Wilh. Werhahn KG Family Business – A name that connects.

Peter Wilhelm Werhahn’s founding of the company marked the beginning of a business history that was broadly diversified from the very start: in addition to the timber trade, the company dealt in agricultural products, basalt, tuff and bricks, guano fertilizer, and cement. Shaped from the outset by the Werhahn family in Neuss, the company was converted into a general partnership after the founder’s death and was jointly managed by his three heirs. In 1977, Werhahn became a limited partnership (KG).

A significant step in development began in 1871 with the establishment of the milling industry. It was during this period that the Werhahn & Nauen oil mill was founded, laying the foundation for future expansion. Just two years later, in 1873, another important milestone was reached with the acquisition of the Nix & Cie flour mill. This company marked the origin of the later baking products division and played a key role in shaping the strategic direction.

By establishing various property management companies, Werhahn expanded his business to include financial and real estate activities—thereby laying the foundation for today’s Haus & Grund branch of Wilh. Werhahn KG.

The founding of Basalt-Actien-Gesellschaft in 1888 marked the beginning of what is now the Natural Stone division—another important milestone in the company’s early diversification.

In 1894, Werhahn began his involvement in the Rhineland lignite industry by founding the Horremer Brikettfabrik, which remained in operation until 1969. At the same time, the company entered the slate production business by acquiring shares in Rathscheck—the origin of today’s Slate division. In 1909, Werhahn finally acquired all of the shares.

In 1904, the Wilh. Werhahn company received official recognition as a banking institution—the starting point for today’s Bankhaus Werhahn.

In 1906, the company entered the Central German lignite industry, thereby further expanding its activities in the energy sector. The acquisition of the Senftenberg coal mines laid the foundation for this venture. After World War II, the mines were seized by the Red Army in 1945 and were ultimately expropriated in 1947 as a result of political developments.

Since 1908, the expansion of the food industry has been systematically pursued. The acquisition of the Schweizerhof dairy in 1908 and the C. Bolle dairy in 1917 laid the first important foundations. In the decades that followed, the business division was further expanded through the acquisition of Georg Schätzlein GmbH in 1929 and Schade & Füllgrabe AG in 1936. Finally, in 1987, the entire food division was sold, marking a strategic realignment of the company.

In the 1920s and 1930s, extensive modernization and restructuring efforts were at the heart of the company’s development. Across all business units, existing structures were adapted, processes were optimized, and the organization was strategically refined to meet the changing economic conditions and strengthen competitiveness in the long term.

In 1945, the collapse resulting from World War II marked a profound turning point in the company’s development. While all business operations in the east came to a standstill due to the loss of the lignite plants and mines as well as the Schade & Füllgrabe grocery stores, Werhahn invested substantial funds in the west to rebuild its existing business divisions, thereby laying the foundation for a renewed economic upswing.

The signing of the first articles of incorporation established an important formal framework for the company’s future development. Another significant strategic step was the acquisition of a majority stake in ZWILLING J.A. Henckels AG, which is considered the birth of today’s Consumer Goods Division. With the acquisition of the remaining shares in 1971, this investment was systematically expanded and fully integrated into the corporate structure.

The acquisition of abc-Bank marked another key milestone in the company’s development. This acquisition laid the foundation for today’s abcfinance division and marked the company’s entry into the financial services sector, which has been continuously expanded ever since.

In 1978, a significant step was taken to strengthen the natural stone division: Wilh. Werhahn KG became the sole owner of Basalt AG. With this complete acquisition, the company was able to further solidify its position in this segment and drive forward its strategic development in a targeted manner.

In 1988, several landmark decisions were made that had a lasting impact on the company’s future development. The acquisition of a majority stake in the milling company Georg Plange GmbH & Co., known for its Diamant Mehl brand, specifically strengthened the company’s position in the milling industry. At the same time, the company acquired AKB Bank, whose highly successful business performance ultimately led to its sale to the Spanish bank Santander Central Hispano in 2002. In addition, the banking business—including the real estate branch—was reorganized and spun off into the newly founded Bankhaus Werhahn KG.

In 1996, the acquisition of a majority stake in DEUTAG marked another strategic step in the Natural Stone business unit. This investment specifically expanded the portfolio to include asphalt production. With the complete acquisition in 2006, DEUTAG ultimately became wholly owned by Werhahn, thereby sustainably strengthening the company’s market position in this segment.

In 2002, the company made a targeted expansion of its building materials operations. Through the purchase of Tendis GmbH & Co. KG and the acquisition of shares in Deutsche Asphalt GmbH—both subsidiaries of Philipp Holzmann AG—the company strengthened its position in this segment and further expanded its expertise in the field of building materials production.

In 2005, another significant step was taken in the expansion of the building materials business with the so-called Schmidt acquisition. By acquiring the construction and building materials division of the Dr. Schmidt Group, the company was able to further strengthen its market position in this sector and expand its service portfolio in a targeted manner.

In 2008, the systematic expansion of the Consumer Goods division was consistently pursued. The Kitchen segment was strategically expanded with the acquisition of cookware manufacturers Staub and Demeyere. At the same time, the Beauty segment grew through the acquisitions of Tweezerman in 2004, alessandro International in 2012, and the Chinese QVS Group in 2013. In addition, the 2007 acquisition of Tondeo, together with Jaguar, established the Hair Salon Supplies division and further rounded out the portfolio in this segment.

In 2010, the abcfinance division began to experience dynamic growth, driven largely by strategic acquisitions. By 2015, a total of ten acquisitions had been completed in the leasing sector and five more in factoring, which significantly strengthened the company’s market position and allowed for a targeted expansion of its service portfolio.

In 2011, the founding of Bank11 marked another milestone in the expansion of financial services. The bank, which specializes in purchase and sales financing for the automotive trade, together with abcfinance, forms today’s Financial Services division. With the acquisition in 2013, this commitment was further consolidated and strategically expanded.

In 2014, the company sold its milling operations, which had previously been consolidated within the Premium Mühlen Group. With this move, Wilh. Werhahn KG largely divested itself of its baking products division and realigned its strategic focus accordingly.

In 2015, the Consumer Goods division was further strengthened through a targeted acquisition. With the acquisition of the Italian company Ballarini, the Kitchen division was able to expand its product range in the strategically important segment of nonstick cookware and further strengthen its market position.

In 2016, the company celebrated its 175th anniversary and, at the same time, gave fresh impetus to its strategic development.

In 2021, the Zwilling Kitchen division entered the growth market for BBQ and outdoor kitchens by further expanding its brand portfolio through the acquisition of Santos Grills and Flammkraft, thereby unlocking additional potential in a dynamic segment.

Also in 2021, a change of ownership took place at United Salon Technologies. As part of this process, Wilh. Werhahn KG divested the hairdressing supplies division—centered on the Jaguar and Tondeo brands—thereby further strategically focusing its portfolio.

In 2023, the slate division was further expanded through the acquisition of Pizarras La Baña. With this new slate quarry in Spain, the company now has three production sites in the slate-producing region of Galicia in northern Spain, thereby strengthening its position in a key European market.

With the acquisition of a majority stake in Grandemar S.A., one of Romania’s leading manufacturers of building materials, the Natural Stone Division has secured access to one of the most economically attractive markets for infrastructure construction in the EU.