Trigema boss Wolfgang Grupp is considered the “King of Burladingen”. He has become known nationwide with mantra-like demands for corporate liability on talk shows – and with a monkey in advertising.
For a long time it seemed as if Trigema boss Wolfgang Grupp couldn’t let go. He explains everywhere that only one child should take over the management of the manufacturer of sports and leisure clothing. Grupp doesn’t believe in dual leadership. But now the cat is out of the bag: the 81-year-old sole managing director and owner is handing over management to both children.
His son Wolfgang Grupp Jr. (32) will become a personally liable partner and managing director on January 1, 2024. The daughter Bonita Grupp (34) will become a member of the management at the same time. Both were equal partners, it was said.
Grupp is one of the most colorful German medium-sized companies; its company is located in Burladingen, Swabia, in the Zollernalb district. He became known nationwide through iconic television commercials. In these, a chimpanzee – most recently a digitized animal – advertises its T- and sweatshirts.
The manager always appears perfectly coiffed, neatly dressed in a suit, always with a tie and always with a pocket square. Even at home in front of the television, as he once told the German Press Agency. The family villa – a butler served there for many years – on the 25,000 square meter property with a swimming pool is located in the middle of Burladingen and directly opposite his life’s work.
An old school businessman leaves
Grupp flies to appointments in its own helicopter. “Made in Germany” is a value in itself, believes the conservative group. For the company’s 100th anniversary in 2019, Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) awarded Grupp the Federal Cross of Merit.
Grupp is also known from talk shows in which he rails against irresponsible entrepreneurs and sometimes provokes people with his statements. He is considered an old-school businessman and runs his company in a patriarchal style. He represents conservative views on many points: liability, responsibility, decency – that is his mantra. In a television documentary he was referred to as the “King of Burladingen”. Grupp often criticizes the megalomania of some entrepreneurs and demands personal liability for all bosses: “We need entrepreneurs with responsibility, discipline and role model function again.”
The textile entrepreneur was born on April 4, 1942 in Burladingen. In 1969 he took over the heavily indebted company founded by his grandfather in 1919. With an iron hand, Grupp leads Trigema out of the red and turns the company into Germany’s largest T-shirt and tennis clothing manufacturer. Production sales in 2022 were 127.2 million euros. The number of employees is around 1,160.
Respect and humility
The company will continue to be run as Trigema W. Grupp KG under the two successors. Until now, Grupp Trigema has operated as “eK” (registered merchant). As a registered merchant, he is liable with his private assets. In the new structure, Elisabeth Grupp, who has been married to Wolfgang Grupp senior since 1988, will continue to work in the company as a partner.
Bonita and Wolfgang Grupp Jr. joined the family business in 2013 and 2014. The junior heads the areas of B2B sales and digitalization. Bonita Grupp took over management of the e-commerce, marketing and human resources departments within the company.
His children’s comments about taking over the family business should be balm for the soul of Grupp senior, who is taking a long time to plan a succession: “We look at this opportunity to continue our father’s life’s work with humility and respect,” says Bonita . And group junior. adds: “Our father has shown over decades that it is possible to produce in Germany. We treat this life’s work with the greatest respect.”
Source: Stern
