Osnabrück, October 18, 2023
Wellmann bakery joins the Panarium Group
The Panarium Group, which already owns successful local artisan bakeries in the Bielefeld, Münster and Paderborn regions, among others, acquires a majority stake in Bäckerei Wellmann. Wellmann is a traditional artisan bakery with 25 locations in Osnabrück. This alliance marks a significant step towards securing the long-term life’s work of Johannes and Natalie Külkens, who have successfully built up and jointly manage the family business in the 3rd generation.
Johannes Külkens will remain on board as Managing Director until further notice and actively support the business handover. In addition, Mr. Külkens will permanently support the Wellmann bakery and the entire Panarium Group as a co-partner and member of the advisory board.
“We are delighted that Bäckerei Wellmann is becoming part of a strong regional network. We have known and valued our new partner companies for many years and look forward to exchanging ideas with our colleagues. I am convinced that this is the right step to secure Wellmann’s successful future as a quality artisan bakery,” says Johannes Külkens.
Nothing will change for employees. All jobs will of course be retained, and additional growth investments in new stores and an expansion of production are planned. “Nothing will change for our customers as a result of the company succession either,” emphasized Johannes Külkens. “The proven team and the usual quality will remain. On the contrary, there are plans to open more locations.”
“Bäckerei Wellmann is a very healthy, debt-free company with 300 committed employees, wonderful products and great growth potential,” says Barbara Zeyß, Managing Partner of the Panarium Group.
With Essmann’s Backstube and Lechtermann-Pollmeier, the leading bakeries in Münster and Bielefeld are already part of the Panarium Group – Wellmann, as the market leader in Osnabrück, perfectly complements the geographical focus in the region.
Panarium’s strategy is to invest in successful, regional quality bakers that have a well-known brand, high product quality, long-term growth potential and a solid economic foundation. The companies remain independent within the Group and retain their unique identity. At the same time, they benefit from a strong network and exchange with each other (e.g. on topics relating to digitalization, employee development or purchasing).
About Auctus
With over 400 investments in the last 23 years, AUCTUS is the most active investment company for European SMEs. Our investments focus on majority shareholdings in companies with annual sales of between EUR 10 million and EUR 150 million.
AUCTUS stands for sustainable organic growth, but also inorganic growth through acquisitions. We achieve this in a trusting partnership together with the management of our companies. We specialize in building successful medium-sized groups of companies - we make market leaders. The more than 35 experienced AUCTUS investment experts currently manage 50 platform investments from various sectors of the economy. The platform holdings, with a total of over 200 individual companies, generate annual sales of € 3 billion. Sales and earnings have been growing at >10% per year for years.
Our successful work is regularly rewarded with prestigious awards and top international rankings.
