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Supply Chain Solution of the Year 2024
at the UK Packaging Awards!
Our award winning Climapack has won yet another award. We are thrilled to announce that RAJA UK has won the prestigious Supply Chain Solution of the Year award at the 2024 UK Packaging Awards for our Climapack kit! The Climapack kit continues to receive high praise for its quality and effectiveness in protecting temperature-sensitive goods during transit. We're proud to offer award-winning products that drive sustainability in the supply chain.
Hear from our customers…
« Best thing about working with RAJA is not having to deal with box manufacturers directly. All of our problems went away when we started dealing with RAJA. »
— Luke Bream
Chief executive at Valentte
Find out the history of the RAJA Group.
The 50s… the entrepreneurial spirit
On 10 July 1954, Rachel Marcovici founded, with Janine Rocher, a company distributing reused cardboard boxes. The combination of the first syllables of their first names forms the name RAJA. Janine left the following year. Her customers were small businesses in Paris looking for cheaper cardboard boxes available in small quantities. The young company moved to 9 rue de Monte-Cristo in the 20th arrondissement of Paris at 250 m2 on 2 floors. Madame Marco was looking for lots of second-hand cardboard boxes in good condition from retailers who no longer need them, and from recyclers of used cardboard boxes.
Maurice Marcovici, Rachel's husband, joins the company in management and administration "My father never left the office and my mother never left the field." Danièle Kapel-Marcovici
Thanks to its concept and the energy of its owners, Cartons RAJA quickly achieved success. Gradually, new cardboard, kraft paper, corrugated cardboard, gummed tape, and twine are added to complement the range of reused cardboard boxes.
At the end of the 1950s, Cartons RAJA employs 10 people and the turnover amounts to one million francs (150,000 €).
The 60s…innovation for growth
Danièle, the founders' daughter, is 16 years old when she joins Cartons RAJA. Through contact with customers, she learns the fundamentals of business: trusting relationships, listening to customer needs, service excellence and product quality. "For nearly 10 years, I visited Parisian companies to advise them and offer packaging best suited to their business. It was a great learning experience!" Danièle Kapel-Marcovici
Always on the lookout for something new, "Madame Marco" has won exclusive rights for the Jiffy quilted pouch, made in Germany. She launched her first mailings, a highly innovative sales method at the time, to promote her products throughout France.
The company has grown and needs more space. Cartons RAJA moved to rue Rampal, in the Belleville district. This would be RAJA's headquarters for almost 30 years. RAJA then employed 30 people.
The 70s...packaging: a booming market
The emergence of plastics revolutionised the world of packaging. RAJA expands its range of products with adhesive tapes, rolls of bubble wrap, Flo-pak... to meet clients'needs.
Exclusive launch of the RAJALIST, the first adhesive document pouch, at RAJA.
The sales team takes part in numerous trade shows to promote the company's products.
Danièle Kapel-Marcovici launches the first catalogue in support of field sales staff. In black and white, it had 24 pages, 365 products and a print run of 10,000 copies. The company adopts a new graphic identity to modernise its image.
“Maurice Marco” bought a plot of land in the new industrial zone of Gonesse, near Paris, and had a 2,000 m² warehouse built, which was inaugurated in 1978. The building was extended several times to reach 15,000 m2.
In 1978, the RAJAMOUSSE padded envelope won a Packaging Oscar.
The 80s catalogue sales... a growth accelerator
At the time, the company had sales of 54 million francs (€8 million) and employed 50 people. Dynamic and innovative, Cartons RAJA is recognised for the quality of its products and the speed of its services. The new CEO drives a new sales strategy with the launch of catalogue sales aimed at capturing the national market. “My ambition was to win new customers while maintaining fundamentals: the quality, stock availability and service excellence.” Danièle Kapel-Marcovici
Themes covered: “The price revolution”, “Freedom of choice”, “All the packaging in 48 hours...Mission accomplished.”
Another Packaging Oscar was awarded for the ingenuity of DISTRIBUL: distributing bubble wrap in a dispenser box.
