet buys The Cotton Group, thereby securing the B&C brand and a strong position in the promotional garment market in Europe.

Kwintet acquires the Mercatura group; the acquisition brings together two highly complementary businesses. Kwintet is unrivalled in workwear for craftsmen and industry workers; whereas the Mercatura Group is particularly strong in the attractive Service wear sector – clothing for professionals in healthcare, retail and hotels, restaurants and other service professions. The brand portfolio is extended with the brands Bragard, Simon Jersey and Clinic Dress.

2011

Following a strategic review, in January 2011 the Kwintet Group changed the way the business was structured to form five geographical regions. Supported by central functions – such as Finance, IT, Supply Chain and Marketing – they combined to provide extra strength, stability, scale and best practice. With the local knowledge and flexibility to respond to market needs, we were able to maximize our value proposition to all of our customers.