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A compelling vision stood at the beginning:
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It all began in the year 1907. Inspired by the idea of offering East Frisian tea blends beyond the borders of East Frisia, Laurens Janssen founded the Ostfriesische Tee Gesellschaft. At the beginning of the Fifties,
a grandson by the name of Laurens Spethmann assumes that task of managing the company with the same deter- mination as his grandfather. Thinking ahead and planning for the future, he transfers the registered seat of the company to the free harbour. Here the "doors to the world" and entrepreneurial success were opened. His wife Marianne supports him with a high level of commitment, and joins him in decisively influencing the development of the enterprise. Together they built up the OTG Ostfriesische Tee Gesellschaft into a successful national and international supplier of teas. During the company’s initial years, the production of
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private-label teas shaped the business, however, by the end of the 1960s OTG took the first steps in the direction of brandname products. Laurens Spethmann followed his intuition creating the MILFORD brand.
In 1988, OTG acquired the traditional East Frisian brand OnnO Behrends, adding the reputed Meßmer brand just two years later. Parallel to this, a second area of activity with health foods began to develop in the 80's, including the brand names Veelmann and HUXOL.
In 1996, the renowned brand SCHNEEKOPPE is acquired and the health foods segment is firmly established as a second main pillar in the structure of the company. Restructuring and expansion have established Laurens Spethmann Holding AG & Co. KG from 1996 as one of the leading players in the sectors of "Tea" and "Healthy Nutrition".
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From 2001, the development of the third main pillar began in the field of cereals, with a 50% participation in Nordgetreide and the establishment of Kornline Vertriebs GmbH. The growing international challenges in the core business of tea have induced the owners of the family-run company to carry out strategic consolidation. As of 1st January 2007, Schneekoppe will is sold, with the brands, SCHNEEKOPPE and VEELMANN. Under the company, Nutrisun GmbH & Co. KG, the sweetener brand HUXOL and private label brands for sweeteners and bars will continue to be sold.
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Establishment of OTG - Ostfriesische Tee Gesellschaft - by Laurens Janssen, a classic
tea trader.
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Laurens Spethmann, the grandson,
takes over and develops the company into a tea packaging company.
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The limited liability company (GmbH) is transformed into a limited partnership (KG).
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Having shaped the business primarily through private label teas, OTG takes the first step into branded products by creating the MILFORD brand.
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First international expansion. Acquired Grosch Tee (Austria) which later became Milford Tee Austria. |
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The HUXOL-Teegesellschaft is acquired. |
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Acquired Veelmann production plant, Bad Salzuflen. Established second division "Health and Nutrition" - the diabetic brand Veelmann and the OTC brand HUXOL.
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The food factory MEDIN, in Faulbach, is acquired.
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Acquired OnnO Behrends Tee GmbH & Co.
(East Frisia).
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Acquired Ludwig Schwarz & Co. (Tea packaging - Buchholz) which later became Milford Tea GmbH.
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Acquired Ed. Meßmer GmbH & Co. (Tea - Frankfurt and Grettstadt).
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The OTG International Warenhandelsgesellschaft mbH, Hittfeld, is established.
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Acquired tea companies PAGÈS S.A. (France) and KEITH SPICER Ltd. (England). The OTG Lager- und Frachtkontor GmbH & Co. KG, Buchholz, is founded.
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Reorganized the group and established the Laurens Spethmann Holding AG & Co. KG
The fourth family generation assumed responsibility. The company ZAO MILFORD, Russia, is established. |
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Share investment in Nordgetreide GmbH & Co. KG, Falkenhagen, production of cereals.
Acquired Tea production of Marvelo, Netherlands.
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Founding of the Kornline Vertriebs GmbH for the marketing and sale of cereals.
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Founding of the Nutrisun GmbH & Co. KG for the marketing and sale of sweeteners and bars.
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