Das Futterhaus in the mood to party

Company founder Herwig Eggerstedt celebrated his 62nd birthday on 5 May and at the same time stepped down from the operational business. 950 enthusiastic guests partied at Event­location Beach in Hamburg until the early hours with Eggerstedt and his family: the employees at the head office in Elmshorn, the countless franchisees and their staff, the suppliers and other business partners of the company.
It is 32 years since Herwig Eggerstedt and his wife Marion opened the first Das Futterhaus store in Pinneberg, near Hamburg. Now the company runs well over 370 stores across Germany and Austria, making it the second-biggest pet store chain in both countries.
The decision by Herwig Eggerstedt to take a step back from the day-to-day running of the business did not come out of the blue. It was a carefully considered, staged withdrawal, giving the new management team of three enough time to prepare for their future roles. This means that continuity should be ensured at Das Futterhaus. The experienced and canny retailer will continue to be on hand to give advice and support, and as a shareholder Eggerstedt will retain his connection with the family firm.
At the celebration Herwig Eggerstedt exuded the relaxed manner of someone who had "left things in good shape", as he puts it. He enjoyed the evening to the full with his wife Marion, "the strong woman at his side", whose support has been highlighted by many of Eggerstedt's colleagues and friends. There was a mix of good food, good music and touching memories recounted by loyal companions including long-time employees Britta Beste and André Siegel, the founder and former managing director of Trixie, Bonnik Hansen, two of the first franchisees, Daniel Friedl and Irene Nagel, and many others during the magical evening. The guests witnessed a memorable highlight of the pet supplies sector that will stay with them for a long time.

Just a week later, the historic walls of Oberkapfenberg Castle in Styria formed the stylish backdrop to the festivities marking ten years of Das Futterhaus in Austria. Managing director Norbert Steinwidder had invited friends, business partners and associates to mark the anniversary with him. "We are proud to be a strong number 2," declared the entrepreneur in his welcome address to the guests, adding that he had found both a home and a family in Das Futterhaus.