Voelkel (company)

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Voelkel GmbH

logo
legal form GmbH
founding 1936
Seat Höhbeck
management Stefan Voelkel, Jacob Voelkel, Boris Voelkel, Jurek Voelkel, Christian Harder
Number of employees approx. 200 (2017)
sales 61.1 million euros (2016)
Branch Beverage manufacturer
Website Voelkel homepage

The Voelkel GmbH is a company incorporated in 1936 by Mr. and Mrs. Margret and Karl Voelkel winery based in Lower Saxony Hohbeck . It produces fruit juices , vegetable juices , soft drinks , wellness drinks and other beverages in Demeter and organic quality for German and international natural food retailers, health food stores and the catering trade .

Historical development

Prehistory, foundation and development up to the 1980s

Karl Voelkel (1889–1966) and Margret Voelkel (nee Künnecke; 1896–1982), married since 1919, belonged in the years after the First World War to people who worked in a cooperative or joint organization with barren land and old orchards on the Höhbeck in the Farmed near Pevestorf . The couple was shaped by the Wandervogel movement and in the 1920s they oriented their agricultural activities on Rudolf Steiner's ideas on biodynamic agriculture .

In 1936 the couple founded a contract cider company. To this end, they drove to the surrounding villages and made using a mobile press for payment from the fruit of the rural population must , to this then self- pasteurized . A little later, Karl Voelkel bought cider apples from Württemberg , which were processed into commercial cider . The demand for wage or commercial cider rose quickly, so the couple rented the dairy in Pevestorf and converted it into a stationary cider factory; the focus of the company was then on the production of commercial must. During the Second World War , the Voelkel couple employed women from the area, later also prisoners of war , according to their own statements, a man from France and a couple from the Soviet Union . In the spring of 1945, the cider factory suffered damage from advancing allied troops , which, however, was quickly repaired after the end of the war.

The founding couple lost two of their three sons during the war. Only Harm Voelkel survived. In the post-war years he took over the management of the company and, together with his wife Giesela, formed the second generation to expand the company. In 1950 the company joined the Demeter cultivation association . The production of vegetable juices began ten years later. The export business started in 1970 with deliveries to the Netherlands .

The company under the management of Stefan Voelkel

In 1980 Stefan Voelkel, son of Harm and Giesela Voelkel, took over the management. He significantly expanded the product portfolio and increased production. In 1999 the company's own mineral water source went into operation, and one year later the company moved from the former dairy to new production halls. Business in foreign markets also grew, in 2010 Voelkel delivered its goods to almost 30 countries.

Foundations and subsequent years

In order to preserve the company's capital and to ensure ecologically , economically and socially sustainable production in the long term, Stefan Voelkel and his sister Christiane contributed their company shares to two foundations. 90 percent of the shares went into the Voelkel Foundation , which was established in 2011, and the proceeds of this foundation benefit the company. The remaining 10 percent went to the charitable foundation Responsibility for Man and Nature , established in 2012 , which promotes ecological and social initiatives. Stefan Voelkel's adult sons agreed to this process.

In 2013, Elbtalaue Naturkostprodukte GmbH was founded . Conventional grocery retailers are reached through them . It is supported by two foundations, the Elbtalaue Naturkostprodukte Foundation and the Elbtalaue Bioregion Foundation .

In 2016 Voelkel GmbH expanded its production line and built a new production hall. A year later, the company founded a platform for marketing organic products, which is aimed at startups and the food retail sector .

present

Company figures and facts

Voelkel produces around 200 to 220 fruit juices, fruit juice variations, vegetable juices and soft drinks. There are around 1000 articles on the market, due to their own brands , trademarks and labels for export. The company releases around 15 to 20 new products every year.

In the organic food trade, Voelkel has an overall market share of 35 percent with its beverage products, and around 70 percent for vegetable juices. Voelkel products can be found in 95 percent of all organic stores. France , Italy and Denmark are the most important of the 30 or so export countries. 20 percent of the Voelkel brand's revenues are generated abroad.

