A 2-Year Anniversary Message from Group CEO, Klaus Hofmann
CCE GROUP ORIGINS
In June 2023, Hivest Capital Partners acquired Safran’s cabin catering and cargo entities, which were rebranded as Driessen Catering Equipment and AviusULD.
Soon afterwards, CCE Group was established as the parent company and I was appointed as Group CEO. This was a natural evolution from my previous role leading Air Cargo Equipment at Safran Cabin. It was a proud day.
The creation of CCE marked more than a change in ownership – it signaled a new direction rooted in both innovation and operational pragmatism.
From day one, the ambition was clear: to challenge the status quo by combining technical innovations with hands-on customer collaboration. I knew that innovation needed to be real and useful, not just theoretical.
Equally important for me was to shape a leadership culture centered on empathy. In an industry built on complex engineering and safety standards, it is easy to lose sight of the human element: of the people who rely on our products every day. The goal was to build a company that balanced technical excellence with a genuine commitment to understanding and meeting those human needs.
TWO YEARS LATER
Two years on, Driessen and AviusULD have undergone a comprehensive transformation. Both companies have redefined their branding and core values to align with market demands and customer expectations. Central to this transformation has been a focus on our teams, ensuring that everyone understands our mission and feels connected to it.
Under the leadership of Jerry van Vive at Driessen and Charles Drummond at AviusULD, we have streamlined processes and strengthened our operational focus, creating an environment where quality and efficiency work together.
At a product level, we’ve maintained the highest quality standards while introducing a range of industry redefining products, including Driessen’s Hybrite Ultra Lite, the lightest trolley on the market; plus AviusULD’s Collapsible Container.
I have been especially pleased with the digital innovations from both companies. AviusULD’s SmartULD solutions not only provide real-time geolocation data, but are designed to detect early signs of lithium-ion battery thermal runaway. Additionally, they require no battery replacement as they are perpetually powered by kinetic energy.
Driessen’s CLEO360 Platform is a revolutionary tool for the entire onboard catering industry. From monitoring equipment status and accessing manuals to keeping an eye on pending orders, CLEO360 puts everything at your fingertips.
In March 2025, we acquired Trip&Co, a company that has been setting the standard for thermal protection and security solutions for over a century. They bring real technical know-how and a global production network that can respond fast to the needs of modern air cargo.
AviusULD had already been working with Trip&Co on fire containment solutions, so this acquisition was a natural next step. It allows us to fully integrate their expertise and keep building a unified cabin and cargo ecosystem. This is not about expanding for the sake of it. It is about combining the best capabilities under one roof and delivering practical solutions that make a difference.
WHAT’S NEXT?
As I reflect on the last two years, three concepts stand out for me: Empathy, Science, and Technology. These concepts have been my guiding principles and given CCE Group its North Star, covering our leadership style, our commitment to repeatable proven processes and our innate innovative spirit.
As Group CEO, I am committed to creating a niche cabin and cargo ecosystem where each of our companies directly benefits from symbiotic relationships. From product development to shared resources and joint proposals.
With each new acquisition, we will look to maintain what’s working well while helping the leadership teams to fulfil the full potential of their company.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who’s been a part of the journey so far as we celebrate our second anniversary.