The young leader structures her organisation and instills a new corporate culture. The Gonesse distribution centre is gradually expanded to broaden the offer of products available from stock. Orders are delivered within 24 hours in the Paris region and within 48 hours outside Paris, a first in the market! By the end of the 80's, RAJA had established itself as France's leading packaging distributor.
The catalogue offers 1000 references and the turnover amounts to 100 million francs (15 million euros).
The 90s…conquering Europe
RAJA establishes itself in the main European markets.
Since the company was founded, the packaging range has grown. The catalogue now offers 1,500 products in stock. Janitorial supplies and small handling and storage equipment complete the range. The change of name is accompanied by a new graphic identity that expresses the company's new leadership and dynamism.
After the establishment of the employee committee in 1982, the first profit-sharing agreement, aiming to involve employees in the company's successes and encourage collective performance, is signed.
RAJA launches an exclusive-for-France innovative paper packaging system, the Padpak, which is another Packaging Oscar winner.
In 1994, RAJA celebrated 40 years of developing its customer base in France and looks to Europe.
The small packaging sales company, which currently has a turnover of 20 million francs and employs 15 people, is going to be transformed into a catalogue sales business following the model of RAJA France. In 1999, a new distribution centre was built in Tongeren, close to the Dutch border. Today, RAJA Belgium is the market leader, delivering to customers in 7 countries from its 68,000 m2 packaging distribution centre, the largest in Europe!
In 1995, Danièle Kapel-Marcovici decided to acquire a new site in the Paris Nord 2 Business Park, near Roissy. The office building was renovated, the warehouse was extended by 20,000 m2 to bring together all the teams from the Paris headquarters and the logistics in Gonesse. The new 43,000 m2 distribution centre will enable nationwide deliveries, expand the product range and double the number of products available in stock. The Paris Nord 2 site has since become the European headquarters of the RAJA Group.
Building on its initial success in Belgium, Binpac expands to the Netherlands with a sales team in Breda and creates its own catalogue in florins.
RAJA crosses the Channel with the acquisition of a UK packaging distributor, which rebranded as RAJAPACK in 2006. The company offers 1,500 products available in stock and serves 10,000 customers from its 20,000 m2 distribution centre in Milton Keynes.
In 2003, RAJA was awarded ISO 9001 certification, followed by ISO 14001 in 2011.
RAJA crosses the Channel with the acquisition of a UK packaging distributor, which rebranded as RAJAPACK in 2006. The company offers 1,500 products available in stock and serves 10,000 customers from its 20,000 m2 distribution centre in Milton Keynes.
In 10 years, the company has multiplied its turnover by 5. It employs 200 people.
The 2000s…from catalogue sales to e-commerce
European growth is accelerating, with new subsidiaries in France and the acquisition of specialised distributors.
With a range of 6,000 products, RAJA is a forerunner in digital marketing for B2B distribution, and the first company to sell packaging online! "We were already specialists in catalogue, telephone and field sales. By adding the web channel, we have become a fully multi-channel distributor. A new, practical and fast way for our customers to discover our range and place their orders." - Danièle Kapel-Marcovici
RAJA launches a new generation of 'Time-Saving' boxes with instant assembly and adhesive closure. The same year, another Packaging Oscar is awarded for pre-stretched film that uses less material and is effortless to apply.
The new Spanish subsidiary offers a range of 1,000 products presented in its catalogue and on its website. Products are delivered throughout Spain, from its distribution centre in Barcelona.
Since its creation, Austria has offered more than 2,500 products in stock.
The founder and her daughter: 2 generations celebrate the company's anniversary together
Danièle Kapel-Marcovici reaffirms the company's societal values by establishing a foundation dedicated to the defence of women and girls' rights. The foundation supports associations that are in favour of women in France and around the world. Since 2006, more than 750 projects have been supported in 57 countries, with a budget of over €17 million. "I've always believed that the role of business is not just economic, but also social and societal. For this reason, and thanks to the economic success of RAJA, I decided to create the RAJA-Danièle Marcovici Foundation." - Danièle Kapel-Marcovici
The new Italian subsidiary moves into its distribution centre and offices in Castel San Giovanni, south of Milan. It offers more than 1,400 products available in stock.