The total turnover of Voelkel GmbH in 2016 was 61.1 million euros. In 2017, the company employed around 200 people. The tasks of the management are shared by Stefan Voelkel, Jacob Voelkel (since summer 2017) Boris Voelkel, Jurek Voelkel and Christian Harder (all since spring 2019).

Foundations

Voelkel GmbH has been 90 percent owned by the Voelkel Foundation since 2011 . The foundation structure is intended to prevent takeovers by third parties as well as financial burdens from children with inheritance rights. Instead, the capital should be preserved and increased in the long term. The aim of the foundation is the sustainable production of juices, if possible from biodynamically produced natural products. Sustainability is understood here in the ecological, economic and social sense. The charitable foundation Responsibility for Man and Nature holds 10 percent of the shares in Voelkel GmbH. With its income, it promotes ecological and social projects. The foundations' boards of trustees are the brothers Boris, Jacob, David and Jurek Voelkel. Her father, Stefan, is the foundation board member.

Awards

In 2017 the company received the BAUM environmental award . A year later, the company's carrot juice was added to the ranks of Lower Saxony 's culinary ambassadors . 2019 drew Demeter the field Fresh carrot juice from the company as Product of the Year.

engagement

In 2001 the company and Stefan Voelkel were among the initiators of the Lüneburg Orchards Association. The company also supports the resistance against the planned nuclear waste repository and against Castor transports to Gorleben . Voelkel also takes part in the Agricultural Poisons? No thanks! . In the regional area, the company also promotes education (promotion of the Lüchow-Dannenberg Music School), youth work and sport. The seed -Research is supported. In this context, there is a commitment to solid seeds and sustainable and ecological agriculture .

The company's commitment extends beyond the region. Voelkel supports the children's aid organization Plan International , for example , with AIDS prevention in Uganda ; The aid organization missio for international refugee work also received donations .

Others

In the course of the refugee crisis in Europe from 2015 , members of the entrepreneurial family got involved. Stefan Voelkel got an idea of ​​the situation on Lesbos and called on companies to help. Boris Voelkel and his mother Grita helped in a refugee camp in Serbia .

In the council of the municipality Höhbeck Grita Voelkel represents the Greens .

In 2016, the company organized a media-effective crowdfunding or crowdlending campaign . 200 lenders were won in this way.

Voelkel stopped sponsoring the Echo music prize in 2018 . The awarding of the Echo Pop 2018 to Kollegah and Farid Bang in the Hip-Hop / Urban National category was criticized by the company as an appreciation of shameful Holocaust comparisons.

