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History

with tradition

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History

of DIE RÄUCHEREI

Founded in December 1988 by Hans-Joachim and Marion Kunkel, DIE RÄUCHEREI now prepares a wide range of international fish specialities and carefully selected seafood into exquisite delicacies at maximum quality. Based in Klein Meckelsen – a small town centrally located between the two large german cities of Hamburg and Bremen – as a producer of fish products we combine traditional know-how with a unique approach: at a time of ever-changing culinary trends, we place particular focus on developing new fish ideas and implementing those ideas creatively in contemporary products with a high quality and convenience factor.

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Milestones

from 1988 to today
Die Räucherei sign

December 1988

Founding of the company DIE RÄUCHEREI by Marion and Hans-Joachim Kunkel. Relocation to the historic building at no. 2, Klosterhörn.

Woman in front of fish counter

March 1992

Opening of our first fish business in Sittensen, followed by two further businesses in Zeven and Bochum.

Smoke oven

May 1997

DIE RÄUCHEREI was the first business in the fish industry to be granted approval to smoke using the Clean Smoke method and we converted our production processes.

Packaged fish in shipping container

September 1999

Launching of parcel service deliveries to customers. This was a complete first for the German fish market. Commencement of exports to Switzerland, followed by Austria.

Mr Kunkel in front of fair stand

March 2001

Exhibited for the first time at the Gastro-Vision trade fair which continues to play a key role in promoting DIE RÄUCHEREI’s external image and which is still a permanent fixture as a customer-loyalty tool.

Fishing boat on lake

December 2002

Commencement of collaboration with the trade representative Lothar Hattendorf and the associated development of a professional, country-wide sales network in the restaurant and catering sector.

Sales talk

August 2003

Acquisition of cruise-liner customers, outfitters of the first AIDA ships and exclusive cruise liners such as the MS Europa.

Aligning fish for the smoke oven

October 2005

Relocation of warehousing as well as overall logistics to the newly rented warehouse on 2 Feldstraße in Lengenbostel as well as the setting up of an outlet shop at the same premises.

Closing shipping container

June 2006

Awarded IFS certification – the food-preparation industry’s highest possible standard. Basis for further growth in the airline business.

Close-up of fish in smoke oven

September 2008

Switch to frozen delivery only of all products across all customer groups.

Fair stand

September 2008

Introduction of innovative cooking methods which go far beyond smoking from which products such as fish pralines and confit prawns are then created. Today these are a key pillar of our product portfolio.

Taking packaged fish out of freezer

August 2009

Broad-based and professional entry into the supermarket customer group. Initial supply to premium fish counters at the German supermarket chains tegut, real and EDEKA.

Video shoot by QVC

May 2010

First appearance on the teleshopping channel QVC with a live broadcast from Klein Meckelsen. 3 months later, the biggest single order in the history of DIE RÄUCHEREI was received as the offer of the day on QVC.

Bear catching a fish

September 2010

Commencement of export activities for international airlines through the American logistics service provider DSI and associated approval by the FDA.

Close-up of fish in shipping container

May 2012

Introduction of the first genuine set of self-service packaging from DIE RÄUCHEREI for retailers and C&C thanks to the procurement of a state-of-the-art skin-packaging machine.

Shipping employer

November 2014

Purchase of the already rented hall in Lengenbostel, where the storage takes place.

Die Räucherei sign

December 1988

Founding of the company DIE RÄUCHEREI by Marion and Hans-Joachim Kunkel. Relocation to the historic building at no. 2, Klosterhörn.

Woman in front of fish counter

March 1992

Opening of our first fish business in Sittensen, followed by two further businesses in Zeven and Bochum.

Smoke oven

May 1997

DIE RÄUCHEREI was the first business in the fish industry to be granted approval to smoke using the Clean Smoke method and we converted our production processes.

Packaged fish in shipping container

September 1999

Launching of parcel service deliveries to customers. This was a complete first for the German fish market. Commencement of exports to Switzerland, followed by Austria.

Mr Kunkel in front of fair stand

March 2001

Exhibited for the first time at the Gastro-Vision trade fair which continues to play a key role in promoting DIE RÄUCHEREI’s external image and which is still a permanent fixture as a customer-loyalty tool.

Fishing boat on lake

December 2002

Commencement of collaboration with the trade representative Lothar Hattendorf and the associated development of a professional, country-wide sales network in the restaurant and catering sector.

Sales talk

August 2003

Acquisition of cruise-liner customers, outfitters of the first AIDA ships and exclusive cruise liners such as the MS Europa.

Aligning fish for the smoke oven

October 2005

Relocation of warehousing as well as overall logistics to the newly rented warehouse on 2 Feldstraße in Lengenbostel as well as the setting up of an outlet shop at the same premises.

Closing shipping container

June 2006

Awarded IFS certification – the food-preparation industry’s highest possible standard. Basis for further growth in the airline business.

Close-up of fish in smoke oven

September 2008

Switch to frozen delivery only of all products across all customer groups.

Fair stand

September 2008

Introduction of innovative cooking methods which go far beyond smoking from which products such as fish pralines and confit prawns are then created. Today these are a key pillar of our product portfolio.

Taking packaged fish out of freezer

August 2009

Broad-based and professional entry into the supermarket customer group. Initial supply to premium fish counters at the German supermarket chains tegut, real and EDEKA.

Video shoot by QVC

May 2010

First appearance on the teleshopping channel QVC with a live broadcast from Klein Meckelsen. 3 months later, the biggest single order in the history of DIE RÄUCHEREI was received as the offer of the day on QVC.

Bear catching a fish

September 2010

Commencement of export activities for international airlines through the American logistics service provider DSI and associated approval by the FDA.

Close-up of fish in shipping container

May 2012

Introduction of the first genuine set of self-service packaging from DIE RÄUCHEREI for retailers and C&C thanks to the procurement of a state-of-the-art skin-packaging machine.

Shipping employer

November 2014

Purchase of the already rented hall in Lengenbostel, where the storage takes place.

© Die Räucherei 2018