Wolfgang Grupp
Owner and chief executive of Trigema from 1969 to 2023
Wolfgang Grupp is a German entrepreneur who led the family textile company Trigema in Burladingen from 1969 until 2023. He became one of Germany's best known business figures for his insistence on making all products in Germany and for running the company without bank debt, before handing it to the next generation on 1 January 2024.
| Role | Owner and chief executive of Trigema (1969 to 2023) |
|---|---|
| Company | Trigema, Burladingen, founded 1919 |
| Revenue 2022 | 127 million euros |
| Employees | About 1,200 (2022) |
| Succession | Ownership passed to his family on 1 January 2024 |
Who is Wolfgang Grupp?
Wolfgang Grupp, born in 1942 in Burladingen, is the long time owner and chief executive of Trigema, a manufacturer of sports and leisure clothing in Baden-Württemberg. The company, founded in 1919, describes itself as Germany's largest maker of sports and leisure apparel. Grupp studied business administration at the University of Cologne from 1962 to 1967.
Career
Grupp took over the management of the family business in 1969 and became its sole owner and chief executive in 1972. Between 1972 and 1975 he eliminated the company's bank debt while increasing revenue. Over the following decades he kept Trigema independent and fully based in Germany, at a time when most of the German textile industry moved production to lower cost countries.
By 2022 the company had revenue of 127 million euros and about 1,200 employees. Grupp stepped back from leadership in 2023. With effect from 1 January 2024 ownership passed to his family, with Wolfgang Grupp Jr. as personally liable partner and Bonita Grupp as managing director. Trigema states that it is now led in its fourth generation by Wolfgang and Bonita Grupp.
Influence on the fashion business
Grupp became a public symbol of a particular model of manufacturing:
- All textile steps, from knitting fabrics to finishing, carried out in the company's own plants in Germany
- Production at sites in Burladingen, Altshausen and Rangendingen
- A record of no layoffs or short time work since 1969
- An apprenticeship programme for up to 50 trainees a year
His approach showed that clothing production could remain viable in Germany with a vertically integrated, debt free family company. Trigema also emphasises that it has always produced in a sustainable and environmentally conscious way, an argument that has gained weight as the industry debates shorter and more transparent supply chains. For many German observers Trigema became a counterexample to the assumption that apparel can only be made profitably in low cost countries.
Why it matters
In an industry dominated by global sourcing, Trigema is a rare example of vertically integrated clothing production in a high wage country. Grupp's long tenure makes him a reference point for discussions of nearshoring, supply chain transparency and family ownership in the apparel business.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Wolfgang Grupp?
Wolfgang Grupp is a German entrepreneur who led the clothing manufacturer Trigema from 1969 to 2023. He is known for producing all of the company's clothing in Germany.
Who runs Trigema now?
Since 1 January 2024 Trigema has been owned and led by the Grupp family's next generation. Trigema says it is led in its fourth generation by Wolfgang Grupp Jr. and Bonita Grupp.