Famous match manufacturer to close down Czech plant

Wooden Solo safety matches – made in the Czech Republic – have long been respected worldwide. Many are familiar with the famous design of match box covers which include protected trademarks such as The Three Keys or The Scissors. But the tradition, at least in part, is now set to end. Citing worsening economic conditions, representatives announced on Tuesday that as of next year the company’s production plant will move abroad.

For 169 years Sušice near Klatovy in south-western Bohemia has been home to the famous Czech safety match. In the 20th century it became an immediately recognisable symbol first of Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic. But this year that will come to an end: the production plant, which until now put out a billion new matches annually, will produce its last. Jiří Janoušek is the Solo Match Works spokesman:

“The reasons for the move are several but the bottom line is that match manufacturing in the Czech Republic is no longer a profitable but a losing enterprise. Several factors have contributed to this, the strong crown being the most important. Solo Match Works is a major exporter, with 85 percent of our matches exported abroad and the strong crown has hurt us on the international markets. Other factors include a significant rise in production costs due to the rising costs of energy, wood, paper, as well as wages. Those, too, have had an impact.”

The company has said that as of next year production will begin abroad, but has declined to disclose the site of the new facility, saying the issue has not been decided yet. But sources have speculated that production will be moved to Asia, possibly Korea or China or to the Indian sub-continent. Whichever final site is chosen, Jiří Janoušek says, the top priority will be upholding current product quality. Another question will be over changes to the matches’ packaging. While there’s no doubt the firm will stick to its famous designs, it is clear “Made in the Czech Republic” will no longer be able to feature on the box. I asked Jiří Janoušek if there were alternatives in mind which would continue to stress the product’s Czech history.

“That is something we’ll have to consider as we have no intention of fooling customers by pretending something was made here if it wasn’t. We will have to think of alternatives and changes to the match box cover and design.”

In the Czech Republic, the closing down of the Solo Match Work’s Sušice plant will also mean the very real loss of around 55 out of 83 jobs. But there is some good news regarding at least some of the soon-to-be-out-of-work employees as well: the company has said that negotiations are underway and that many of those laid off should be able to seek employment with sister company as of January 1.