Earthquake strikes Oettinger's headquarters in Braunschweig, impacting numerous employees.
In a surprising turn of events, the 150-year-old Oettinger Brewery has announced its decision to close its operations in Braunschweig, a move that will result in the loss of around 150 jobs [2][3]. This decision signifies a facility closure rather than a simple geographic move, as the site has been a fixture of the local industry for years.
The brewery's CEO, Stefan Blaschak, attributes the decision to a combination of factors. These include declining utilization of the facilities, rising costs, changing consumer behavior, and the need to adapt to market conditions "planned and self-determined" [2][3].
Blaschak has expressed his desire for a smooth transition phase, with the aim of relocating significant parts of the production to Oettingen and Mönchengladbach [2][3]. To facilitate this, a transfer company will be established to provide temporary employment for career reorientation.
However, the ongoing wage negotiations with the union NGG (Nutrition, Hospitality, Catering) have been challenging. Blaschak has criticized the NGG's exorbitant wage demands and aggressive negotiating tactics, calling for strikes and refusing overtime through works councils as unrealistic and harmful to the company [2][3].
Despite these challenges, Blaschak emphasizes that Oettinger, a beverage manufacturer, aims to transform from a traditional brewery to an innovative beverage company as part of a comprehensive efficiency program [2][3]. The company's goal is to adapt to market conditions and remain profitable.
The facilities in Braunschweig require a comprehensive overhaul, and only parts of logistics and materials management will remain in the city after the relocation [2][3]. The decision to relocate parts of Oettinger's production away from Braunschweig remains a heavy blow for the city.
It's worth noting that despite overall declining sales, Oettinger is finally profitable, according to Blaschak [2][3]. The affected employees in Braunschweig will be transferred to the transfer company, subject to the approval of the works council.
This news marks a significant change for Oettinger and the city of Braunschweig, as the company plans to largely cease production at its Lower Saxony site by spring 2026 [2][3].
The brewery's CEO, Stefan Blaschak, is seeking to adapt Oettinger, a beverage manufacturer, from a traditional brewery to an innovative beverage company within a comprehensive efficiency program, a move that involves finance and business strategies to remain profitable in the ever-changing manufacturing industry. The upcoming closure of Oettinger's operations in Braunschweig, despite its 150-year history, may require some of the employees to reorient their careers in other sectors of the industry due to the establishment of a transfer company.
