Gorenje Group - History of Gorenje

1950 - 1960

The establishment of Gorenje in a tiny village that bears the same name. Initially the company was involved in the manufacture of agricultural machinery and the provision of building materials
In 1958 it expanded its operations to the production of solid-fuel cookers
This was followed by a relocation to the nearby town of Velenje and the construction of new assembly facilities

The company expands its production to washing machines and refrigerators and becomes the leading household appliances manufacturer in Yugoslavia
1961 saw Gorenje achieve its first exports - 200 cookers to Germany

Gorenje begins to take over other enterprises
Its product range extends to the manufacture of kitchen units, ceramics, medical equipment, telecommunications devices, TV sets and other electrical goods – indeed a complete range of products for the home
The company, which at that time was present in almost every republic of Yugoslavia, employed over 20,000 people
The first steps were taken in the establishment of a distribution and sales network across Western Europe, further to which companies were established in Germany, Austria, France, Denmark, Australia and Italy

A period marked by disinvestment from non-profitable manufacturing and commercial operations and a consequent refocusing on those areas in which Gorenje had the most experience and pre-eminent products – i.e. the household appliances
Export markets were also expanded to include UK and the USA

A restructuring of Gorenje, away from the erstwhile socialist self-management system to a stock exchange listed fully privatised company operating in a developing market economy
Due to the loss of the domestic market caused through the disintegration of Yugoslavia, this period was also marked by an intensive reorientation towards export expansion
The establishment of companies in Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria and Slovakia) predicated on the changes occurring in the region congruent to the development of new market economies
Additionally, enterprises were also re-established in the new states that had arisen from the disintegration of Yugoslavia

Gorenje, d.d., becomes a public company
Investing into new products and technology: opening up of new markets, ecologically-sound and cutting - edge technologies
As to its strategic plans Gorenje has infused new life into its business doctrine familiarly known as: "Everything for Home“
Acquisition of Mora Moravia, a.s., cooking appliances producer from Czech Republic

Acquisition of the company Surovina, d.d., Maribor, Slovenia
New design of product line Ora Ïto - launching in Istanbul
Winner of numerous prestigious awards
15% capital increase and additional shares were listed on a prime market of Ljubljana Stock Exchange