attachment

literature

  • Höhbeck. Memoirs of the settlers Karl and Margret Voelkel . Published by Stefan Voelkel, Höhbeck 2013. ISBN 978-3-926322-55-5 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Rouven Gross: Growth with a sense of proportion . In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung , April 17, 2019.
  2. ↑ a b c Pevestorf was once a “suburb of Berlin” and now has a juice factory . In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung , September 5, 2017.
  3. ↑ a b Voelkel GmbH fruit juices vegetable juices: Annual financial statements for the business year from 01/01/2016 to 12/31/2016 , published on February 9, 2018 in the Federal Gazette .
  4. ↑ Höhbeck. Memoirs of the settlers Karl and Margret Voelkel , p. 41.
  5. ↑ Höhbeck. Memoirs of the settlers Karl and Margret Voelkel , p. 12 and p. 48
  6. ↑ Höhbeck. Memoirs of the settlers Karl and Margret Voelkel , p. 4.
  7. ↑ In detail on this Karl Voelkel: H öhbeck. The realization of a settlement idea for young migrating birds . In: dew. Monthly pages for internalization and self-design . May 1928. Reprinted in Höhbeck. Memoirs of the settlers Karl and Margret Voelkel , pp. 54–72.
  8. ↑ a b c d Lorenz Goslich: "When switching to the next generation, the core business is often forgotten". Interview with Stefan Voelkel, Managing Director, Voelkel GmbH. In: www.unternehmeredition.de. March 4, 2013, accessed February 20, 2019 .
  9. ↑ Höhbeck. Memoirs of the settlers Karl and Margret Voelkel , p. 26.
  10. ↑ Höhbeck. Memoirs of the settlers Karl and Margret Voelkel , pp. 26–30.
  11. ↑ Höhbeck. Memoirs of the settlers Karl and Margret Voelkel , p. 30.
  12. ↑ Höhbeck. Memoirs of the settlers Karl and Margret Voelkel , pp. 34–36.
  13. ↑ Höhbeck. Memoirs of the settlers Karl and Margret Voelkel , pp. 30–33.
  14. ↑ Höhbeck. Memoirs of the settlers Karl and Margret Voelkel , p. 35 f.
  15. ↑ a b c d Voelkel GmbH: Together for sustainable agriculture. Sustainability Report 2017 , p. 14 f. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  16. ↑ Not much felt by the economic crisis. In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung. March 8, 2010, archived from the original on January 30, 2016 ; accessed on February 21, 2019 .
  17. ↑ a b Frederic Spohr: Stable guarantors for life's work . In: Handelsblatt , September 6, 2012.
  18. ↑ a b Interview: "It is a gift to be involved in the company of your great-grandparents" . In: Ökologie & Landbau , No. 168, 4/2013.
  19. ↑ a b Ulrike Lüdke: Succession solution family foundation. There are many good reasons for a family foundation. But anyone who thinks he has made something to last is wrong . In: wir - the magazine for business families , March 15, 2013.
  20. ↑ a b Felicitas Wilke: Bio from home . In: Unternehmeredition , 4/2017.
  21. ↑ a b Naomi Bruhn: “That's how it is when you have juice in your blood”. In: The daily newspaper . August 18, 2018, accessed February 21, 2019 .
  22. ↑ Jens Kemle: Until all eternity . In: Markt und Mittelstand , December 7, 2018.
  23. ↑ Heinz Sielmann Foundation : Company premises close to nature. Experience from planning practice (July 2016). Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  24. ^ Pevestorf: New hall for cool juices at Voelkel . In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung , July 25, 2016.
  25. ↑ Heidrun Krost: Bottled Zeitgeist . In: Lebensmittel Zeitung , March 29, 2018.
  26. ↑ a b Mosterei Voelkel builds a new warehouse in Pevestorf . In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung , April 12, 2018.
  27. ↑ a b Heike Balzer: Natural food juice company now serves food retailers . In: Lebensmittel Zeitung , June 15, 2018.
  28. ^ Voelkel GmbH: Together for sustainable agriculture. Sustainability Report 2017 , p. 8. Retrieved on February 21, 2019.
  29. ^ Katharina Matheis: Gentle Capitalists . In: Wirtschaftswoche , June 1, 2016.
  30. ↑ Katharina Matheis: The organic juice manufacturer's secret of success. In: Wirtschaftswoche (online). July 8, 2016, accessed February 26, 2019 .
  31. ↑ Legal stage victory for Pevestorfer fruit juice manufacturer Voelkel . In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung , September 11, 2018.
  32. ↑ Jacob Voelkel complements the management of Voelkel GmbH with immediate effect . In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung , June 16, 2017.
