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BayWa
BayWa AG (until 1972: Bayerische Warenvermittlung landwirtschaftlicher Genossenschaften AG) is an internationally active group headquartered in Munich, Germany. Originally founded to support domestic agriculture, the company expanded its activities to the construction and energy sectors. BayWa is represented in more than 50 countries through its subsidiaries and holdings. The shareholder structure is still determined by the cooperative sector, which has shaped the corporate culture since its founding.
BayWa's history goes back to the Bayerische Zentral-Darlehenskasse (BZDK), which was founded in 1893, and was active in both the banking and commodities business. One of its central tasks was to enable farmers to purchase means of production at low cost and to market their products profitably. In 1920, the BZDK had hundreds of warehouses for grain, artificial fertilizers, feedstuffs, and machinery, mainly in southern Germany. As a result of the First World War, economic conditions steadily deteriorated. The devaluation of cash and bank deposits led to hyperinflation, which prompted the BZDK to separate its banking and merchandise business. The general meeting on January 17, 1923, thus marked the founding of the Bayerische Warenvermittlung landwirtschaftlicher Genossenschaften in the legal form of a stock corporation. In the vernacular, BayWa became established as the short form of the company. From the beginning, the company focused on modern agriculture, especially through its range of machinery and services for repair. In order to become less dependent on business in Germany, grain was also exported to Austria, Switzerland, and Italy from 1927. As a result, BayWa's sales exceeded the 100 million Reichsmark mark for the first time.[citation needed]
The takeover of power by the National Socialists also brought drastic changes for the agricultural and food industry. From 1933, all agricultural organizations were brought into line. In 1934, the unification of the Bavarian cooperative system was ordered. Political influence on the company continued to grow. When Josef Haselberger, then chairman of the board, died in 1935, the NSDAP appointed Friedrich Eichinger as his successor. He led the company until the end of National Socialism.
After the outbreak of the Second World War, BayWa switched to a wartime economy in 1939. The company played a prominent role in "safeguarding the Reich's food supply. For example, BayWa convinced farmers of the production-enhancing effect of artificial fertilizer. In order to meet the requirements of the rulers alone, BayWa employed an additional workforce of almost 700 during this period. The company archives do not provide any information on whether forced laborers were among them, but it can be assumed that they were.
In the course of the Second World War, 23 BayWa warehouses were destroyed. The headquarters in Munich was also affected by the Allied bombing raids. By the end of the war in 1945, 512 of around 6,000 employees had died; 487 were missing or in captivity. With the aim of denazification, all members of the Board of Management and Supervisory Board had to vacate their posts in 1945. In addition, dozens of managers were dismissed. Their successors initially took office on an interim basis. Josef Singer took over as chairman of the Board of Management of BayWa. Due to its strategic importance for supplying the population with food, BayWa received early approval from the U.S. military government to resume its business operations as well as nationwide shipments.
The 1950s were marked by structural change in agriculture. In the countryside, there was a lack of personnel for the steady expansion of agricultural operations, as the growing industry became more attractive to many workers. BayWa responded by expanding its range of machinery as well as maintenance and services in the technology sector. Tractors, combine harvesters, forage harvesters and milking machines were in particular demand. The increased consumption of meat also necessitated more animal fattening, so that the steady rise in sales of concentrated feed compensated for the drop in sales of hay and straw. Agricultural mechanization and automation continued throughout the 1960s, and 1970s.
At the same time, the company benefited from the real estate boom that began in the 1950s, and continued through the 1960s, and 1970s. The sale of building materials developed into an important mainstay. The company also laid the foundation for BayWa DIY superstores and garden centers in 1975, to establish another sales channel. The sale of heating oil and other lubricants formed the basis for BayWa's network of filling stations in the 1950s, with which the company wanted to reflect the desire for individual mobility.
The expansion of business activities from the agricultural sector to the construction and energy industries led to significant growth in BayWa's sales. In 1959, this exceeded the one billion Deutsche Mark mark for the first time and by the end of the 1960s, had already exceeded the two billion mark. In 1970, BayWa was the first company in the industry to introduce electronic data processing into its operations. To improve efficiency of internal document management, IBM scanners were used on a large scale, capable of processing more than 100,000 documents a day.
