History
Company History of F.L. Michaelis
In a letter dated January 1, merchant Franz Ludwig Michaelis announced the founding of the company F.L. Michaelis as an agency and commission business. In addition to several now-defunct firms in Hamburg, London, and Vera Cruz, he also named the Bremen-based company Heinr. Rüppel & Sohn as a reference. The first office was located at Schlachte 27. The company was officially registered in the commercial register on January 4, 1875, a date still recognized today as the official founding day. A banking relationship was soon established with what remains today the company’s principal bank, Carl F. Plump & Co.
Franz Ludwig Michaelis—uncle of the future short-term Chancellor of the German Empire and Prime Minister of Prussia, Georg Michaelis—had spent many years in Latin America prior to founding the company. In the first decades following its founding, the company focused primarily on maritime shipping agencies.
In 1897, Conrad Dietrich Rudolf Hohn, grandfather of the current owners, joined the company as an authorized officer (Prokurist) and became a partner in 1903. After the death of the founder in 1919, he continued running the business as sole proprietor. As foreign shipping line representations expanded rapidly following the end of World War I, the company established a branch office in Bremerhaven in 1921. At that time, F.L. Michaelis represented several prestigious shipping lines, including the renowned British Royal Mail Lines.
In 1930, Conrad Rudolf Hohn—Guatemalan Consul since 1909 and the senior consul (Doyen) of the consular corps in Bremen—brought his eldest son, Conrad Henry Hohn, into the company as a partner. In 1936, his second son, Wilhelm Ludwig Hohn, also became a partner after returning from many years working on a coffee plantation in Haiti.
While the senior Hohn remained focused on the agency side of the business, his two sons developed the commodity trade. Until the outbreak of the Second World War, the trade in raw coffee and tea was continually expanded, and by then, the company had established a loyal customer base across the former German Empire.
When the outbreak of WWII abruptly halted both the import trade and shipping line representations, the company managed—despite numerous hardships—to continue operations by shifting its focus to the trade of food substitutes. In the chaos of 1944, the company’s offices on Langenstrasse were completely destroyed by fire. Nevertheless, the business continued under the most difficult conditions with a few determined employees from a suburban location in Bremen until the war’s end.
Immediately after the war, the company resumed production, packaging, and trade of substitute teas and plant-based products from a hall in a tavern on Kirchbachstraße. The work process for up to 20 female packers was regularly interrupted due to power outages and lack of daylight. During this time, the company produced a powdered fizzy drink that became very popular among children. Older residents of Bremen will remember the product, known as Brausejunge, colored with strong dyes. The first delivery vehicle was a bicycle with an auxiliary motor and a small trailer.
In 1946, at the age of 80, Consul Hohn passed away, and the agency business was discontinued.
By late 1948, it became possible to resume the company’s traditional import trade in raw coffee and tea, and from then on, the business focused entirely on this area.
In 1963, Conrad Henry Hohn passed away, and his son, Henry Rudolf Hohn, joined the company as a partner. Around this time, the import business was further expanded to include canned fruit and vegetables from overseas. However, this sector was discontinued in the early 1990s due to increasing consolidation in the food trade.
In 1991, Wilhelm Ludwig Hohn passed away at the age of 84. He remained active in the company until the end. His son, Bernd Hohn, who had already joined the company ten years earlier, became a partner after his father’s death. In 2007, Mr. Matthias Schülke joined the company and became managing partner in 2009. He succeeded the long-time authorized officer Peter Fischmann as head of the coffee division and later also took over from Mr. Henry Hohn as partner and managing director. Both men were honorably retired after more than 46 years of dedicated service. Mr. Henry Hohn continues to support the company in an advisory role.
2009–2022: Strategic Development and New Impulses
Between 2009 and 2022, F.L. Michaelis underwent a significant phase of transformation. Under the management of Matthias Schülke and Bernd Hohn, the company initiated several key projects that strengthened the business sustainably and positioned it for the future.
A special focus was placed on the development and implementation of new projects in both coffee and tea. These included the introduction of selected specialty coffees from smallholder farms and the expansion of the tea assortment to include rare and functional varieties. Close cooperation with producers on the ground and regular origin visits allowed for targeted diversification of the product range while steadily improving quality.
At the same time, F.L. Michaelis became increasingly involved in social projects in origin countries—supporting local educational initiatives, women’s cooperatives, and sustainable infrastructure efforts in selected growing regions. These initiatives reflect the company’s values-driven philosophy and commitment to responsibility beyond trade.
The development of long-term customer relationships was also a strategic priority. Personalized service, close communication, and reliability formed the foundation for deepening existing relationships and establishing new partnerships—both within Germany and across neighboring European countries.
Change and Continuity: Looking Ahead
In 2022, the company suffered a major loss: long-time managing partner Matthias Schülke passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. Expressions of sympathy from customers and suppliers were many, reflecting the great respect Mr. Schülke had earned well beyond Bremen. He had shaped the company with foresight, dedication, and humanity.
Despite this loss, the company was able to maintain continuity. That same year, Mareike Hohn, daughter of Bernd Hohn, joined the company. Representing the next generation, she brings fresh energy, new ideas, and a modern perspective to the firm. With a strong sense of quality, sustainability, and entrepreneurial responsibility, she is setting important new impulses—including the deeper integration of digital sales channels, the expansion of sustainable supply chains, and the establishment of long-term partnerships with producers in origin countries.
2025 – Celebrating 150 Years: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future
In January 2025, F.L. Michaelis celebrates its 150th anniversary. The occasion is not only a look back at an impressive company history, but also a forward-looking moment of renewal. The anniversary celebrations are held under the motto: “Preserving Tradition – Shaping the Future.” They honor all those who, over a century and a half, have laid the foundation for this enduring success.
Personal & Sustainable – “Honoring Our Roots, Embracing New Paths”
150 years of company history bring both obligation and opportunity. In a world shaped by rapid change, it takes firm values and the courage to explore new paths. F.L. Michaelis looks to the future with optimism, seeking to unite the strengths of the past with the demands and opportunities of today.
This includes investments in climate projects in origin countries, long-term direct relationships with coffee farmers, the expansion of the organic segment, and a consistent focus on internal digital transformation.
Customer expectations have also evolved: transparency, provenance, social and ecological responsibility, and quality are now decisive factors. F.L. Michaelis strives not only to meet these expectations but to help shape them—through the support of various social projects in origin countries, modern services, contemporary communication, and products that speak to the spirit of the times.
Current developments—such as the growing trend toward health-conscious nutrition, functional beverages, and natural ingredients—offer exciting new opportunities in the tea and coffee markets. These trends meet a deep-rooted trading tradition at F.L. Michaelis—one that remains committed to evolving with the times.