Founding of the Bakery
Julius Trockels establishes a bakery on Osthofenstraße in Soest. With his famous milk wafer cakes, he becomes known as a “master baker” in the Soest Börde region.
GENERATION CHANGE AND EXPANSION
Julius Trockels hands over the bakery to his son Wilhelm, who also has a hand for fine confectionery. His speciality is plum cake.
DESTRUCION IN THE 2nd WORLD WAR
During the Second World War, the Trockels' home and shop are completely destroyed. Wilhelm's son Günter, who would one day follow in his parents' footsteps, begins his apprenticeship as a baker in Hamm.
RESTART AND MOBILE SALES STRATEGIE
Günter Trockels returns to Soest as a young master baker and starts selling bread from his bicycle. He soon needs a motorised tricycle to be able to deliver to his growing customer base on time. In his glory days, Trockels supplies 80 supermarket, kiosks, bakeries and families.
EXPANSION OF PRODUCTION
Günter Trockels expands his range to include sand cakes and Milk- Eisercakes based on his grandfather Julius' recipe, which he produces himself. Trockels soon employs 50 people and supplies the whole of North Rhine-Westphalia and parts of northern Germany.
REONSTRUCTION OF THE FAMILY BUISNESS
Günter is able to move back to Osthofenstraße with his wife Ursula. On the destroyed property in 1944, a new shop with adjoining living quarters is built. The children are born here: Hans-Günter (1958), Thomas (1961), Uwe (1963) and Karin (1969).
BEGGINING OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
An automatic waffelsrolls machine is purchased, a first step towards growth - but when it comes to quality, Günter Trockels remains old-fashioned: he firmly rejects the new trend of using water instead of expensive milk in the production process
Construction of modern production hall
Due to the constant expansion of the product range, the company needs to be restructured: Günter Trockels takes the plunge and builds a modern commercial building equipped with the latest technology on Coesterweg in Soest. He still personally takes care of the distribution of his products.
Internationalization
As early as 1975, Günter Trockels ventured abroad and was soon supplying Italy, France and the Netherlands. In 1979, the name KuchenMeister was invented and became established worldwide.
Pioneering work in East Germany
KuchenMeister is the first company in the industry to start production in East Germany before the monetary union on July 1, 1990! In just eight days, the plant for the production of pound cake in Soest is dismantled and rebuilt in Berlin.
Transition to the 3rd generation
The three brothers take over the company: Hans-Günter becomes the operational Managing Director, Thomas is responsible for Finance & Controlling as an authorized signatory and Uwe is responsible for purchasing raw materials, product development and quality assurance.
Market leader through product innovation
Brilliantly delicious: Hans-Günter Trockels enhances the popular croissants with a nut-nougat filling. This idea made KuchenMeister the market leader in this segment. Out of more than 30 applicants, KuchenMeister is also selected to produce special cake bars with a moist filling. The necessary production facility is planned, built, and commissioned in just three months.
Strategic Expansion
With the acquisition of the Duingen and Mettingen production facilities from "Lady Cake feine Kuchen GmbH," the company gains seven additional production lines. KuchenMeister continues its course of expansion by taking over several production sites from "Kamps AG."
125th Company Anniversary
The 125th company anniversary is celebrated in grand style over three days, with many guests and customers from both Germany and abroad.
Sustainability as a Corporate Strategy
In 2012, KuchenMeister becomes one of the first food-producing companies to receive the “Sustainable Economy Food” certificate. The Centre for Sustainable Corporate Leadership at the University of Witten-Herdecke (ZNU), in close cooperation with TÜV Rheinland, developed a sustainability standard specifically for the food industry. This standard takes into account various aspects including corporate and product levels, climate and energy, resource management, animal welfare, and many other process-related areas. KuchenMeister is one of the pilot companies for the certifiable ZNU sustainability standard. Zentrum für Nachhaltige Unternehmensführung der Universität Witten-Herdecke (ZNU) hat in enger Zusammenarbeit mit dem TÜV Rheinland einen Nachhaltigkeitsstandard für die Foodbranche entwickelt. Hierbei werden u. a. die Unternehmens- und Produktebene, Klima und Energie, der Umgang mit Ressourcen, das Tierwohl und eine Vielzahl weiterer Prozessebenen berücksichtigt. Kuchenmeister ist eines der Pilotunternehmen für den zertifizierbaren ZNU-Nachhaltigkeits-Standard.