  33. ^ Business plan of Voelkel GmbH Fruchtsafts Vegetable juices. In: Handelsblatt. December 6, 2016, accessed February 21, 2019 .
  34. ↑ Voelkel receives environmental award . In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung , June 8, 2017.
  35. ↑ Pevestorf: Voelkels carrot juice is now a culinary ambassador . In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung , June 12, 2018
  36. ↑ a b Demeter distinguishes Voelkel . In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung , April 24, 2019.
  37. ↑ a b Kai Spanke: “We want to bring a political message” . In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , April 15, 2019.
  38. ↑ Maintain and preserve old types of fruit . In: Schweriner Volkszeitung , August 14, 2010.
  39. ↑ Ansgar Warner: Long live the orchard meadow. In: Die Tageszeitung , September 19, 2015.
  40. ↑ Jost Maurin: What comes after the Bionade . In: Die Tageszeitung , February 5, 2011.
  41. ↑ Juicy protest in front of the interim storage facility (press release by the Lüchow-Dannenberg citizens' initiative from June 29, 2011) ( Memento from August 4, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ), accessed on February 20, 2019.
  42. ↑ “No Castor” ticker. Without nuclear waste in Wendland. In: The daily newspaper. November 27, 2012, accessed February 21, 2019 .
  43. ↑ Leonie Sontheimer: "Organic entrepreneurs are not dreamers". In: The daily newspaper. February 14, 2018, accessed February 22, 2019 .
  44. ↑ Sponsors. In: www.dan-musik.de. Retrieved on March 1, 2019 (information from the music school about its sponsors).
  45. ^ "Notturno" in the evening. Four EvangCellists are coming to Hitzacker tomorrow, Saturday. In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung. August 12, 2016, accessed March 1, 2019 .
  46. ↑ Boys in Action. Boys' Action Day on May 23, 2014. In: www.jeff-wendland.de. Retrieved March 1, 2019 .
  47. ↑ 75 of the 80 starting places already taken. At the IGAS cycle race around Voelkel there is a strenuous wall. In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung. September 14, 2017, accessed March 1, 2019 .
  48. ↑ "Around Voelkel". “The Wall of Brünkendorf” on Sunday, September 16, 2018. In: www.igaswendland.de/. Retrieved March 1, 2019 .
  49. ↑ M. Fleck, F. Sikora, C. Rohmund, M. Gränzdörffer, P. von Fragstein, J. Heß: Seed-resistant varieties or hybrids - studies on carrots from a cultivation comparison at two organic farming locations. In: German Society for Quality Research (Vegetable Food) eV, c / o Chair of Fruit Growing TUM, 85350 Freising, XXXVII. Lecture conference, Hanover 2002. 2002, accessed on March 1, 2019 .
  50. ↑ Kultursaat celebrates its 20th anniversary. In: salatwerkstatt.de. November 18, 2014, accessed March 1, 2019 .
  51. ↑ Full of juice. The market leader for organic juices is based in Pevestorf in Wendland: Voelkel is continuing the tradition of the company founders. In: Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung . June 11, 2015, accessed March 1, 2019 .
  52. ↑ Voelkel supports Plan International Germany. In: bio-markt.info. May 11, 2013, accessed March 1, 2019 .
  53. ↑ Angelika Blank: Help for self-help: 13,000 euros for refugee projects. In: wendland-net.de. April 22, 2015, accessed March 1, 2019 .
  54. ↑ Angelika Blank: Refugee misery on Lesbos: "Converting pain into action". In: wendland-net.de. September 18, 2015, accessed February 21, 2019 .
  55. ↑ Grita Voelkel from Vietze reports on a one-week aid mission for refugees on the Balkan route . In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung , December 4, 2015.
  56. ^ Thomas Janssen: The Voelkel company wants to grow in Pevestorf . In: Elbe-Jeetzel-Zeitung , December 13, 2018.
  57. ↑ Jost Maurin: Crowdfunding as a PR gag. In: The daily newspaper. December 19, 2016, accessed February 21, 2019 .
  58. ↑ Albrecht Scheuermann: Juice manufacturer Voelkel collects money from small investors . In: Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung , January 2, 2017.
  59. ↑ Anja Müller: Crowdfunding for anthroposophists . In: Handelsblatt , February 15, 2017.
  60. ↑ German press agency : Sponsor Voelkel leaves the Echo music award. In: Süddeutsche Zeitung . April 18, 2018, accessed August 14, 2020 .

Coordinates: 53 ° 3 ′ 21.6 ″  N , 11 ° 27 ′ 12.6 ″  E