Hamelin Group stationery and office supplies

Founded in 1864 in Caen, France, by Ernest Hamelin, the Hamelin Group has grown from a regional family business into a global leader in the school and office supplies market. Originally focused on account ledgers and lithography, the company pivoted significantly in the 1950s and 60s under Robert Hamelin to focus on school notebooks, leading to the creation of the iconic Conquérant brand.

Today, the group operates on a massive scale with a global manufacturing footprint including plants in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, Mexico, and Colombia. Their expansion strategy has been defined by high-profile acquisitions, such as the UK-based John Dickinson Stationery (2005) and the global Pelikan Group (2023). The company is famously known for its flagship brand, Oxford, which pioneered digitized note-taking with the SCRIBZEE app, and for being the first notebook manufacturer to receive the EU Ecolabel for its commitment to sustainability. As of 2026, the Hamelin Group remains a privately held, family-owned entity headquartered in Normandy, France.