Hans Imhoff - The chronicle
12.03.22 Hans Imhoff is born in Cologne, the son of a self-employed master locksmith and a banker's daughter.
In 1938, Hans Imhoff begins an apprenticeship as a retail salesman, which he completes some time later with particular success.
In1941, he was drafted into the navy. Two years later, however, he was declared unfit for service due to an eye condition and discharged.
1943 Marriage to Irmgard Lenz
1945 Hans Imhoff receives permission to set up a food wholesale business in Alf an der Mosel.
1948 Hans Imhoff founds the "Teddy" chocolate and praline factory in Bullay an der Mosel. He produced the first post-war chocolates.
In1964, fixed prices for chocolate were abolished. Hans Imhoff's company enters its first serious crisis. To escape this crisis, Hans Imhoff offers the Tobler company the opportunity to produce chocolate under license.
1968 Marriage to Gerburg Klara Imhoff
1969 With the takeover of the traditional Hildebrand company, the Imhoff family buys its first branded product: Scho-ka-kola.
1972 Takeover of the Stollwerck company. With massive restructuring measures, Hans Imhoff brings the ailing company back into the black.
1974 Hans Imhoff acquires the Eszet brand.
1975 Relocation of the production facility to Cologne Porz.
1976 Hans Imhoff buys the sausage chain Heinz Feine Fleisch -und Wurstwaren, Waldbaur from Stuttgart (Katzenzungen, Kernbeißer), the Caesar printing company and founds Larosé Hygiene-Service GmbH, which leases workwear and hotel linen.
1976/77 Hans Imhoff buys Concordia Chemie AG, which is active in the mining and chemicals sectors.
1979 Takeover of Sprengel in Hanover.
1982 Hans Imhoff acquires the Belgian company Chocolaterie Jacques S.A. from Eupen, construction of a chocolate factory for the Swiss company Chocolat Titlis S.A. (Alprose).
In 1983, Hans Imhoff is appointed consul of the country of Togo for NRW. He writes a thesis on various aspects of cocoa consumption, which earns him a doctorate from the University of Bénin in Lomé, the capital of Togo.
In1984, the Israeli food company Koor Foods visited Hans Imhoff with the proposal to jointly establish a chocolate factory in Israel. The background to this was the fact that only one manufacturer was producing chocolate in Israel. Imhoff was responsible for setting up the chocolate factory for the project. One particular challenge was the production of kosher chocolate. The joint venture company Rose of Galilee Chocolate & Candy Industries Ltd (in the city of Safed) was officially opened in November 1986.
1988 Hans Imhoff receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Witten/Herdecke for his entrepreneurial commitment.
1991 After reunification, Hans Imhoff is one of the first entrepreneurs to invest in East Germany. He modernizes a chocolate factory in Saalfeld, Thuringia (Thürina Chocolade, formerly VEB Rotstern). In the following years, Hans Imhoff makes investments in Hungary and Poland. The highlight is the construction of a chocolate factory near Moscow.
1991 Opening of the Center for Therapeutic Riding in Cologne.
1991???? Federal Order of Merit First Class ????
1992 Hans Imhoff is made an honorary citizen of the city of Saalfeld.
1993 Construction and opening of the Chocolate Museum in Cologne. The museum is a complete success and is now one of the most visited museums in Germany with over 690,000 visitors a year.
1994 Order of Merit of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
1997 Grand Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (in the glass corridor)
1998 Takeover of Sarotti
1999 Takeover of Gubor
2001 Hans Imhoff establishes the non-profit Imhoff Foundation, which supports various projects in the fields of art, culture and science in Cologne. The foundation receives an endowment capital of 75 million euros.
2001 In the same year, Hans Imhoff is awarded honorary citizenship of the city of Cologne for his economic, social and cultural commitment.
2002 After more than fifty years of entrepreneurial activity, Hans Imhoff resigns from his position as Chairman of the Supervisory Board for health reasons and retires into private life. The Stollwerck company is sold to the Swiss company Barry Callebaut.
2005 The last production lines at Stollwerck in Porz run until the end of January
2006 The shipping department and the high-bay warehouse at Stollwerck in Porz are closed down
2006 Cooperation in the Chocolate Museum with Lindt & Sprüngli
2007 Lord Mayor Fritz Schramma visits Hans Imhoff at home (protocol exception) and Imhoff signs the Golden Book of the City of Cologne on the occasion of his 85th birthday.
2007 Hans Imhoff passes away on 21.12.2007.
2016 In January 2011, 130 employees are still working in the administration in Cologne Porz. The head office in Cologne was closed. Only 12 of the employees move to Norderstedt.