Former Action and Pepco executives join ZEME
Former Action and Pepco executives join ZEME
ZEME, a company providing waste management services to industry and retail chains, including companies such as Eurocash, Dealz and Żabka, is accelerating its development thanks to the involvement of new investors.
The company is joined by two experienced managers who have been behind the successes of some of the largest retail chains in the region. Sławomir Nitek, former CEO of Action Polska, and Matthew Lythgoe, former CFO of the Pepco Group, have decided to support ZEME with advisory and capital support, joining the company's investors. This is an important reinforcement not only in terms of competence, but also strategically - especially in the context of the planned expansion and further scaling of the company's operations.
Subscribe to Startup Digest to stay ahead with the latest news, investments, and must-attend events.
Knowledge and experience from the retail market
Sławomir Nitek is a manager with over 20 years of experience in the trade sector. In recent years, he was responsible for the dynamic development of the Action chain in Poland - from introducing the brand to the market, through building operational structures, to expanding to over 300 stores nationwide and developing business in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria. Previously, he was associated with Netto, among others.
As he himself admits, the decision to get involved in ZEME was the result of personal observations and practical experience. - When I first heard about ZEME, I immediately understood that the company was solving a problem that I had been struggling with for years in large organizations. Waste management is a demanding area, complex in terms of regulations, procedures and organization, and at the same time often lacking appropriate internal resources. ZEME simplifies this process by automating activities, organizing documentation and taking over a significant part of operational responsibility. This is the solution that I myself was looking for. That is why I decided not only to take on an advisory role, but also to engage capital, because I believe in the need and scalability of this model. - comments Sławomir Nitek.
Finance, Strategy, Scalability
Matthew Lythgoe, on the other hand, is an expert with many years of experience in financial management, strategy building and scaling organizations. As CFO of Pepco Group, he co-created the expansion of one of the fastest growing retail chains in Europe, and previously gained experience at PwC, among others. He currently also serves as a strategic advisor to private equity funds. At ZEME, he will support the strategic development of the company and the design of scalable business models dedicated to the retail segment.
– From the perspective of my experience as a CFO, waste management is not only a matter of costs, although these are still of great importance. In retail, even small savings per store can translate into hundreds of thousands of złotys on a chain-wide scale. ZEME allows these savings to be generated in real terms, while also relieving the operational team. What's more, it fits into ESG goals, which are often as important today as profitability. I decided to join ZEME also as an investor, because I see a company with a solid product, operating in a growing market and with a team that really understands the needs of customers. – comments Matthew Lythgoe.
Digital revolution in waste management
For companies in the retail sector, waste management is no longer a marginal issue, but is increasingly becoming a real operational, cost and image challenge. The Polish company ZEME responds to this need by offering innovative and comprehensive support in waste management outsourcing - from collection, through logistics, to documentation and reporting. All of this is supported by the proprietary ZEME 360 platform, which allows you to manage the entire process in an integrated manner and in accordance with regulations, including integration with the BDO database, automation of collection orders, generation of KPO and KEO documents, as well as monitoring volumes and access to market price indexes of secondary raw materials.
Thanks to this, companies can significantly reduce operating costs, reduce risks and achieve goals within the ESG strategy. ZEME solutions are already used by, among others, Eurocash, Dealz and Żabka, and the company currently serves over 5,000 locations throughout Poland and is intensively developing both the operational and technological side, preparing for further expansion on the domestic and foreign markets.
Waste management in retail chains is becoming increasingly complex and demanding, especially in the context of the planned implementation of the deposit system. We therefore have the ambition to establish a market standard. This will require a combination of strong technological competences with experience and business sense. Sławomir and Matthew are a strategic reinforcement for us in these areas - comments Kacper Adamowicz, CEO of ZEME.
Waste as a strategic area
The addition of two experienced retail leaders to ZEME is not only a significant strengthening of competences, but also a clear signal that waste management is no longer just a technical and operational responsibility. It is increasingly seen as a strategic area - one where regulatory, technological and business interests intersect. This is where competitive advantages are created, through better data, lower costs, compliance with regulations and a real impact on the implementation of ESG goals. In this context, the Polish company ZEME is building not only an operational tool, but a partnership supporting the transformation of entire organizations.
