Martin Thomas’ Journey from Idea to Global Standard
It all began in 1955. At the time, construction companies still mixed their concrete on site, a process that consumed time and resources and often led to inconsistent quality. Martin Thomas saw a better way. With technical curiosity, sharp business acumen, and a dose of courage, he established his first ready-mixed concrete plant in Karlstad, Sweden. His vision was clear: to make construction more efficient, smarter, and more sustainable.
This was the beginning of Thomas Concrete Group, soon to become an inspiring example of how persistent entrepreneurship can drive both change and success. After just two years of operation, the head office moved to Gothenburg to be closer to a growing market. The company expanded rapidly. First through establishing new plants, and from 1962 through acquisitions. Martin Thomas understood the power of geographic reach and thinking big.
In 1965, he took another bold step by opening the first plant outside Sweden, in Flensburg, Germany. It was a move that reflected Martin’s ability to look beyond the immediate and invest for the long term. In the 1980s, expansion reached the United States, followed by Poland and Norway in the 1990s. From modest Swedish beginnings, the company grew into an international group, today operating over 150 plants across five countries.
But Martin’s entrepreneurial drive extended beyond company growth. He co-founded the Swedish Ready-Mixed Concrete Association, serving as its chairman for more than a decade. He was also a key figure in establishing ERMCO – the European Ready-Mixed Concrete Organization, where he advanced the industry’s key priorities. For Martin, entrepreneurship was not just about building a business, it was about building an entire industry, together.
His legacy carries a deeper dimension. As climate challenges became increasingly urgent, Thomas Concrete Group took the lead in sustainable concrete solutions. By developing products with a lower carbon footprint, the Group continues to demonstrate that innovation, responsibility, and growth can go hand in hand in the very spirit in which Martin founded the company.
On World Entrepreneurs’ Day, we celebrate Martin Thomas as a true example of what genuine entrepreneurship can achieve. With a single idea, determination, and a desire to improve the world around him, he not only reshaped the concrete market – he helped build the future. And that is exactly the kind of entrepreneurship the world needs more of today.
