Arko (brand name)
| arko GmbH
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|---|---|
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| legal form | Company with limited liability |
| founding | 1948 |
| Seat | Wahlstedt , Schleswig-Holstein , Germany |
| management | Patrick G. Weber, Tobias Volgmann |
| Number of employees | 799 employees (2014) |
| sales | 61.7 million euros (2014) |
| Branch | Food and luxury food trade |
| Website | www.arko.de |
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The arko GmbH , founded by the coffee merchant's family Rothfos, sells in more than 230 branches and 3,500 depots in supermarkets and bakeries. Ä. Nationwide coffee and confectionery items such as pralines, truffles, fine chocolates, pastries and confectionery.
history
The arko, the name originated as an abbreviation for working group for the distribution of consumer goods, was founded in 1948 by Cuno Rothfos and his father, the Hamburg coffee dealer Bernhard Rothfos . Both remained managing directors until 1997.
Initially, basic foodstuffs were sold in the markets in the area, later house shops, sales vehicles and finally own sales outlets and branches were set up and the range increasingly switched to specialties. The sales area was initially limited to Schleswig-Holstein, but was later greatly expanded by taking over existing chain stores (in Hamburg, among others, Jansen, Messmer ). With the fall of the Berlin Wall, the company, which until then had been focused on northern Germany, expanded its sales area considerably, with a strong focus on franchises since the early 1990s. Attempts to gain a foothold far outside the sales area were unsuccessfully abandoned at Lake Constance in the mid-1990s. It was only 5 years later that similar expansion plans were unsuccessful, initially in the Ruhr area, and then pursued again abroad from 2005. After failed attempts in Austria and Poland, there are still 4 franchise branches in the Czech Republic.
Several attempts by Cuno Rothfos to leave the company in family hands failed, for example with daughter Anne Rothfos (joint procuration 1994–1995) and son Kristian Rothfos (joint procuration 1994–1996). The family's shares were therefore transferred to the non-profit arko foundation in 1996, on whose board members are also represented. In addition to supporting people in need, the purpose of the foundation is to promote charitable causes and youth welfare. Patrick G. Weber has been the company's managing director since March 2015.
In 2016 Arko bought the 35 Eilles specialty stores from JJ Darboven in southern Germany, which are keeping their names. At the same time, the roasting plant in Wahlstedt was given to Darboven. The tried and tested mixtures should be retained.
On February 12, 2018, RTL Television broadcast an episode Undercover Boss , in which managing director Patrick G. Weber got to know different areas of his company, disguised as an intern. With effect from October 1, 2018, Arko took over competitor Hussel .
Group structure
Until spring 2014, arko was owned by the arko foundation, which holds the former shares of the Rothfos family, and by arko itself (approx. 20% in 2004). Arko-Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, through which individual employees participate in the company, only has a silent participation.
Arko is associated with the following companies (as of 2004):
- arko welfare and support fund GmbH, Wahlstedt (100%)
- Confiserie Künzli GmbH (100%)
- Real estate company Wahlstedt GmbH, Wahlstedt (100%)
- Hugo Jansen Gebr. Jansen OSTINDISCHES-TEEHAUS since 1830 GmbH & Co (100%, deleted 2001)
- Ostindisches Teehaus GmbH (formerly Altonaer specialties), Wahlstedt (100%, deleted 2006)
- Romedio Reichsgraf von Thun-Hohensteinische Weinkellerei GmbH, Zeltingen (85%, of which 10% via trustees)
- Künzli-Produkte AG, Schwyz / Switzerland
In January 2014, Paul Morzynski acquired arko from the Arko Foundation.
Products
The company itself only produces roasted coffee , most of the merchandise is sold under the arko brand. The product groups with the highest sales are pralines, chocolate, pastries and coffee, followed by confectionery and tea.
Attempts to advance into higher and more profitable price segments ultimately failed with the final abandonment of the "Künzli" (Swiss specialties) sales channel, which had not been actively pursued for years. In the mid-1990s, the attempt had already failed. a. to participate in the non-food success of other coffee chain companies with costume jewelery.
After the last coffee bars in numerous branches no longer fit into the sales concept and were dismantled in the mid-1990s, a corresponding concept was developed again a few years later on the occasion of the coffee shop boom, but only implemented in a few branches and abandoned in 2003.
Economic situation
The economic situation has been rather ambivalent since the mid-1990s: From 1995 to 2006 sales fell by around 20%. The number of employees also fell by about this extent (although the number of franchise businesses with their employees increased). The financial resources have been improved: the equity ratio, return on equity and return on sales have increased significantly in the same period.
swell
- Annual financial statements 1996–2011, HRB 22 SE, Kiel District Court
- List of foundations of the State of Schleswig-Holstein (July 15, 2012)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Change in Wahlstedt Arko gets new boss , kn-online , February 1, 2015
- ↑ Hamburger Abendblatt November 2, 2016 p. 6 Arko buys stores from Darboven
- ↑ Undercover Boss: At arko, the master of coffee and cake has to face challenges , RTL.de , February 6, 2018
- ↑ https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/ruhrgebiet/arko-uebernnahm-hussel-100.html
- ↑ Arko boss Weber: "Our saleswomen are like good friends" , Die Welt , 5th December 2015
Coordinates: 53 ° 56 '52.8 " N , 10 ° 11' 24.8" E