Entrepreneur Hans Wedel is honored for his life’s work by the Bavarian „Founder’s Prize“.

Whether rose hips, peppermint or lavender – from the very beginning Hans Wedel has had the right “nose” for the herb business. Just recently, his life’s work has earned him the honor of the Bavarian “Founder’s Prize” in the category “Life’s Work” awarded by the Bavarian “Sparkassenverband” (Savings Bank association).

Whether rose hips, peppermint or lavender – from the very beginning Hans Wedel has had the right “nose” for the herb business. Just recently, his life’s work has earned him the honor of the Bavarian “Founder’s Prize” in the category “Life’s Work” awarded by the Bavarian “Sparkassenverband” (Savings Bank association).

Vestenbergsgreuth/Nürnberg – Theo Harnischmacher, Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Bavarian "Landesbank" congratulated Hans Wedel at the official award ceremony for the "Life’s Work" category held on June 2, at the Trade Fair Center in Nürnberg. In his speech, Mr. Harnischmacher honored the senior Manager – describing him as a dedicated, responsible and visionary businessman. In the "kingly discipline of doing business", Mr. Harnischmacher went on to say, Hans Wedel, as a businessman from the district of Franken, in Bavaria, lived out his sense of responsibility for his employees and for the region by making the development of the herbal business of the Martin Bauer company into his life’s work. Hans Wedel accepted the prize in the company of his sons and current General Managers, Martin and Adolf Wedel.

Following is the speech that Theo Harnischmacher gave in honor of Hans Wedel as he awarded him the Bavarian “Founder’s Prize” in the “Life’s Work” category:

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

We draw to the close of an exciting award ceremony with many winners. Nearly all prizes have been awarded and the happy winners honored. What is still lacking is the winner in the "kingly discipline of doing business".

We now come to the Bavarian "Founder’s Prize" award in the category "Life’s Work". The decisive difference between this and the other categories is that in the area of "Life’s Work", we not only honor business achievements, but also primarily the person, the businessman himself is awarded.

We celebrate a life’s work – the life’s work of Hans Wedel from Vestenbergsgreuth. Dear Mr. Wedel, lets take a brief look into your past:

You have been in the herb business for more than 50 years and over that half a century have built a reputation as a solid businessman with a global perspective. A look back over your business activities is a look back over 75 years of the history of the Martin Bauer Company. A history that has had a decisive impact on the location of Vestenbergsgreuth and on the leading market position that this herb and fruit tea producer now enjoys.

In the personal letter you received from Ministerpresident Edmund Stoiber in 1999 as he awarded you the "Bundesverdienstkreuz First Class", he states that you "lead the company with dedication and competence from its smallest beginnings to its current uncontested number 1 position in the world in the area of herbal teas".

It is a credit to your personal integrity and humility that you did not broadcast that to enhance your personal stature. Your accomplishments are none-the-less impressive. Over the last 50 years, you have turned the company founded by your father-in-law, Martin Bauer, into an impressive success story. Under your leadership, the Martin Bauer Company has grown to be a worldwide active network of 20 companies employing about 2,200 individuals. In addition, you did not miss the right moment to gradually withdraw from the day-to-day business activities and make arrangements for the company to continue to be managed along the lines you laid down. Besides your two sons, Martin and Adolf Wedel, the management team also includes your nephew Helmut Hack and Albert Ferstl.

Even though your life’s motto has been o prize without hard work", you have developed a passion outside of the company as well – soccer. The Vestenbergsgreuth sport club, which you support, was founded in 1974. With its soccer team Greuther Fürth in the second national league, it provides many other club members the opportunity to share emotional highs and lows similar to those experienced in running a business. Moments of joy, disappointment, security and unshakable faith in one’s own strengths provide for the occasional emotional whirlwind. But in contrast to a soccer fan, a businessman cannot vent his feelings and emotions on the market place. That is not and has never been your way of doing things, Mr. Wedel. Your integrity and humility as well as your social involvement and the exemplary responsibility you showed for your employees and this region make you a worthy recipient of this "Life’s Work 2005" award.

Dear Mr. Hans Wedel, we all heartily congratulate you for winning the Bavarian "Founder’s Prize 2005" in the category "Life’s Work".

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