Dieckmann & Hansen

Dieckmann & Hansen is a German caviar house based in Hamburg, with roots in the fish-salting trade that reach back to 1839 and a formal founding in 1869. The company was established as a "Fischsalzerei en gros" (wholesale fish-salting business) in Altona by cooper master Johannes Dieckmann and his son-in-law Johannes C. F. Hansen. Over the following decades it expanded into sturgeon fishing and caviar production, opening stations in Siberia and at the Caspian Sea, and establishing branches in Berlin, Vienna, London, and Stockholm. The company became a supplier to the Austro-Hungarian court and founded the Romanoff Caviar Company in New York in 1911. The 20th century brought upheaval: the First World War interrupted trade and closed the Astrachan station; the Second World War destroyed Hamburg facilities in 1943. Business resumed in 1954 under Horst Gödecken. In 1969 the Hansen family sold the company to Riviana Food Inc., which was later acquired by Colgate-Palmolive and then by Nordsee. In 1993 Susanne Taylor and the Mabre Group took over Dieckmann & Hansen GmbH. The collapse of sturgeon stocks and the 1998 CITES protection led to the suspension of operations in 2000. In 2003 former employees Werner Sager and Christian Zuther-Grauerholz exercised a purchase option and revived the business. Today Dieckmann & Hansen produces caviar in Germany from sturgeon raised on its own farms in France, Italy, Hungary, and Germany, and works with renowned caviar producers worldwide. The product range includes Beluga, Oscietra, Baerii, and other caviar varieties, as well as Balik salmon fillets. The company emphasizes tradition, quality, and transparency, and describes its caviar as a piece of Hanseatic caviar culture.

The history of Dieckmann & Hansen begins in the 19th century in Hamburg and Altona. According to the company's own account, its tradition dates back to 1839, while the formal founding of the "Fischsalzerei en Gros Dieckmann & Hansen" took place on 10 September 1869 by cooper master Johannes Dieckmann from Flensburg and his son-in-law Johannes C. F. Hansen. The business was entered in the commercial register in 1869. It began as a fish-salting operation in Altona and soon shifted its focus to trading in sturgeon and caviar. In 1887 the first fish auction was held in the St. Pauli fish hall. In 1891 a branch was opened at the Altona fish market. The company expanded abroad: in 1895 it established its own fishing and processing operation for sturgeon, salmon, and roe in Verche Tambovsk on the Amur River in eastern Siberia. In 1902 a fishing station was founded in Astrakhan at the mouth of the Volga on the Caspian Sea, a region crucial to the caviar industry. From 1902 to 1914 Paul Reinbrecht managed the Astrakhan station, documenting fishing methods and describing sturgeon. Also in 1902, branches were opened in Berlin, Vienna, London, and Stockholm by the founders' sons and grandsons Ferdinand, Johannes, and Peter Hansen. In 1911 Ferdinand Hansen founded the Romanoff Caviar Company in New York City. The partners Johann Steffen Peter Hansen and Peter Hansen were appointed purveyors to the Austro-Hungarian court (k.u.k. Hoflieferanten) due to the high quality of their products. The outbreak of the First World War severely disrupted trade relations, and the Astrakhan fishing station had to be closed. Business relations could only be resumed after the war. During the Second World War, in 1943, the facilities on Spaldingstraße and at Holländischer Brook were destroyed by bombs and the caviar stock was lost. In the post-war years, business resumed in 1954 under the leadership of Horst Gödecken. In 1967, 50 percent of the shares were sold to the Hamburg-based "Caviar Im- und Export GmbH & Co. KG" to better organize operations. In 1969 Horst Gödecken published the book "Der Königliche Kaviar". In 1969 the Romanoff Caviar Company and Dieckmann & Hansen were sold by the Hansen family to the American food company Riviana Food Inc. The remaining shares of "Caviar Im- und Export GmbH & Co. KG" were acquired by Dieckmann & Hansen. In 1976 Riviana's shares were sold to Colgate-Palmolive. In 1981 Horst Gödecken handed over management to long-time employee Susanne Taylor. In 1984 Riviana was taken over by "Nordsee Deutsche Hochseefischerei GmbH". In the same year, "Caviar Im- und Export GmbH" was renamed "Aquila", and in 1991 it was liquidated by Nordsee. On 1 January 1993 Dieckmann & Hansen GmbH was taken over by Susanne Taylor and the Mabre Group. A year later the company celebrated its 125th anniversary. With the end of the Cold War and the removal of the state monopoly in Russia, black market trade and overexploitation of sturgeon stocks began. Due to rapidly shrinking stocks, sturgeon was placed under the protection of the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in 1998. In 1999 the European Commission removed Kazakh caviar production from the list of approved operations. This step meant the temporary end for the company: in 2000 all employees had to be dismissed, and operations ceased in March of that year. An earlier lawsuit at the European Court of Justice against the Commission's decision was ultimately dismissed. In 2003 former employees Werner Sager and Christian Zuther-Grauerholz exercised the purchase option for the company Dieckmann & Hansen and resumed operations. Since then, the company has rebuilt its caviar business, producing caviar in Germany from sturgeon raised on its own farms in France, Italy, Hungary, and Germany, and collaborating with leading caviar producers worldwide. The company continues to operate as a caviar importer and producer based in Hamburg.

