Frigotransport Pišek&Hsf d.o.o

Food safety always comes first

Today, the company offers transportation services in Slovenia and abroad with their fleet of 50 state-of-the-art vehicles and 60 specialized trailers. All vehicles are equipped with the latest telemetry technology, enabling real-time tracking of vehicles and packages. They provide standard transportation of temperature-sensitive goods and special services for transportation of hanging meat, flowers, goods under different temperature regimes, express services requiring a double crew, pharmaceuticals and organization of group transportation. Coolers with single and double-regime systems ensure safe transportation of perishable and quick-frozen goods across the whole of Europe and beyond, from Scandinavia to the Balkans and the countries of the former Soviet Union. They ensure flexibility and stability of transportation with the use of highly developed loading management, efficient route planning, extensive automation, their own cleaning surfaces, well-trained drivers and control via a track-and-trace system.

When transporting refrigerated goods, they take absolutely no risks – food safety is the main priority of the entire logistics system. They ensure constant food safety monitoring in accordance with the HACCP and IFS standards, with a department staffed by a well-educated logistics team, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

From zero to a strong, recognizable brand

Peter says he always knew he would be a truck driver, even as a child. His educational background was in mechanical engineering but just a couple of months after commencing his first job at Celeia Dairy, he borrowed money to buy his first truck and started his own business. Despite the crisis in the

1990s caused by the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the 2006 crisis which forced the company to close their own shop, Peter’s belief in following his dreams remained strong. During this period, he also formed a partnership with HSF Logistics from the Netherlands, which remained a capital partner until 2012. Then Peter bought out their 44% share and became the owner of the entire company, while the Dutch company remains a strategic partner.

Investment in development was always a priority, and even during the partnership with the Dutch company, they began thinking about their own logistics center. However, the changes to the municipal spatial plan took so long, their partner company backed out in 2012, which meant the Pišek family had to find an extra €2 million.

“Such circumstances often make development more difficult, but we managed to get commercial loans and build a great logistics center in only four years,” says Peter. The center was completed in 2018, and includes logistics department offices, state-of-the-art refrigerated storage facilities, servicing facilities, a truck and car wash and accommodation for the drivers. The center, in which they invested €4 million, stands on 2400 m² in a strategic location, next to the fifth European corridor. It helped the Pišek family to develop their brand and achieve its wider recognition.

Each of the four sons has a different role  in the company

Soon after buying out their capital partner in 2012, the company grew exponentially, from 14 vehicles to 30, and Peter trusted his sons with different responsibilities. Sašo, the eldest, took over logistics, Jure is in charge of Marketing, Sales and Warehousing, while Aljoša is Head of Technical Services and Truck Servicing. The youngest, Mitja, is a restaurateur at heart and is solely responsible for the Pišek Bar restaurant. Peter remembers that Sašo had to grow up practically overnight, when he was 21 and took over management of 45 people. “None of my sons finished college, but they are all hard-working and responsible,” says their father proudly. He adds: “In the last few years, I started leaving the management of the company to them, I’m just there to guide them. Even though they are very different, they complement each other perfectly.” He also likes to remind them to relax and take time off for themselves. “A burnt-out worker cannot work efficiently,” he says.

The Pišek family has faced several difficult challenges on their way to entrepreneurial success, but they always overcame them. Peter often talks about successes and failures with his sons. “Entrepreneurs, especially in family enterprises, must go through several trials before they stand strong,” believes Peter, who often tells his sons that “life is not always cake.”

Transparent relationships built on trust form the heart of the company

Peter still puts his heart into his work: “You have to love the work you do! That’s the first rule of being a successful entrepreneur.” This is also the message he gives his sons and employees. “If your work does not bring you satisfaction, it’s better to leave it and go somewhere else,” says theDirector. He always tells his sons that they do not have to work in the family business if they do not want to and doesn’t treat them any differently than other employees; everyone is simply ranked as more or less successful. His leadership philosophy is based on the belief that everyone is replaceable, including himself. He also values good relationships and communication very highly: “In our company, everything is built on trust. We keep our word.”

Nevertheless he also points out that he likes to hear what his sons have to say: “We need to be open to ideas of the next generation.” Listening to the younger generation is also important considering time, which – as Peter says – is not on their side: “If you have a large family enterprise, you live with it 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Peter’s hard work and diligence were rewarded with the bronze coat of arms of the city of Celje and the Slovenian Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2018. He believes this recognition is the result of the hard and responsible work of the entire family, employees and suppliers.

The logistics industry faces many challenges

Peter Pišek is not just a successful entrepreneur, he has also taken on many responsibilities in the local community and wider. He is a Municipal Councilor of the Celje Municipality, Vice-President of the Ostrožno Local Community, President of the Transport Section of the Chamber of Crafts and Small Businesses of Slovenia, and Vice-President of the Chamber of Crafts and Small Businesses of Celje. In all his different roles, he tries to find efficient solutions for drivers, transport, warehousing and servicing. “The transportation industry needs more opportunities and more understanding. We are not just ‘truck drivers’, as people often assume.”

Peter wants to overcome the hurdles that hold back the development of this industry. “Our main challenge is that the industry has a pretty bad reputation. Road transportation is associated with drugs and extortion and when on the road, we are often victims of situations we cannot control.”

His role in the Chamber of Crafts and Small Businesses allows him to participate in the development of legislation, education and infrastructure. It also gives him the power to point out various challenges facing the transportation industry, such as lack of workforce and the problem of flow of goods along the Balkan corridor. “The drivers are sometimes held up for two days, without sleep, food and basic infrastructure,” explains Peter.

They want to remain a successful, stable and responsible company

“It’s important to act responsibly to yourself, your employees, business partners, the environment and also the local community and country,” points out Peter, who has successfully dodged the greatest hindrance during his long and successful years as an entrepreneur – that of greed. “The entrepreneur and the employees must not be led by greed, but by realistic goals and hard work. That’s crucial,” says Peter. In the future, the company wants to become an outstanding provider of logistics solution packages. “To achieve that,” says Peter, “one needs carefully selected employees, well-defined customers and good suppliers.” The Pišek family has a clear vision for the future. In the next couple of years, the plan to expand their logistics center with secure parking lots for trucks and expansion of storage capacities. But to begin to begin implementing this €4 million investment, they have to wait for the Municipality of Celje to adopt its detailed spatial plan. “Our long-term goal is to remain a successful, stable and responsible company, and to keep investing in development,” says Peter of the company’s future.