Far-sighted action
Founding company
Acting with foresight and taking social aspects into account – this is a principle that the grandchild of the company founder Franz Haniel was already pursuing in order to increase the value of the company and to take on social responsibility.
Success worldwide
Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH is a German family-equity company which has been headquartered in Duisburg-Ruhrort since it was founded in 1756. The 100 per cent family-owned Holding Company manages its diversified portfolio from there and pursues a long-term investment strategy as a value developer. Haniel's portfolio currently consists of five divisions which are responsible for their own operating business and which hold market-leading positions in their fields of expertise: Bekaert Textiles, CWS-boco and ELG (wholly owned investments), TAKKT (majority investment) and METRO GROUP (minority investment).
Driving force in the Ruhr area
In order to increase continually the company value, Haniel has been forward-thinking in its actions from the very start – also in terms of social aspects. Franz Haniel (1779-1868), grandson of the company’s founder, was thus not only a pioneer of industrialisation in the Ruhr area, but also the person who masterminded socially responsible management. As early as the 19th century, his achievements included establishing the first company-owned housing estate for workers and creating a “Support fund for Sick Workers”. Today, the 600-strong Haniel family undertakes a social responsibility, primarily via the Haniel Foundation.
COMMITMENT TO TRADITIONS
How it all began
The birthplace of many forward-thinking ideas was a warehouse for groceries from Holland.
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