Modernization of Logistics
In 2014, KuchenMeister builds a new logistics center as the existing storage capacities are no longer sufficient. The new facility is not constructed "on a greenfield site," but rather on a former industrial area. Ecological criteria play an important role in the construction process. Covering 10,000 m², the center offers 12,400 rack storage spaces and 1,100 floor storage spaces. A total of 48 warehouse workers are employed, along with 10 administrative staff.
Focus on Sustainability
KuchenMeister sets important milestones on its path toward climate-neutral sites: LNG and CNG gas are introduced, the vehicle fleet is expanded exclusively with electric and hybrid vehicles, and the company’s first carbon footprint is compiled. This makes us a pioneer in the field of sustainability for many companies and industries.
Expansion of Production
The new production hall on the grounds of the logistics center in Soest is inaugurated, setting new standards for sustainable construction: enhanced roof insulation, ISO-rock concrete walls, triple-glazed windows, heat recovery systems, a combined heat and power plant, ventilation systems with 100% fresh air, energy from photovoltaic systems, the recycling of 21,000 tons of stone, and energy-saving LED lighting are just a few of the many climate-friendly features.
Company Merger
The subsidiary “Audrey Cake GmbH,” based in Thüle/Salzkotten, merges with KuchenMeister GmbH.
As a result of the merger, the Thüle location becomes an operating site of KuchenMeister GmbH.
What Sets Us Apart
With passion, pride, innovative technology, and the courage to take action, we produce high-quality baked goods that create special moments in people’s everyday lives.
As Germany’s leading baked goods manufacturer, we set new standards—making us the first choice for premium baked products.
Innovation
We Love New Ideas! Innovation is our drive, and we are looking for creative minds who, with fresh ideas and the courage to change, help shape our future. With us, you'll find a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and continuous development. By daring to challenge conventions and explore new paths, we create innovations that not only have a lasting impact on the industry but also help strengthen our position as an industry leader.
Team Spirit
Success is Teamwork for Us! We rely on an open, supportive environment where everyone can contribute. At KuchenMeister, you can expect an inspiring workplace, targeted team development, and true collaboration—so we can grow together, overcome challenges, and celebrate successes. We are a strong team that achieves its goals with passion and unity!
Respect
Respectful Interaction is a Given for Us We live a culture of recognition, fairness, and openness, where everyone feels valued and heard. Diversity is our strength, and we are committed to creating a work environment where you can thrive. At KuchenMeister, you are more than just an employee—you are a valued part of our team!
Family Business
For over 140 years, KuchenMeister has stood for quality, craftsmanship, and true enjoyment. As a family business in its fourth generation, we combine tradition with innovation—and the fifth generation of the founding family is already part of our team.
Our roots are in Soest, but our baked goods delight people far beyond the region. With great passion and a clear vision for the future, we continue to lead our company from generation to generation—always with the goal of offering our customers the finest sweet specialties.
For us, tradition doesn’t mean stagnation, but the perfect blend of experience, responsibility, and new ideas.
Sustainable Treat
Responsibility with Heart
At KuchenMeister, enjoyment and responsibility go hand in hand. We know that our sweet baked goods bring joy, and at the same time, we are committed to promoting a conscious and balanced lifestyle. Through our donation and sponsorship program, we support sports clubs, educational institutions, and young talents in our region. In this way, we help to bring movement and enjoyment into harmony and contribute to creating a healthy future for the next generation. For us, sustainable enjoyment means more than just great taste—it means taking responsibility for people and the community.