• 2003

  Werner Sager and Christian Zuther-Grauerholz exercised purchase option and resumed operations.

• 2000

  All employees dismissed; operations ceased in March.

• 1999

  European Commission removed Kazakh caviar production from the list of approved operations.

• 1998

  Sturgeon placed under CITES protection.

• 1994

  Company celebrated its 125th anniversary.

• 1993

  Dieckmann & Hansen GmbH taken over by Susanne Taylor and the Mabre Group on 1 January.

• 1991

  "Aquila" liquidated by Nordsee.

• 1984

  Riviana taken over by Nordsee Deutsche Hochseefischerei GmbH; "Caviar Im- und Export GmbH" renamed "Aquila".

• 1981

  Horst Gödecken handed over management to Susanne Taylor.

• 1976

  Riviana's shares sold to Colgate-Palmolive.

• 1969

  Romanoff Caviar Company and Dieckmann & Hansen sold to Riviana Food Inc.; Horst Gödecken published "Der Königliche Kaviar".

• 1967

  50 percent of shares sold to "Caviar Im- und Export GmbH & Co. KG".

• 1954

  Business resumed under the leadership of Horst Gödecken.

• 1943

  Facilities on Spaldingstraße and at Holländischer Brook destroyed by bombs; caviar stock lost.

• 1911

  Ferdinand Hansen founded the Romanoff Caviar Company in New York City.

• 1902

  Fishing station founded in Astrakhan at the mouth of the Volga; branches opened in Berlin, Vienna, London, and Stockholm.

• 1895

  Own fishing and processing operation for sturgeon, salmon, and roe established in Verche Tambovsk on the Amur River, eastern Siberia.

• 1891

  Branch opened at the Altona fish market.

• 1887

  First fish auction held in the St. Pauli fish hall.

• 1869

  Formal founding of "Fischsalzerei en Gros Dieckmann & Hansen" in Altona by Johannes Dieckmann and Johannes C. F. Hansen on 10 September.

• 1839

  Tradition of the company dates back to this year, according to its own account.

Premium, tradition-rich caviar house emphasizing quality, origin, and transparency.

• Beluga Germany caviar

  From Huso huso, the largest and most expensive caviar, with grains over 3.2 mm, produced in Germany.

• Oscietra Germany caviar

  From Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, produced in Germany.

• Baerii France caviar

  From Acipenser baerii, raised in open aquaculture in Nitting, France.

• Balik Fillet Tsar Nikolaj

  Salmon fillet product available in various sizes.

• Tasting Box Germany

  Selection of three caviar varieties in 20g portions.

1. 1Dieckmann & Hansen GmbH – Official Websitedieckmann-hansen.com
2. 2Baerii France – Dieckmann & Hansen GmbHdieckmann-hansen.com
3. 3Unsere Geschichte – Dieckmann & Hansen GmbHdieckmann-hansen.com
4. 4Beluga Kaviar | Höchste Qualität & Tradition – Dieckmann & Hansen GmbHdieckmann-hansen.com
5. 5Dieckmann & Hansen – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
6. 6Dieckmann & Hansen – Wikidatawikidata.org