Farmer's son and miller Theodor Stadtmann founded a mill 100 years ago, to mill grain. Since then he has supplied coarsely milled grain in the German Bottrop and surrounding towns for small livestock such as pigs an chickens. Stadtmann's company has faced two world wars and the crisis' within the branch.
Nowadays 'Theodor Stadtmann GmbH & Co. KG' trades throughout the whole of Europe and in part of North Africa. The main product is now potatoes, and they also trade in onions. Twenty employees work on the export at the industrial estate. The surrounding wholesalers are also supplied from here. "We wash and sort the potatoes and package them," explains Karl-Heinz Wobbe. Besides Karl Ohligs he is the only shareholder in the company after Hans Stadtmann left the company last year. Hans Stadtmann took over the company in 1945, at the age of 17, after his father died in an air raid on Münsterland. "I had no other option, but I was also very proud to be allowed to help," remembers the now 84 year old.
Nowadays 'Theodor Stadtmann GmbH & Co. KG' trades throughout the whole of Europe and in part of North Africa. The main product is now potatoes, and they also trade in onions. Twenty employees work on the export at the industrial estate. The surrounding wholesalers are also supplied from here. "We wash and sort the potatoes and package them," explains Karl-Heinz Wobbe. Besides Karl Ohligs he is the only shareholder in the company after Hans Stadtmann left the company last year. Hans Stadtmann took over the company in 1945, at the age of 17, after his father died in an air raid on Münsterland. "I had no other option, but I was also very proud to be allowed to help," remembers the now 84 year old.
With his wife Ursula, the families of his sons Dirk and Jens, and 405 invited guests, Hans Stadtmann recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of the company. The couple did not want to receive flowers and gifts. "We asked for a donation to the German child cancer fund in Cologne," says the 83 year old Ursula. "We were happy 12,500 Euro was raised for charity."
Ursula and Hans Stadtmann know that their company is in good hands. Karl-Heinz Wobbe has been the co-owner of the company since 1992 and has intensified the foreign contacts.