RAJA begins to conquer the markets of Central Europe and sets up its team in Prague. The company launches its catalogue and website to showcase its range.
Specialising in the distribution of hygiene and cleaning products by catalogue and internet, this small French company was RAJA's first diversification into another industry.
The new Swiss subsidiary is based in Basel and offers a range of 3,800 products to its customers on its catalogue and website.
By 2011, RAJA had employed 1,350 people and generated sales of over €400 million in Europe. The company now offers more than 9,000 professional solutions.
2010-2020…the RAJA Group diversifies
Strong societal and environmental commitments.
Another new diversification with this French specialist in online sales of office supplies and furniture.
The acquisition of this small packaging sales company is an opportunity to launch our business on the Polish market with 2,500 products.
RAJA enters the Scandinavian market with a packaging distributor in Oslo and a range of 2,000 products.
Denmark launches its catalogue and website to offer its range.
A major player in packaging distribution in France, Cenpac is a specialist in industrial packaging for logistics and food packaging for retail and distribution. The company has a network of regional agencies and expert sales staff. It has just set up its major distribution centre in the Paris region and employs 400 people
RAJA strengthens its presence in Scandinavia with a range of 2,000 products presented in its catalogue and website. Since 2020, an 9,000 m2 distribution centre serves customers in the 3 Scandinavian countries.
Introduced following COP21, by the RAJA-Danièle Marcovici Foundation, the programme supports community projects led by women transitioning to a more sustainable environment.
The RAJA Group continues to diversify with the acquisition of Morplan, specialising in retail supplies and equipment. Morplan also operates four shops in the UK.
RAJA strengthens its position in Central Europe.
RAJA strengthens its position in the Iberian Peninsula.
Present in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, UDOBÄR specialises in the distribution of handling, storage and office equipment. It offers 100,000 products online.
The RAJA Group has embarked on a strategic diversification in the office supplies and furniture sector, with the acquisition of 10 new companies in Europe. With this expansion, the Group becomes the leader in this market! “These acquisitions are opportunities that perfectly align with our strategy to become a global partner for businesses and offer all their packaging, office supplies and industrial equipment throughout Europe.” - Danièle Kapel-Marcovici
Market leader in the distribution of hygiene and cleaning products in France and Belgium, Bernard offers a range of 16,000 products to choose from.
A specialist in office supplies and furniture for 45 years, JPG offers its customers a choice of 40,000 products delivered from its 25,000 m2 distribution centre north of Paris. The company has 400 employees.
The leader in the distribution of office supplies and furniture in Italy, Mondoffice was founded in 1984 in Biella, near Milan. It offers 40,000 products delivered from its distribution centre covering 16,000 m2. Mondoffice has more than 300 employees.
Specialist in office furniture, the Spanish company Kalamazoo offers a range of 25,000 products. Its customers are serviced from its 12,000 m2 distribution centre in Bilbao.
A benchmark player in its sector of activity and aware of its social and environmental responsibility, RAJA has formalised its CSR commitments in its first extra-financial performance statement. RAJA is pursuing its highly proactive approach, responsible purchasing: • favouring local purchases: 86% of products are manufactured in Europe • promoting the sale of innovative packaging that is more eco-responsible • advising customers on eco-responsible solutions and alternatives to their current packaging
Viking, a company of American origin, established itself in Europe in 1990 and has revolutionised the distribution of office supplies thanks to its expertise. 7 new Viking companies are incorporated into the RAJA Group: Viking United Kingdom, Viking Ireland, Viking Germany, Viking Switzerland, Viking Austria, Viking Netherlands, and Viking Belgium. Each company offers, on its website and in its catalogue, a range of 40,000 products delivered from 2 large, ultra-modern distribution centres located in Germany and in the United Kingdom. The RAJA Group welcomes 1,500 new employees.
This new company, based in Budapest, offers a range of 3,000 products available in stock.
The story continues with you...