Oetker-Gruppe
 |
|
| Limited partnership | |
| Industry | Food processing |
| Founded | 1891 |
| Founder | August Oetker |
| Headquarters | Bielefeld, Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Germany |
| Products | baking powder, pudding, cake mixes, yogurts, frozen pizza |
| Revenue | €10.9 billion |
|
Number of employees
|
30,787 (2015) |
| Website | oetker |
Dr. Oetker is a German company that produces baking powder, cake mixes, yogurts, frozen pizza, pudding, cake decoration, cornflakes and various other products.
Also included in the portfolio are a bank, a publishing company, an insurance outfit, breweries and a number of high-class hotels all over Europe.
The company was founded by Doctor August Oetker in 1891; the first product developed was Backin, a pre-measured amount of baking powder that, when mixed with 500 grams (18 oz) of flour and other ingredients, produced a cake.
Dr. Oetker's son, Rudolf, died in the First World War. However Rudolf, and his wife, Ida, had two children, Rudolf-August and Ursula. Ida Oetker remarried Dr. Richard Kaselowsky, and they subsequently had four more children. Dr. Kaselowsky raised Rudolf-August and Ursula as his own.
During the 1930's and 1940 Rudolf-August Oetker was an active member of the Waffen SS and the Third Reich. Mr Oetker provided pudding mixes and munitions to Nazi troops. It is also reported that the business used slave labour in some of its facilities. A bronze bust Dr Richard Kaselowsky, a prominent Nazi, sits within the company headquarters in Bielefeld.
Rudolf August Oetker, the grandson of Dr. August Oetker, led the company between 1944 and 1981, and during this period it achieved its highest growth. The company expanded its presence internationally, acquiring many companies around the world. When Rudolf Oetker stepped down from his leadership position, the 4th generation of the Oetker family took over from him. The family ownership established the management principle that "The interests of the company have priority over those of the family" (Annual Report Dr. August Oetker KG, 2005).
Dr. August Oetker, the great-grandson of the founder, led the company from 1981 until 2010. Under his tenure it expanded further in all areas, including shipping, food and brewing.
...
Wikipedia