Edeka Zentrale respective its subsidiary Sonnländer Holding is set to acquire Wilhelmsthaler Mineralbrunnen, based in Calden, North Hessen, effective from January 1, 2024. This agreement was reached between Sonnländer and the previous owner of Wilhelmsthaler Mineralbrunnen, Hassia Mineralquellen in Bad Vilbel, Edeka said in a press statement today.
The entire workforce of the facility will be retained. The bottling operation, established in 1978, will undergo extensive modernization in the coming months, including the installation of new filling systems with a focus on resource efficiency. Both parties have agreed to keep the exact purchase price confidential.
With this acquisition and after buying Siegsdorfer Petrusquelle based in Siegsdorf/Upper Bavaria in April (inside.beer, 16.2.2023) , Sonnländer will operate two mineral springs, significantly increasing its presence in this vital market segment.
"We are excited about the opportunity to incorporate Wilhelmstaler Mineralbrunnen into our group," stated Markus Mosa, CEO of Edeka Zentrale Stiftung & Co. KG. "This move enhances our independence and flexibility, enabling us to ensure the continuous supply of high-quality products at attractive prices to our retailers and consumers."
Dirk Hinkel, Managing Partner of the Hassia Group, said, "Given the current circumstances, we have a responsibility to regularly assess our range of services and carefully consider the economic viability of each location. In this process, we have concluded that Wilhelmsthaler Mineralbrunnen, under the Edeka group, has greater growth potential. At the same time, we feel responsible for the operation and our dedicated employees, to whom we are deeply grateful for their exemplary dedication. Therefore, we sought a strong partner who would successfully continue our bottling operation in line with our values and for the benefit of all our employees. With the Edeka group, we have found the ideal partner."
