Page 47 - MELLBY_MAGASIN_2025_ENG_SID
P. 47
Ä LV S B Y H U S
Stronger with
every trial
The market for single-family houses is still struggling with low demand
and shrinking order intakes. In the hope of soon being able to rebuild
what it once had, Älvsbyhus is consolidating its manufacturing and
assets. Because one thing’s for certain: Älvsbyhus is here to stay.
The situation is the same in Sweden, Norway and Finland: the To retain expertise at the company, Älvsbyhus has offered employ-
market for single-family houses is almost at a standstill and ees contracts with reduced hours, which entail 80 percent of regular
all the operators are gritting their teeth. Although interest working hours and 88 percent of their current salary, since Easter
rates have improved, inflation and the stagnant second-hand market 2024. Staff in the house factory went back to a five-day week in Octo-
continue to hinder development, reflects Kent Johansson, CEO of ber; for others, the four-day week continues.
Älvsbyhus:
GREATER VISIBILITY WHEN THE MARKET PICKS UP
“It’s tough, and the situation is persisting in all countries. Many of us Älvsbyhus is now investing in physically marketing its houses to
were hoping for a turnaround in 2025, but that didn’t turn out to be increase visibility while waiting for the market to take off. This
the case.” includes more show houses at retailers, preferably one in each sales
district. The company also produces houses ready for purchase, with
Where Älvsbyhus is concerned, the most significant consequence Älvsbyhus buying land and building houses for direct sale. Although
is the closure of its factory in Bjärnum, southern Sweden. Just over this ties up a lot of capital, it often entails a quick deal for the client,
30 employees in total had to leave the company at the end of 2025. who is able to view their house in its actual setting.
“It was a heartbreaking decision, but it was the right one,” says Kent “We need to be ready when the market picks up,” stresses Kent
Johansson. “As things currently stand, we’ll manage fine with the Johansson. “It takes a long time to put these different types of
factory in Älvsbyn.” houses in place. When customers become more willing to buy, our
houses must be ready to view.”
STREAMLINING AND COST REDUCTION
Älvsbyhus produced just over 200 houses during the year – far too It’s about cutting costs, big and
few to justify the company’s overheads. In addition to the closure small, and adjusting to reality
of the Bjärnum factory, some staff in Älvsbyn have been given their
notice, the number of business trips made in the company has been SEES THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
reduced, and five service employees have had their employment Älvsbyhus is embarking on 2026 with the hope that the market has hit
terminated and offered hourly contracts instead. rock-bottom and will begin to pick up. The economy is expected to
become stronger and purchasing power to increase. The decision to
“It’s about cutting costs, big and small, and adjusting to reality,” raise the mortgage cap is generating hope in the market, and seven
says Kent Johansson. “We’re starting from scratch, with a factory in out of ten people in Sweden still want to live in a house. However, the
Älvsbyn, just like when Mellby Gård invested in us 30 years ago. We’ve company does not expect the single-family house sector to return
been on this journey before.” to the situation that prevailed in the early 2000s, described as “on
steroids”.
“We’re heading for a future in which fewer children are born in
Sweden, combined with falling immigration. When the country stops
growing, the single-family house market doesn’t grow either. We’ll be
back – that much is certain. But as for the volume and market share
we’ll be able to achieve, we’ll have to wait
and see,” concludes Kent Johansson.
KENT JOHANSSON,
CEO
47
