casualfood founders Stefan Weber and Michael Weigel are now switching to the strategic advisory board as planned, handing over the management to their successors
As agreed in the strategic partnership established in 2018, ORIOR AG has now acquired the final tranche of shares in casualfood GmbH as of 8 September 2022. The company shares in casualfood GmbH have all been gradually transferred to the listed Swiss food and beverage group as planned. As part of this process, casualfood founders Stefan Weber and Michael Weigel will be withdrawing from the management of casualfood and will be on hand on the newly established strategic advisory board for the next years alongside ORIOR CEO Daniel Lutz and CFO Andreas Lindner.
As of 1 January 2023, the management of casualfood will be handed over to Michael Schorm (previously a member of the Executive Board and Head of Food and Beverage at casualfood) and Andreas Förster (previously a member of the Executive Board and Business Unit Manager for Convenience at casualfood), both of whom have worked for the company for many years. The managing directors report to the management of the ORIOR Group.
Patricia Esseln, who has held the post of Head of Finance and Financial Controlling for ten years now, was appointed a new member of the casualfood Executive Board on 1 August 2022.
The new strategic advisory board will advise, support and supervise the company in terms of its strategic corporate and organisational development. Furthermore, its members will also support the successful future development of the Smartseller concept, a joint venture with Gebr. Heinemann.
“The transfer of individual tranches of shares and the overall takeover of casualfood has all gone smoothly and according to plan. We have had plenty of exciting years behind us since casualfood was founded in 2005, and we have worked together with our team to successfully steer our company through the challenges of the coronavirus crisis. As part of the structured process, we will be handing over the management of our company as of 1 January 2023 to our trusted successors, our long-term colleagues Michael Schorm and Andreas Förster, creating new scope for new business-related projects in addition to our activities on the advisory board,” says Stefan Weber, Managing Partner of casualfood GmbH.
“casualfood’s strategy will remain the same, even after we hand over the management. This will ensure the stability of our company over the long term. From our positions on the strategic advisory board, we will work with our ORIOR colleagues on the board and contribute our many years of expertise to maintain the company’s successful growth trajectory, push ahead with our European expansion and build up our networks. We are delighted to be able to continue to support casualfood in the future,” adds Michael Weigel, Managing Partner of casualfood GmbH.
“Staying true to the slogan ‘The taste of travelling’, Stefan Weber and Michael Weigel have turned a small, mobile pretzel stand into a big name in the travel catering industry. The clever, award-winning business model has been, and will remain, part of the recipe for its success. The two founders have my deepest respect for this. But only by working with them so closely was I able to understand what makes these two people so special: It is their tireless inspiration, pioneering spirit, hands-on mentality, toughness, a good dose of confidence and a strong team that shares precisely these values. A huge thank-you to Stefan Weber and Michael Weigel. We are happy to continue to have you on board as members of the strategic advisory board. In Michael Schorm and Andreas Förster we have two real insiders at casualfood to help maintain the company’s success story. I’m delighted about that and wish the two new managers all the very best,” says Daniel Lutz, CEO of the ORIOR Group.