Ercopac is a company founded in late 2022 that has managed in a year and a half to go from 6 to 33 employees, from 4 to 13 million in turnover, and to open 2 branches (France and Spain) with a third being developed in Mexico City by the end of 2024. This impressive achievement is certainly the result of competence, professionalism, and passion, and can serve as an inspiration to other entrepreneurs in the same and different industries.
That is why we wanted to investigate how Ercopac’s vision was transformed into such a solid and growing reality with our President and Commercial Director, Manuel Grassi.
- What have been the key factors in Ercopac’s success?
I think the key factors of our success lie in the combination of established experience in the end-of-line packaging industry and a young, highly competent team. By incorporating specialized personnel into a lean and functional corporate structure, we have been able to provide innovative and technologically advanced solutions that have allowed us to stand out and achieve exponential growth in a short period of time. Undoubtedly, the great wealth of contacts and experience in the market of our sales team also helped us to immediately gain credibility and trust of our customers.
- How was the team structured to manage such rapid growth?
We have structured our team with a dynamic and flexible approach, investing in the training and development of our internal talents. With the guidance of already trained and highly skilled managers from other companies in the industry, we have managed to maintain a high level of efficiency and internal cohesion, which has enabled us to successfully meet the challenges associated with rapid growth. We also believed early on in the potential of our young employees by giving them confidence and responsibility, and this approach has certainly led to the building of a relaxed environment of respect and esteem, as well as important collaboration among all departments.
- What were the most significant challenges and how were they overcome?
The most significant challenges we have faced to date have been related to managing the rapid increase in demand, expanding operations on an international scale, and the need to consolidate the number of references for our target markets. These challenges are even more significant considering the changing conditions in the global packaging market and the high rate of competition in it. We have managed to date to overcome these challenges by investing in our production and logistics infrastructure, focusing on improving internal processes to strengthening relationships with our customers and suppliers. We have also relied on our strengths, such as responsiveness, quality, flexibility and high technological content, to differentiate ourselves and establish our brand.
- How have you been able to attract, develop and retain talent to create a strong corporate culture and optimize production processes?
I think we have been able to attract talent by offering opportunities for professional growth and a challenging and dynamic work environment. Right from the start, we decided to share our vision with each candidate at interview, both to fully convey the Ercopac project and to make the entire workforce part of the dream. This kind of relationship between management and employees is not always easily established, but I think it is the basis for an honest relationship between the parties. In addition, through investment in interpersonal relationships, we have created an inclusive and collaborative work environment where ideas are valued and rewarded. A system based on meritocracy always pushes people to give their best and to see their value recognized when it is demonstrated day by day. This has enabled us to create a strong corporate culture and a fertile ground for both young talents willing to put into play the knowledge acquired in their course of study and senior figures eager to embark on a new challenge with new responsibilities.
- What advice would you give to people who want to start or grow their own business?
My main advice is to have a clear and ambitious vision, but also to be flexible and ready to adapt to market changes. It is essential to invest in the right people and create a solid corporate culture at the human level. In addition, it is important to maintain a constant focus on product and service quality, always ensuring maximum customer satisfaction. On a structural level, I think it is important to establish clear and well-communicated procedures and working methods early on to make growth scalable and the team aligned. The last piece of advice I would give is to never stop at the first positive results and goals achieved, but to always look forward to new goals to be achieved. You have to be so positive that negative people don’t want to be around you!
