"We Germans are no good as value providers for the world"
China bashing, Trump grumbling, reservations about Islam: Aachen-based confectionery entrepreneur Hermann Bühlbecker warns that the German economy is being unnecessarily damaged by the rejection of political dissenters. In the ntv podcast "Biz & Beyond", he says: "I think politics and business should go their separate ways for now."
Christmas peace? Not really. Hermann Bühlbecker, owner of the Aachen-based Lambertz Group and world market leader in Christmas cookies, criticizes the economic sanctions currently being discussed against China and other countries. "In political life, there are always friends and foes," says Bühlbecker in the ntv business and success podcast "Biz & Beyond". It is "dangerous to say that I don't supply to China or I don't want any products from there."
And addressed to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock: "I also don't think it's a good idea for a German foreign politician to go around the world telling people everywhere what is good and what is bad," said Bühlbecker. Politics and business should go their separate ways: You won't be able to impose a different world order on people who live according to Islam, he said. "As Germans, we should be careful about walking around the world as value givers, so to speak, because we also have our history," warns Bühlbecker.
Photos with Trump and Putin
Bühlbecker, who has several traditional brands of Printen, gingerbread and stollen in his group of companies, likes to show himself with celebrities - including politicians. Photos also show him with former US President Donald Trump and Russia's head of state Vladimir Putin. Being close to decision-makers from politics and showbiz has been part of his PR strategy for years. Bühlbecker says: "I think it's a shame if you always align your business contacts with political trends. That's not how business works."
Like many other German companies, the Lambertz Group is also suffering from increasing problems. "It is now very difficult to produce in Germany." Many companies are becoming increasingly critical of the location.
Nevertheless, he rejects relocations abroad, for example to the USA. Even if he would benefit from significantly lower energy prices and better framework conditions there. "We live from heritage," says Bühlbecker. If you sell your goods in the USA as European and German products, then you also have to produce in this country. "Otherwise they are basically American products. And that loses a bit of charm for the American consumer."
In the realm of the global food industry, it's important to note that the Aachen-based Lambertz Group, led by Hermann Bühlbecker, maintains a strong presence in the confectionery sector, particularly in the production of Christmas cookies, which are renowned worldwide.
Despite his connections with notable politicians such as former US President Donald Trump and Russia's head of state Vladimir Putin, Bühlbecker advocates for keeping business and politics separate. He believes that aligning business contacts with political trends is not how the food industry should operate.
Moreover, while the Lambertz Group operates in an increasingly challenging environment, Bühlbecker remains committed to producing in Germany, citing the value of heritage and maintaining the authentic European and German identity of their products.
Source: www.ntv.de
