Theo Müller

Theo Müller (born 1940) is a German businessman. He is the head of the dairy company Müller, which was founded by his grandfather.

Theo Müller
Born1940 (age 79–80)
Aretsried, Germany
NationalityGerman
OccupationOwner, Theo Müller Group
Net worth$5.0 billion (May 2020)[1]
Children9

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]

Müller is the sole owner, and as of 2015, Ronald Kers is the CEO, replacing Heiner Kamps, who retired in 2015.[4] The company now employs more than 20,000 workers.[5]

Personal life

Müller has nine children,[1] seven with his wife Hanna Bittmann, whom he divorced in 1995, and two daughters with his partner Ines Hüvel.[6] His eldest son, Stefan Müller, is a board member of Theo Müller Group.[7]

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.[8]

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.[8]

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References
  1. "Forbes profile: Theo Mueller". Forbes. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  2. "Milestones: From village dairy to international food company". Müller Group. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  3. "Muller buys Dairy Crest dairies, in UK sector mega-merger". Agrimoney. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  4. "Ronald Kers new CEO of the Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller". Muller Group. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  5. "Portrait: From village dairy to international food company". Mueller Group. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  6. "Müller Milch". Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  7. "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.
  8. Klaus-Peter Kerbusk; Thomas Tuma (22 September 2003). " 'Ich werde enteignet' " [I am being expropriated]. Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 13 May 2020.

Further reading
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