Camino Group awarded the Family Business Award of Excellence^® 2025

Camino Group has been named winner of the prestigious Family Business Award of Excellence^® 2025. This award, an initiative of EY in collaboration with De Tijd & L'Echo, BNP Paribas Fortis, WorxInvest, FBN Belgium and GUBERNA, honours family businesses that excel in good governance, vision, family values, value creation and social commitment. The independent jury, led by Guido Vanherpe (CEO La Lorraine Bakery Group), chose Camino Group as the winner because of its outstanding leadership, strong family values and innovative vision for the future. The 3 other finalists Brewery Huyghe, Coeck and Chaussures Maniet also deserve recognition as vibrant exponents of family entrepreneurship. Camino Group thus succeeds VPK Group, last year's laureate. Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Jan-Peter Balkenende was the evening's guest speaker.

Eric Van Hoof, partner at EY: ‘Family businesses are the foundation of our economy. Camino Group shows how strong values, long-term vision and innovation can go hand in hand. This family business proves that sustainable business and successful growth can be perfectly combined. A special thanks to the judges, whose expertise and sharp analyses contributed to a careful and well-considered selection process.’

Francis Boelens, partner at EY: ‘Camino Group is a model of good governance and strategic entrepreneurship. Their approach to succession and family values is a benchmark for other family businesses looking to prepare for the next generations. At the same time, the other finalists - Huyghe Brewery, Coeck and Chaussures Maniet - also deserve praise. Each in its own way embodies the strength and resilience of family businesses in Belgium.’
 

Why Camino Group?

Guido Vanherpe, CEO of La Lorraine Bakery Group and chairman of the jury further explains the choice: ‘Camino Group is a textbook example of how a family company can combine tradition and innovation. Their strong family values, strategic vision, conscious approach to sustainability and well thought-out governance model make them a reference in Belgian entrepreneurship. Their way of doing business, where they do not let go but ‘hold on differently’, is an inspiring example for other family businesses.’

The jury commended Camino Group for:

• Strong family values that transcend generations and are embedded in the business strategy.
• Future-oriented vision where the second and third generations are actively involved and prepared for leadership.
• Governance excellence with external directors, advisory committees and clear structures that ensure family and business continuity.
• Sustainable entrepreneurship with strong social impact and an ESG-oriented approach.
• Innovative growth through diversification of activities and investment in new housing solutions, ensuring the company remains economically agile.
   

About Camino Group

Camino Group is an enterprising family company that since 1966, founded under the name Durabrik, has grown under the leadership of the Callens family into a fixture in the Belgian real estate landscape with a recognisable identity. Currently, the second and third generations are active in the company. By developing new activities, investing in start-ups and making acquisitions, always with a clear focus on residential solutions for various target groups, Camino Group, driven by Joost and Claudia Callens, has grown strongly in size and activities over the last 15 years, with a turnover of over €120 million and 300 employees today. Family values, conscious and sustainable entrepreneurship, well-considered housing solutions and personal development are central to Camino Group's success.

Independent jury determines winner

The winner of the Family Business Award of Excellence^® was chosen by an independent jury led by Guido Vanherpe (CEO La Lorraine Bakery Group, Ambassador 2016). The jury consisted of:

• Catherine Noël - Member of the Board of Directors Nomainvest
• Isabel Albers - General Editor-in-Chief De Tijd & L'Echo
• Bernard Haspeslagh - Director Ardo
• Dr Raphaëlle Mattart - Academic expert in Family Entrepreneurship
• Prof. Dr. Anneleen Michiels - Associate Professor of Finance & Family Business UHasselt
   

Impressive list of Ambassadors

This award recognises family businesses that excel in corporate governance, family and business continuity, value creation and social commitment. Camino Group is the 11th name on the list of winners in recent years with VPK Group (2024), Decospan (2023), Spaas Candles (2022), Cartamundi (2020), Duvel Moortgat (2019), SIPEF (2018), Vandersanden Group (2017), La Lorraine Bakery Group (2016), Reynaers Aluminium (2015) and Cosucra (2014).

EY launched the ‘Family Business Award of Excellence^®’ in 2014 to honour Belgian family businesses that excel in corporate governance, vision, maintaining family values and passing on entrepreneurial spirit across generations. In addition, communication, sustainable growth and social commitment are considered crucial criteria for the award.
 

For more information visit:
Français: Family Business Award of Excellence^® | EY - Belgique
Nederlands: Family Business Award of Excellence^® | EY - België