The IAW spring fair in March 2020 will be characterized by the momentum of the highly successful 30th event in September 2019. The fact that the IAW has excelled for so many years is due not least to the participation of companies such as the HATEX Group and Osma Werm GmbH, which were among the very first exhibitors and are central to the trade fair today. For that reason we want to let you know the history behind such well-known names.
The HATEX Group was founded in the 1980’s, when Hasan Asan relocated from Turkey to Krefeld, Germany. At that time he could not have imagined that his small export/import textile company “Hasan Textil”, which he had set up in 1977, would expand to 250 employees. The business flourished from the outset, which was why in 1997 Hasan’s son, Burhan Asan, also moved to Krefeld. Together they drew up plans for the future of the company Hasan Textil and thus laid the basis for the company’s long-term success. In 1999 Hasan Textil expanded, taking on another brand, Besteckhaus Schäfer, and thus added household goods to their portfolio. This proved an excellent move, and led to the subsequent acquisition of other product groups and several promising brands. In 2002 the company changed its status from Hasan Textil to HATEX AS GmbH & Co.KG – a company which then became the HATEX Group. In the meantime the company trades in leading brand names such as SCHÄFER, MICHELINO, LENTZ and HOFFMANNS. The HATEX Group has made its name as a leading supplier of consumer goods in several product categories, including kitchen utensils, home accessories and travel goods. A total of more than 4,000 products are now manufactured and sold in Germany and abroad. An important partner to the IAW from day one, the company values the exchange and interaction between retailers, wholesalers and online traders.
Hall 6, Stand C 64
Another historical company with a long-standing link to the IAW is Osma Werm GmbH. The paper product wholesaler was established back in 1931 by businessman Oskar Hans Werm, when the company bore his name before becoming Osma Werm GmbH. The core business initially was in trading paper products and bags, and the owner’s wife, Maria Werm, was the sole employee. During the War the company headquarters in Frankfurt were completely destroyed, however Oskar, Maria and their son (also named Oskar) set about rebuilding the business. In 1969, son Oskar took over the business along with his wife, who shares the name of Maria with his mother. Seven years later, the company was renamed Osma Werm GmbH (Osma = Oskar and Maria). Now in its third generation, it remains a family business run by Oskar junior’s son Frank and daughter Simone Werm, and son-in-law Andreas Ritschel. Osma Werm GmbH ceased trading exclusively in paper products long ago, when cosmetics, drugstore articles and pyrotechnics were added to the portfolio. The product range has since been further extended and now also includes low-cost items in such segments as household, décor, tools, stationery, toys and food. The best-selling products with the highest turnover are in the personal hygiene product segment. In addition to the wide range of branded products, the company boasts an interesting range of private labels such as ‚Elina‘ and ‚Marvita‘.
Osma Werm GmbH is one of the oldest and most successful companies in Germany’s import-export scene. The OSMA-Werm team currently comprises approx. 50 regular staff, who every year supply more than 3,000 customers in over 60 countries. With stand preparations near completion, the company is ready to meet international buyers at the IAW and looks forward to another sales boost generated by the trade fair.
Hall 6, Stand C 50
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