Status: 08.02.2022 5:21 p.m
With dm, Götz Werner founded one of the leading drugstore chains – now he has died at the age of 78. Werner was a supporter of the unconditional basic income – for which he campaigned vehemently.
The founder of the drugstore chain dm, Götz Werner, is dead. He died today at the age of 78, the company announced. His family said his strength had steadily declined over the past few months. The chairman of the board, Christoph Werner, said his father passed away peacefully.
Druggist from the start
Götz Werner was born on February 5, 1944 in Heidelberg. He completed an apprenticeship as a druggist in Constance and, after completing his training, first went to his father’s drugstore Werner. In 1973 he founded his first dm drugstore.
With dm, the German youth rowing champion created a drugstore chain that is now active in 14 European countries. More than 66,000 people work for dm. According to the company, sales amounted to 12.3 billion euros.
“His vision of framework conditions that enable people to get involved in the company and to find their individual, self-determined path in life gave direction and power to his urge to innovate,” the company explained.
Unconditional basic income
Since the early 1990s and – even more so after he left the company in 2008 – Werner has dedicated himself to the project of an unconditional basic income. He promoted the idea in lectures and contributions to discussions. Werner saw this as an important social contribution to give people the freedom to take their own initiative and participate in the life of free civil society, even in times of increasing globalization, digitization and automation.
“He was always aware that he would not live to see the completion of this idea,” says the statement about his death. Nevertheless, he committed himself to it with great energy because he recognized it as right and sensible for himself.
Werner also gained a foothold in the academic world. In May 2005, the University of Karlsruhe commissioned him to head the Institute for Entrepreneurship and awarded him the title of professor.