About Us

Hanns G. Werner learned about confectionery production through his father. Together, they worked on the production of chocolate kisses. This sparked the son’s interest in the confectionery industry. Although his father’s Hamburg production was discontinued in the turbulent post-war years, Hanns G. Werner credits his father with demonstrating ‘how a manufacturing business can be established from an idea and entrepreneurial courage, even in challenging times’.

Hanns G. Werner leased the old grain mill on Hafenstraße in Tornesch for 200 Marks; he himself lived as a subtenant for ten Marks. With just one employee and an apprentice, he concentrated on a single main product: small, colored sugar pearls, decorative dragées for the chocolate, bakery, and ice cream industries – nonpareils.

Up to 16 hours a day on their feet – that was the normal ‘daily routine’. However, the hard work paid off: the customer base grew. And when a customer placed the first large order (including an advance payment of 2,000 Marks) with Werner, the lean times appeared to be a thing of the past.

The company grew. Sales increased year by year. However, this steady growth presented its challenges: the production facility was ‘bursting at the seams’. The company premises only gradually achieved their current size through successive acquisitions. Hanns G. Werner GmbH + Co. KG was therefore not ‘built from scratch’; instead, financial capabilities and market demands reasonably dictated its growth.

From 1968 to 2011, fifteen ‘topping-out ceremonies’ were celebrated, and a sixteenth is pending.

Whether craftsmen, construction companies, or architects – they all originate from the region. Consequently, WERNERS FEINE DRAGEES holds economic significance for the community. The production facility, affectionately known as ‘Bontsche-Werner’ in Tornesch, is now surrounded by residential areas. Early on, the management prioritized environmental compatibility. This commitment will continue when the next expansion at an additional site commences next year.

Just as the ‘factory’ underwent structural changes, so did its machinery. What was enthusiastically celebrated as an innovation ‘yesterday’ must be retired ‘today’.

Initially, the focus was on labor simplification, transitioning from manual stacking to palletizing robots. This was followed by production automation. The small kettle was succeeded by the automatic coating machine. These technical ‘revolutions’ also impacted process control and the critically important quality assurance, not to mention the latest generation of IT in administration.

The most valuable asset of a company is its employees. Particularly in light of advancing ‘globalization’, medium-sized businesses depend on the experience and loyalty of their workforce. For management, this naturally entails addressing all issues faced by their indispensable team members and consistently being available as a point of contact.

The Werner company’s provision of local jobs, consideration for the interests of all employees, and readily available personal contact contribute to a pleasant working environment. 150 ‘Werner’s’ (employees) value this.

In the age of globalization, medium-sized businesses are increasingly disappearing. Hanns G. Werner GmbH + Co. KG has been spared this fate. The second generation was actively involved for over 40 years and set the course early on for sustainable and healthy growth. In 2022, the third generation took the helm. The three grandchildren of the company founder share the diverse operational responsibilities in leadership roles.