Last year, Koester and his 32 employees moved into the hall and decided to completely change the new company. He gave an artist the order to spice up the cold rooms and the office and to 'give the company a soul'.
Essence of life
Anyone who sees a wholesale firm like this, would not expect that Koester had to start from scratch. “In the beginning I had no capital at all and could only buy from Hanomag or Hippybus. All the traders laughed and one even said: 'If you go on like this, you will not last long'.” Despite everything, Koester lasted, although he became very ill at the age of 42 and had to have back surgery. “Everything I was doing up till then was suddenly meaningless. It opened my eyes: I do not accept cocky behaviour anymore. The base is simply the essence of life.”
Some 13 years after this disastrous change Koester is still there: relatively healthy and successful. That certainly has to do with his staff, a healthy mix of young and experienced employees. His daughter Sara, for example, is also involved. “Long-established people like me are bound to become more rigid in the long run: that's why I need the feedback from critical, young people.” The hall has various facilities so that its staff can rest. Apart from a relaxation room with a massage apparatus, Koester even has a bedroom installed. “My foreman takes a quick 10-20 minutes nap here every morning to recharge his batteries.”
Watching a movie while working: in the warehouse of the wholesaler it is possible
Service company
The Konrad Koester Fruchtgroßhandel has been present on the Düsseldorf wholesale market since 1988. The wholesaler is a complete service company and offers, in addition to raw produce, ready-to-cook products, processed potatoes and vegetable mixes. Koester’s clientele extends to catering establishments and retail trades in the Ruhr area and Münsterland.
For more information:
Konrad Koester - Fruchtgroßhandel GmbH