Saying farewell to "Boss" Hans Wedel

The life’s path of a great business personage has come to an end. The 76-year-old senior boss of the group of companies passed away on February 20, 2006, after a long struggle with illness.

"Hans Wedel was first class, both professionally and as a person. He always exemplified for us the opposite of a cold manager," was how the Bavarian Interior Minister, Dr. Günther Beckstein, honoured the character of Hans Wedel in the eulogy he delivered at the funeral in Vestenbergsgreuth on February 23, 2006.

2As an entrepreneur without elbows,“ the exceptional businessman, Hans Wedel, earned a place in the hearts of his business friends. He was often at the centre of public interest and accounts of the business and socio-political milestones of his career were given.

Drive and a down-to-earth quality characterised the life of Hans Wedel, businessman. Since his marriage to Sofie Bauer in 1952, he worked with his heart and soul in the herb business and over the course of a half-century, he had established a reputation as a down-to-earth, but globally-thinking businessman.

In his entrepreneurial activity spanning over 50 years, he created a global corporation in the tea industry out of the small peppermint trade of his father-in-law, company founder, Martin Bauer. Vision and bold business decisions always defined his actions. In this way he laid the foundation for success with his far-sighted raw materials policy in the 1950s. He invested a lot of time taking tours through the Balkans and behind the iron curtain, in order to expand the assortment of herbs and the offering of fine-cut herbs. From those first business contacts close friendships evolved and still today, the multifaceted relationships of the Martin Bauer Company in Eastern Europe bear the imprint of social responsibility.

Hans Wedel was first and foremost a responsible businessman, and thus, the maxim of his actions was always: "One should see his partner – and still be able to look him in the eye after the deal." In 1997, the Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft (eastern committee of German industry) awarded his dedication with the sponsorship prize for "Outstanding business achievement in Central and Eastern Europe."

Hans Wedel was connected to his home, the Steigerwald, over his lifetime. He worked on many committees of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Nuremberg and stood up for Central Franconia as a business location. In Vestenbergsgreuth, he invested in the site of the family business. Today, Martin Bauer has become a corporate network of 20 companies with 2,000 employees worldwide, the MB-Holding.

Hans Wedel was always a family man. Even early on, he set the course for his sons, Martin and Adolf, to take over responsibility for the company management. Hans Wedel felt very comfortable with his family and at his home. As an honorary citizen of Vestenbergsgreuth, he rendered especially outstanding service to his community.

Until the end of 2005, the 76-year-old senior boss came into the company every day and closely observed the aptness of the business. Hans Wedel leaves behind a large empty space. The family, his friends and business partners as well as the employees of the MB-Holding shall preserve an honour-filled memory of the great person and exemplary businessman.

The Management

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