The family business as a life’s work: the dalli group mourns the death of Dr Hermann Wirtz

Suddenly and unexpectedly on the morning of 25 December, Dr Hermann Wirtz, one of the great
great personalities of the German economy died on the morning of 25 December at the age of 79. As Managing Director and shareholder, the Stolberg entrepreneur had personally managed dalli-Werke and Mäurer & Wirtz until the end.
The Advisory Board and Management Board of the dalli group have reacted with great sadness to the news of his death: “At this difficult time, our thoughts are with the Wirtz family
– in deep mourning and sympathy,” says Joachim Rabe, CEO of the dalli group.
Carrying the life’s work of this outstanding entrepreneurial personality from the Rhineland into the future is a central obligation to the deceased; the dalli group is committed to this with the
dalli group with the management teams at dalli-Werke and Mäurer & Wirtz is excellently positioned for this, emphasised the Chairman of the Advisory Board, Prof. Dr Wilhelm Moll.
For some time now, the company has been managed by several managing directors,
This ensures continuity in the management of the company. The succession of shareholders has also been organised and the next generation is already in charge.
Dr Hermann Wirtz joined the Stolberg-based family business in 1974 and had been managing director since 1981. and had been managing the company since 1981 as fourth-generation Managing Director. Among the Dr Wirtz, who holds a doctorate in law, was held in high esteem by the workforce – for many “Dallians” he was both a leader and father figure in equal measure. The
employees were always a matter close to his heart, and he never lost sight of the social aspect. Just a few days ago, with his characteristic humour, he took part in the Christmas party with the staff.
The sadness in the company that the director with a penchant for legendary adventure trips
has shaped for decades. As managing partner, Dr Wirtz always made the family business fit for the future. Under his leadership, the traditional Stolberg soap and detergent producer developed into one of the largest private label manufacturers in Europe – with a wide range of body and household care products, of private labels and own brands. The subsidiary Mäurer & Wirtz was managed by Dr. Hermann Wirtz led the Mäurer & Wirtz subsidiary to success with great entrepreneurial skill – including the acquisition of the global brand “4711”.

His entrepreneurial recipe for success: consistent further development. “The boldest
decision at dalli at the turn of the millennium was to focus on research and development at dalli at the turn of the millennium,” said Dr Wirtz looking back at the celebration of dalli’s 170th birthday in 2015. “We knew that we could only succeed if we show that we are the best. And that’s what we did.”
For him personally, the past few years have been the most exciting of his life professionally
of his life, said Dr Wirtz on this occasion. But that is not just down to him, he emphasised.
he emphasised. “It’s down to the people the good Lord has sent me. I was incredibly lucky
I was incredibly lucky that people stood by my side and continue to stand by my side who
were and are good.” Words that will resonate in Stolberg these days.

The dalli group

The dalli group is a sixth-generation family business with a clear focus on the European private label and brand business. In line with our quality promise, as a medium-sized company we combine tradition, values and social responsibility in our more than 175 years of company history with the demands of a high-performance and future-orientated group of companies. Our portfolio includes a wide range of products in the household and personal care markets.