INDUSTRIAL DYNASTIES IN NORTH RHINE WESTFALIA: THE UNDERBERGS - A WORLD IN GREEN

The Underbergs – the secret of their success is hidden in a little straw–paper wrapped bottle. In 1846 Hubert Underberg mixed in Rheinberg/Lower Rhine the legendary herbal bitters and founded the Underberg Company. His grandson Emil specialized after WW II on 20ml bottles; a genius marketing idea at a time when most consumers would not have the means to afford 1ltr bottles.

The little "Pülleken" (little bottle, dialect) conquered the world. The former one–product–firm expanded in the past 40 years to form an international company with a 1000 staff and a yearly turnover of 500 million euros. In the meantime the Underberg group is holding companies like the internationally known "sekt" and "champagne" wineries like Schlumberger and Blanc–Fousy, the brandy Asbach and brand name juices like Valensina and Hitchcock.

In Birgit Schulz's documentary Emil Underberg, his wife Christiane and their daughter Hubertine Underberg–Ruder allow for the first time an exciting view into the family's and firm's history. There is Emil Underberg, senior head, who runs the group oriented to its markets with no compromise and traditionally strict. For compensation he enjoys a gallop through the woods in the evening. Christiane Underberg, a very warm woman, is director of personnel. She is most pleased that employees describe the company as their family. Last but not least, there is Hubertine Underberg, the tough junior boss. She leads the fifth generation with temperament and pragmatism.

However, one secret was not revealed to the WDR; the recipe for the famous bitters. Apart from the 3 Underbergs only 4 catholic priests know it. They were all obliged to agree together in front of a notary not to disclose the ingredients or the mixture to anybody.

A film by WDR, 2005
45 min. documentary

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