On June 19, 1947, the company KOTEKS was founded, the predecessor of today’s KOTO Company. The company’s rich history testifies to its continuous search for new business opportunities, ensuring its development and survival even during the most turbulent periods.
The company KOTEKS began its export activity of finished products and pig leather in 1947, with pig leather being its main export product. In 1952, the company expanded its activities to include the collection of slaughterhouse waste, and two years later, an export-import company named Tobus was established to promote the leather industry’s exports. At the end of 1961, both companies merged into one, forming Koteks Tobus.
In 1966, a facility for processing animal by-products was built in Zalog, and a year later, the first boutique in the country, offering high-quality fashion leather products, was opened in the center of Ljubljana. The boutique was considered one of the most prestigious in Ljubljana and was even visited by Jovanka Broz. Koteks Tobus was well-known at that time for its high-quality leather products, which were successfully exported abroad. Consequently, in 1974, we became one of the largest Slovenian exporters.
In the 1970s, a legendary commercial “Koža je za KOTO” (“Leather is for KOTO”) was also broadcasted on television, and many still remember it today.
In 1984, we were the second company in Europe to construct and establish a biofilter. This operates on the principle of mechanically removing particulate matter from polluted air and biologically degrading compounds that cause unpleasant odors.
As one of the first companies in Slovenia, we obtained an environmental management system certification in 1999, confirming that our operations comply with the requirements of the environmental standard ISO 14001. In 2006, we also received the ISO 9001:2000 certification. The year before, we built a biological wastewater treatment plant to purify wastewater generated from various industrial processes before discharging it into the public sewer system. In 2010, we started processing biodegradable sludge from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants.
In 2008, we launched a biogas plant and began producing green energy. The biogas production enables us to cover 80% of our electricity needs.
Since the year 2000, we have been acting as a concessionaire for the provision of economic public services for the management of slaughterhouse waste and infectious animal by-products. This was one of the first concessions signed in Slovenia. In 2006, we also opened a new facility for separate processing of category 3 animal by-products.
Construction of an Algae Cultivation Demonstration Center.
Change of legal form of the joint-stock company KOTO d. d. to a limited liability company - KOTO d. o. o.
Acquisition of a Single Environmental Permit.
Initiation of the biogas facility and commencement of electricity production from renewable sources.
Acquisition of ISO 9001:2000 certification.
Construction of a facility for the separate processing of Category 3 animal by-products.
Construction of a facility for separate processing of category 3 animal by-products.
Relocation of the entire company to a location in Zalog.
Since May 2000, KOTO has been acting as a concessionaire for the provision of economic public services for the management of slaughterhouse waste and infectious animal by-products.
Acquisition of ISO 14001 certification.
KOTO is organized as a joint-stock company.
Since July 1, 1989, the company has been operating as a unified social enterprise.
Completion of the reconstruction of the protein concentrate factory in Zalog.
Merger of companies KOTO and INDE Vransko.
With $20 million in exports, the company was ranked among the largest exporters in Slovenia.
Establishment of TOZD KOPROD for manufacturing activities and TOZD KOTRADE for trading activities, as well as a working community for shared services.
Opening of a boutique on Miklošičeva Street in Ljubljana.
Construction of the protein concentrate factory in Zalog.
On December 28, 1961, the merger of companies Koteks and Tobus resulted in the establishment of KOTEKS-TOBUS.
The transition of the company Tobus into an import department of Koteks.
Registration of the import-export company TOBUS.
Commencement of collecting slaughterhouse waste.
Commencement of the export activity of finished products and pig leather as the main export product.
On June 19, 1947, the establishment of the company KOTEKS took place, as the successor to the Republican Directorate of the federal company Koteks for the trade of leather and textiles.
