Theo Müller
| Theo Müller | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1940 (age 75–76) Aretsried, Germany |
| Residence | Erlenbach, Switzerland |
| Nationality | German |
| Occupation | Sole owner, Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller |
| Net worth | $3.7 billion (February 2015)[1] |
| Children | 9 |
Theo Müller (born 1940) is a German heir and businessman, the head of the dairy company Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller.
Early life
Theo Müller was born in Aretsried, Germany in 1940,[1] the son of Alois Müller.[2]
Career
The Müller company was founded in 1896 by his grandfather Ludwig Müller[2] in Aretsried, Bavaria. In 1938, his father Alois Müller took over.[2] Theo took over in 1971, when the dairy business only had four employees.[2]
Today, apart from the dairy businesses, Theo Müller Group has a packing company (Optipack), logistics (Culina), transportation (Fahrzeugtechnik Aretsried), fruit processing (Muller Naturfarm) and a fish restaurant chain (Nordsee). More recent acquisitions have included companies making chilled salad, sauces and dressings, speciality fish and baked goods.[1]
In 2012, the company purchased Robert Wiseman Dairies, which supplies 30% of the UK's fresh milk market, for £280 million. In November 2014, the company agreed to buy Dairy Crest's milk business for £80 million. Theo Müller commented, "Bringing the two dairy operations together will enhance the merged business's ability to compete and will ensure that customers continue to receive quality products at low prices".[3]
Theo Müller is the sole owner, and as of 2015, Ronald Kers is the new CEO, replacing Heiner Kamps, who retired in 2015.[2] The company now employs more than 20,000 workers.[4]
Personal life
Theo Müller has nine children,[1] seven with his wife Hanna Bittmann, who he divorced in 1995, and two daughters with his partner Ines Hüvel.[5] His eldest son, Stefan Müller, is a board member of Theo Müller Group.[6]
In 1995, Müller survived a kidnapping attempt in which a pistol and electrical-shock equipment was held to his head. He jumped out of the car, and was working again later that afternoon.[7]
He has lived in Erlenbach, near Zurich, Switzerland since 2003.[1] In an interview with Der Spiegel in 2003, Müller explained that he and his children were all moving to Switzerland to avoid having to pay Germany's 30% inheritance tax.[7]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Theo Mueller". Forbes. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Milestones: From village dairy to international food company". Müller Group. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ↑ "Muller buys Dairy Crest dairies, in UK sector mega-merger". Agrimoney. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ↑ "Portrait: From village dairy to international food company". Mueller Group. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ↑ "Müller Milch". Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ↑ "New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Joins PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi To Celebrate Construction Of New Muller Quaker Dairy Yogurt Manufacturing Facility". MullerQuaker. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- 1 2 "I am being expropriated". Der Spiegel. 20 September 2003. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
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