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BayWa
BayWa AG (until 1972: Bayerische Warenvermittlung landwirtschaftlicher Genossenschaften AG) is an internationally active group headquartered in Munich, Germany. Originally founded to support domestic agriculture, the company expanded its activities to the construction and energy sectors. BayWa is represented in more than 50 countries through its subsidiaries and holdings. The shareholder structure is still determined by the cooperative sector, which has shaped the corporate culture since its founding.
BayWa's history goes back to the Bayerische Zentral-Darlehenskasse (BZDK), which was founded in 1893, and was active in both the banking and commodities business. One of its central tasks was to enable farmers to purchase means of production at low cost and to market their products profitably. In 1920, the BZDK had hundreds of warehouses for grain, artificial fertilizers, feedstuffs, and machinery, mainly in southern Germany. As a result of the First World War, economic conditions steadily deteriorated. The devaluation of cash and bank deposits led to hyperinflation, which prompted the BZDK to separate its banking and merchandise business. The general meeting on January 17, 1923, thus marked the founding of the Bayerische Warenvermittlung landwirtschaftlicher Genossenschaften in the legal form of a stock corporation. In the vernacular, BayWa became established as the short form of the company. From the beginning, the company focused on modern agriculture, especially through its range of machinery and services for repair. In order to become less dependent on business in Germany, grain was also exported to Austria, Switzerland, and Italy from 1927. As a result, BayWa's sales exceeded the 100 million Reichsmark mark for the first time.[citation needed]
The takeover of power by the National Socialists also brought drastic changes for the agricultural and food industry. From 1933, all agricultural organizations were brought into line. In 1934, the unification of the Bavarian cooperative system was ordered. Political influence on the company continued to grow. When Josef Haselberger, then chairman of the board, died in 1935, the NSDAP appointed Friedrich Eichinger as his successor. He led the company until the end of National Socialism.
After the outbreak of the Second World War, BayWa switched to a wartime economy in 1939. The company played a prominent role in "safeguarding the Reich's food supply. For example, BayWa convinced farmers of the production-enhancing effect of artificial fertilizer. In order to meet the requirements of the rulers alone, BayWa employed an additional workforce of almost 700 during this period. The company archives do not provide any information on whether forced laborers were among them, but it can be assumed that they were.
In the course of the Second World War, 23 BayWa warehouses were destroyed. The headquarters in Munich was also affected by the Allied bombing raids. By the end of the war in 1945, 512 of around 6,000 employees had died; 487 were missing or in captivity. With the aim of denazification, all members of the Board of Management and Supervisory Board had to vacate their posts in 1945. In addition, dozens of managers were dismissed. Their successors initially took office on an interim basis. Josef Singer took over as chairman of the Board of Management of BayWa. Due to its strategic importance for supplying the population with food, BayWa received early approval from the U.S. military government to resume its business operations as well as nationwide shipments.
The 1950s were marked by structural change in agriculture. In the countryside, there was a lack of personnel for the steady expansion of agricultural operations, as the growing industry became more attractive to many workers. BayWa responded by expanding its range of machinery as well as maintenance and services in the technology sector. Tractors, combine harvesters, forage harvesters and milking machines were in particular demand. The increased consumption of meat also necessitated more animal fattening, so that the steady rise in sales of concentrated feed compensated for the drop in sales of hay and straw. Agricultural mechanization and automation continued throughout the 1960s, and 1970s.
At the same time, the company benefited from the real estate boom that began in the 1950s, and continued through the 1960s, and 1970s. The sale of building materials developed into an important mainstay. The company also laid the foundation for BayWa DIY superstores and garden centers in 1975, to establish another sales channel. The sale of heating oil and other lubricants formed the basis for BayWa's network of filling stations in the 1950s, with which the company wanted to reflect the desire for individual mobility.
The expansion of business activities from the agricultural sector to the construction and energy industries led to significant growth in BayWa's sales. In 1959, this exceeded the one billion Deutsche Mark mark for the first time and by the end of the 1960s, had already exceeded the two billion mark. In 1970, BayWa was the first company in the industry to introduce electronic data processing into its operations. To improve efficiency of internal document management, IBM scanners were used on a large scale, capable of processing more than 100,000 documents a day.
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