BIG ANNIVERSARY, BIG JOY - WE CELEBRATE 50 YEARS AND SAY THANK YOU!
Wow, 50 years of HAKRO! That's 50 years of quality. 50 years of customer focus. And 50 years of team spirit. So it's no wonder that everything at HAKRO is centred around the big anniversary in 2019. After all, you only turn 50 once, so it's time to celebrate!The starting signal for the big HAKRO anniversary year was given on 29 May. On this special date, exactly 50 years ago, the Harry Kroll company was officially entered in the commercial register - and the success story began.Exactly 50 years later to the day, we celebrated our anniversary with 175 employees in Schrozberg - with cool drinks, a delicious barbecue, good music and the very best party atmosphere. And that was just the beginning ...Look forward with us to a moving and eventful anniversary year full of surprises!50 years of HAKRO - a brief look back:HAKRO's success story begins with outerwear items for men, women and children on a sales area of just 25 square metres. But because word of good quality quickly spread even then, the ‘Harry Kroll clothing store’ grew continuously. Branches were soon opened in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.In the 1980s, the focus shifted to workwear and sportswear. Printed and finished textiles become increasingly popular. The first collection under the HAKRO label is launched in 1987. The shops are sold and the HAKRO brand is now only sold through selected retail partners.HAKRO continues to grow. In 2000, the first logistics centre is opened and a high-bay warehouse is built. 2003 Carmen Kroll and Thomas Müller lead HAKRO into the future as dual leadership - and carry on the values of the founding couple. In 2010, not only is a second high-bay warehouse built, but also the Harry Kroll Foundation. In 2018, the third high-bay warehouse is built - with a consistent focus on ecological aspects.Today, HAKRO has a logistics area of over 9,000 square metres. 175 employees work at the headquarters in Schrozberg. A further 2,500 people are employed by our worldwide production partners. The values shaped by Harry Kroll still apply today. And we will continue to work on the sustainable success of our traditional brand with hand, heart and attitude in the future.With this in mind, we would like to thank all our customers, retail partners and employees for their loyalty and trusting co-operation - and we look forward to the next 50 years!
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THE CRAILSHEIM MERLINS BECOME THE HAKRO MERLINS CRAILSHEIM
It is a big step for HAKRO and the Merlins, but also a logical one. And a logical one. HAKRO has been a sponsor of the Crailsheim Merlins since 1997. In 2007, the internationally active Schrozberg-based textile company decided to intensify its involvement with the Merlins as the exclusive team outfitter. This support has been continuously expanded since then. Since 2010, the company has been the name sponsor of the HAKRO Arena Crailsheim, the former venue and still the ‘living room’ of the Crailsheim Merlins. Last but not least, in 2014 HAKRO secured a place directly under the hearts of the players as shirt sponsor. Just in time for the start of the upcoming easyCredit BBL season, HAKRO is now moving even further forward. Right in the centre of the club logo.The fact that they share the same vision and pursue the same goals is demonstrated by the subtle move by those responsible at HAKRO, who in turn will free up the most prominent space on the Merlins jersey. ‘This gives a new partner the chance to share their enthusiasm for our teams at this point,’ says Merlins Managing Director Martin Romig. The jersey sponsorship has not yet been awarded, but the HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim want to have successfully put out feelers by the start of the 2018/19 season.The naming sponsorship agreement with HAKRO is initially for five years. In sport, this is a comfortable period of time that allows HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim to think and act long-term and offers optimal prospects. "We have received a signal from HAKRO that we couldn't wish for better with regard to a potential name sponsor. Someone wants to support our path, not use us emotionlessly as a short-term investment or impose a new face on us. The agreement with HAKRO offers us medium to long-term development opportunities. For the active teams, but also for our already very successful youth team," explains Martin Romig with satisfaction.
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HAKRO IS A NEW PARTNER OF COTTON MADE IN AFRICA
‘Cotton made in Africa convinced us,’ comments Carmen Kroll, Managing Partner of HAKRO GmbH. "The standard takes both social and ecological aspects into account. And by participating, we can make a contribution to stabilising the cotton sector in Africa and improving living and working conditions in the countries where the cotton is grown."Following the recent launch of the Organic collection made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, Cotton made in Africa is a further measure by the medium-sized company to significantly increase the proportion of sustainably produced natural fibres in the coming years. The company has the CmiA cotton processed by an independent production partner in Turkey, which manufactures polo shirts, sweatshirts and sweat jackets for HAKRO. The company is subject to the requirements of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI).Tina Stridde, Managing Director of the Aid by Trade Foundation, the sponsor of CmiA, recognises the new partnership: "HAKRO shows that companies in the textile sector of corporate fashion, work, leisure and sport can also increase their sustainability performance with Cotton made in Africa and make it visible to their customers. More and more sustainably orientated companies are placing higher social and ecological demands on their workwear. We are therefore delighted to have gained a renowned partner in HAKRO, who is working with us to support small farmers in Africa and forward-looking corporate fashion."As the largest initiative for sustainably produced cotton in Africa, Cotton made in Africa represents a sustainable basis for the textile chain worldwide. It gives a face to small farmers who are at the beginning of the fashion industry. Hundreds of thousands of smallholders benefit from agricultural and business management training that helps them to improve their yields and cultivation methods. Women are strengthened in their social and professional independence and factory workers benefit from improved working conditions. In return, companies gain a sustainable raw material that respects human rights and protects nature.HAKRO and the AbTF are members of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (Textiles Partnership), which campaigns for more socially and ecologically sustainable production conditions in the textile chain.
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