While the Tengelmann Group was founded by Willhelm Schmitz-Scholl, it was the family’s third-generation daughter, Elisabeth Haub, that worked with her brother, Karl Schmitz-Scholl II, to expand Tengelmann into what it is today. Their leadership enabled Elisabeth’s son, Erivan Haub, to take over a successful company in 1969 as the sole managing partner.
Under Erivan Haub, the company rose to new levels of success. Haub began by acquiring several companies that traded in Tengelmann’s foundational goods of coffee and chocolate. He even began to expand the type of goods offered in the stores, including textiles and home improvement products. Haub was also behind the company’s Frog and Turtle label, an environmental and sustainability commitment that was well ahead of its time in the retail industry.
After many successful years at the helm, Haub transferred control of the company to his sons, Karl-Erivan W. Haub and Christian W.E. Haub. The two sons began consolidating the Tengelmann companies under one banner, the Tengelmann Group. They divested their stake in chocolate but maintained their holdings in coffee production and trade. In 2018, the Haub family was rocked when Erivan unexpectedly passed away and Karl-Erivan vanished in a ski accident on the Matterhorn. The company is now led solely by Christian W.E. Haub.
