After more than half a century as Trigema boss, Wolfgang Grupp has handed over company management to his children. What made this controversial entrepreneur so special?
“I was pleased that I was able to work with you so pleasantly for 54 years – in good times and in difficult times,” says Wolfgang Grupp as he bids farewell to the Trigema employees. “Very special thanks, I will not forget all these years and decades.” In the end, the previous owner and managing director’s voice breaks. Almost in tears, Grupp hands over the management to his wife Elisabeth, his daughter Bonita and his son Wolfgang junior.
More than a million people have seen the video on YouTube. There is great interest because Wolfgang Grupp is not a conventional managing director – and the textile manufacturer Trigema is not a conventional company.
Made in Baden-Württemberg
Wolfgang Grupp took over the family business in 1969 during difficult times. At that time, the Swabian company was burdened with debts of ten million deutschmarks. With luck, skill and a major order, Grupp ensured the company’s survival and expanded it into the largest German T-shirt manufacturer by 1975. According to Trigema, this is still the case today.
Unlike other clothing and sporting goods manufacturers, Trigema never moved production to countries with low wages and is still committed to Germany as a location. The well-known Trigema chimpanzee should make this clear again and again in television commercials. The company now employs 1,200 people at its three locations in Burladingen, Altshausen and Rangendingen in Baden-Württemberg.
“Men are responsible for the income”
Behind the success is an idiosyncratic corporate philosophy. Wolfgang Grupp was at the top for 54 years and was liable as a registered businessman with his private assets. He led Trigema as the company patriarch, who is said to have reacted to bad news with sometimes choleric outbursts of anger.
And although his wife and daughter have worked in the company for years, Wolfgang Grupp maintains an extremely conservative family image. “Men are responsible for the income, mothers are responsible for the children. But if today women want the jobs and men are supposed to do the housework, then the world has gone wrong,” says the 81-year-old in a podcast.
Wolfgang Grupp with his family. In the future, his son Wolfgang junior and his daughter Bonita will manage Trigema.
Securing jobs as a guiding principle
His appearances on various talk shows are legendary, for example on Maischberger in 2010: “Discussing the minimum wage is a disgrace for us entrepreneurs. Because an employee who works full time for me has to be able to live off it,” said Grupp on the show .
Securing jobs is one of Grupp’s major guidelines. According to the company, there has never been any short-time work or redundancies since it was taken over in 1969. And all children of Trigema employees are guaranteed a training position or job.
The tradition remains
Absolute loyalty to the company and the employees – his children should also live this principle at the top of the company in the future. However, Wolfgang Grupp will not withdraw completely. Even after 54 years, he remains loyal to the company in an advisory capacity.
As he leaves the operational business, he once again looks to the future with good cheer: “Let’s not give up hope that our world might become a little more normal again.” He himself remained true to his world view. He hands the company over to his family, but his son becomes personally liable.