History
SHORT COMPANY HISTORY
On 1st July 1826 the first order of 5 barrels Virginia tobacco was placed for shipment to St. Petersburg, thus being the very beginning of the Achelis activities.
The founder, Johann Achelis, inherited from his grandfather 2000 Taler and the majority of this money was used as basis for his own business.
The trade with St. Petersburg increased steadily. All transactions, however, were mainly done on commission basis, until built-up resources allowed to increase the business on own account to the same extent. The business with Russia pre-dominated still for long, yet the company enlarged their activity as well to supplies to Hamburg, Southern Germany, the Rhine area and to Prague, and especially to the cigar manufacturers around Bremen. Tobacco was bought from the leading importers in Bremen and, of course, on auctions. It was a wholesale trade, which in those days was not done by importers.
In order to be able to supply on short notice, the purchased tobacco has to be stored. For this purpose a warehouse was bought for 7.200 Taler Gold at the Diepenau in spring time 1840.
During summer 1832 a bark was ordered which Achelis shared with 50 %. This bark "Henriette Louise" sailed to Havanna, Trinidad, Kuba and the American East Coast. As most of such ships, "Henriette Louise" took as well emigrants to the United States and tobacco, cotton and other products as common cargo for the return journey. About two decades later, Achelis took over from W. A. Fritze & Co. a half part in the bark "Marie" and in 1864 a further ship was bought in Baltimore, sailing under the name "Laura and Gertrude". At that time, Johann Achelis had already a capital of 125.000 Gold Taler.
Later his two sons were already among the most wealthy merchants in Bremen. On 2nd June, 1892 Johann Christoph Achelis was appointed as Senator by the Bremen Government. His younger brother Friedrich was elected President of the leading shipping line, Norddeutscher Lloyd. In 1912 each of them had assets of about 14 Mio. Mark.
The founder of the company, Johann Achelis, was Consul of Russia, an honour, which his sons took over. Under their management the company developed into the leading German tobacco wholesaler. In addition, substantial import business in wool was transacted. In those days there was hardly any business matter of concern in Bremen, which did not involve at least one of the two brothers. In the meantime the third generation took their position: the two cousins Eduard and Fritz Achelis were at first mainly engaged in the wool business, as the tobacco did remain the domain of their fathers.
The 1st World War passed and as well the inflation period. The fluctuating conditions of business and heavy competition created many problems, which could not be solved without losses.
Eduard Achelis died in 1939. Three years later his cousin, Fritz Achelis, and the Bremen merchant Lambert Leisewitz, decided to change the status of the company into a so-called limited partnership. Lambert Leisewitz acted as personally liable partner. Yet, the bomber raids of the 2nd World War destroyed the joint offices. The warehouse on the Teerhof burnt out completely. Re-activation of the business was difficult, nearly without any prospects.
In 1960, however, the old company had the unique chance for a new prospective future. Dr. Heinz Beutler took over the company Joh. Achelis & Söhne and separated as partner responsible for the export business from the company C. Melchers & Co., Bremen. He took over from them their African subsidiaries in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kampala and Dar es Salaam.
On 1st January, 1961 Achelis started their new activities in modern offices, situated at Tiefer 5. The Melchers subsidiaries in East Africa were reconstructed in independent organisations in accordance with the local laws, thus meeting the different conditions in each country.
The majority shareholding of Joh. Achelis & Söhne, Bremen, in all overseas companies was and is still the close tie with the mother company.
In addition to Achelis (Kenya) Limited in Nairobi and Mombasa, Achelis (Uganda) Limited in Kampala as well as Achelis (Tanganyika) Limited in Dar es Salaam and Arusha, later supplemented by Achelis Motorex (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania) Limited, the Asian activities started and the Achelis (Hong Kong) Limited was founded in 1962. The group of companies was extended further by Achelis (Taiwan) Limited in 1969, and by Achelis Singapore (Pte.) Limited and Achelis (Zambia) Limited in 1976.
Main activity was the supply to the own companies, but as well to other overseas importers with consumer products and spare parts. In course of time it was possible to obtain sole agencies from very important manufacturers in Germany and other European Countries.
Parallel to the development of each country, high class consumer goods and technical products, raw materials and semi-made products were taken up. This made it necessary for the overseas Achelis companies besides their sales activities to concentrate more and more on service and support with spare parts for the important branded products.
In spite of all political and economical difficulties in East Africa, the business developed continuously and Achelis became the leading German trading company in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. In 1980 the activities were extended to Zimbabwe and the Achelis (Zimbabwe) (Private) Limited was founded.
End of 1975 the Joh. Achelis & Söhne Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH was established. Dr. Heinz Beutler and Walter Tiemann, personally liable executives of the company, took over the management. End of 1978 the structure of the company was changed into Joh. Achelis & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG, which carried on the business as from 1st of January, 1979 with Joh. Achelis & Söhne Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH as fully liably partner.
The extension and the future of the activities in East Africa as well as in Asia made it necessary to increase the management manpower. Dr. Jens Peter Breitengross joined the company as additional Managing Director in the GmbH from 1st July, 1980 till 30th June, 1988.
Due to his age, Dr. Heinz Beutler retired from the management and acted from 1st January 1985 till 31st December 1992 as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the company. His son, Michael O. Beutler, joined the company on 1st April, 1990 as additional Managing Director of the Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH. Heinz Buse, for many years Managing Director in our East African organisation and later responsible executive for the technical business in Bremen, was nominated as Managing Director of the company on 1st April, 1990.
Having reached the age of 65, Walter Tiemann retired end of 1992 and took over as from 1st January 1993 the chairmanship of the Advisory Board.
Aiming at further extension and increase of the business, the Kraemer Trading GmbH was bought on 1st May, 1996 and on 1st October of the same year the well known Hamburg export company, Hein-Nebelung-Isensee. All activities of those companies have been concentrated in Bremen and have supported the increasing global orientation within the Achelis group and made it possible to establish the Achelis HNI (South Africa) (Pty.) Limited in Johannesburg. The latter company is geared to purchase goods from local industries for the demands of the Achelis companies and their customers in East Africa, thus playing a key role in the group's operation in the triangle Europe/Asia/Africa.
The intended and planned change of the company into a GmbH could be finalised with effect from1st January 1998.
The majority of the shares is in the hands of persons predominantly active in or on behalf of the company.
Due to sad circumstances Michael O. Beutler died on 23rd March, 1998.
In accordance with his intentions his son was nominated as further Managing Director as from 1st May, 1998, however, he left the company again as at end of 1999. With effect from 1st Nov. 2000 Lothar Denter, Managing Director of the Achelis companies in Kenya, has been appointed as additional Managing Director next to Heinz Buse.
The close co-operation with Carl Zeiss, Aalen for the optical business in East Asia enlarged to such an extent that new companies had to be established: Achelis Optical (Hong Kong) Limited responsible for marketing CZ optical products in the whole of South East Asia including China and Cezet Optical Company Limited for the sales and service in Hong Kong/Macao.
Since many years Achelis Taiwan Co. Limited are most successfully representing the Carl Zeiss optical products in Taiwan and have the regional responsibility for all Achelis activities in the Far East.
Achelis (Hong Kong) Limited has concentrated on export business of Chinese products to U.S.A. and Europe.
Today 14 Achelis companies in Eastern and Southern Africa, South East Asia and China are handling successfully the business of the group in over 20 countries. Achelis owns offices, workshops and company houses at various places, strengthening the position of the companies.
After 40 years of residence at Tiefer 5 and Stavendamm 22 in Bremen, close to the well known Schnoorviertel, and when the last 20 years' lease agreement expired on 1st December 2000, the company moved into new, most modern offices in the Airport City Center (ACC), very close to the Bremen airport.
With effect from 8th Jul. 2002 Michael Ruch, Managing Director of the Achelis companies in Tanzania, has been appointed as additional Managing Director.
