Förch (Unternehmen)

Förch-Unternehmensgruppe is a German direct-sales company for workshop supplies, assembly and fastening articles, headquartered in Neuenstadt-Kochertürn. Founded in 1963 by Theo Förch in his parents' barn as a trading business for screws and small parts under the name "Theo Förch OHG", the company initially focused on the automotive trade. Today it employs around 3,400 people worldwide, more than half of them in field sales, operates 22 own country companies and has over 50 country representations. In Germany, Förch runs 33 sales branches. The group is structured around the holding company Förch Holding GmbH, whose subsidiary Theo Förch GmbH & Co. KG acts as the German parent company, alongside 22 European subsidiaries. The Theo Förch GmbH & Co. KG is divided into three primary sales areas: automotive trade, construction trade, and industrial and works workshops. The product range covers more than 100,000 items in workshop supplies, assembly and fastening articles, divided into the categories Wood & Construction, Automotive & Commercial Vehicles, Metal & Building Services, and Workwear. Förch also offers services in construction site and hazardous materials management. Products are sold directly to customers through field sales, supplemented by an online shop, sales branches and telephone sales. Sales are exclusively to commercial customers. Förch serves around 300,000 customers worldwide, with a focus on Europe. The company has expanded through the founding of sales branches and foreign subsidiaries, including its first foreign company in Verona in 1969 and a subsidiary in Austria in 1977. In 2002 revenue exceeded the 100 million euro mark for the first time, and in 2021 it reached half a billion euros for the first time. The company is also active in sponsorship, supporting local handball and football clubs, the Motorman Run and the Blacksheep Festival, and has operated its own racing team, Förch Racing, since 2010.

Förch was founded in 1963 by Theo Förch in his parents' barn in Neuenstadt-Kochertürn as a trading business for screws and small parts under the name "Theo Förch OHG". The products were initially aimed at the automotive trade. On 22 November 1963, the first package of screws was shipped to a customer. Initially the range comprised around 5,000 products. In 1966, Förch founded its first sales branch in Paderborn. In 1969, the first foreign company was founded in Verona. The first company hall on today's site on the edge of Kochertürn was occupied in 1969. In the same year, the company name was changed to "Förch-Beteiligungs-GmbH" and in 1977 to "Theo Förch GmbH & Co. KG". The first office building was built on the company premises in 1973. In 1977, Förch founded a subsidiary in Austria. At the beginning of the 1980s, Förch built a second warehouse in Kochertürn. In 1988, in its 25th year, Förch had 200 employees and a turnover of 25 million D-Mark. After reunification in 1989, Förch expanded into the new federal states the following year with the opening of a sales branch in Zwickau. In January 1994, a separate sales organisation was created for the construction trade. This formed a second pillar alongside the automotive target group. For Theo Förch's 60th birthday in 1996, the street along the company premises was renamed "Theo-Förch-Straße". In 2002, revenue exceeded the 100 million euro mark for the first time. In 2006, Förch built the INNOCenter on a newly acquired site in Neuenstadt, a building complex with a hall for trade fairs, training and customer events. In 2007, Förch built a fully automated logistics centre at its headquarters in Kochertürn. In the same year, Theo Förch received the Wirtschaftsmedaille of the state of Baden-Württemberg for his life's work. The Corona pandemic severely restricted Förch's main business, direct customer contact through field sales. Sales partially shifted to e-commerce. In 2021, the new administration building 5 at the INNOCenter in Neuenstadt was inaugurated. The four-storey office building has a total of 2,700 square metres of office space plus a 300 square metre staff restaurant and offers space for 300 employees. In 2021, revenue reached half a billion euros for the first time.

• 2021

  New administration building 5 inaugurated at INNOCenter; revenue reached half a billion euros for the first time.

• 2010

  Förch Racing racing team established.

• 2007

  Fully automated logistics centre built at headquarters; Theo Förch received the Wirtschaftsmedaille of Baden-Württemberg.

• 2006

  INNOCenter built in Neuenstadt.

• 2002

  Revenue exceeded 100 million euros for the first time.

• 1996

  Street along the company premises renamed "Theo-Förch-Straße" for Theo Förch's 60th birthday.

• 1994

  Separate sales organisation created for the construction trade.

• 1990

  Expansion into the new federal states with a sales branch in Zwickau.

• 1988

  25th anniversary: 200 employees and 25 million D-Mark turnover.

• 1980

  Second warehouse built in Kochertürn.

• 1977

  Subsidiary founded in Austria; name changed to "Theo Förch GmbH & Co. KG".

• 1973

  First office building built on the company premises.

• 1969

  First foreign company founded in Verona; first company hall occupied in Kochertürn; name changed to "Förch-Beteiligungs-GmbH".

• 1966

  First sales branch founded in Paderborn.

• 1963

  Founded by Theo Förch in Neuenstadt-Kochertürn as "Theo Förch OHG"; first package of screws shipped on 22 November.

Direct-sales supplier of workshop, assembly and fastening products exclusively to commercial customers, with a focus on Europe.

• Workshop supplies

• Assembly and fastening articles

• Screws and small parts

• Wood & Construction

• Automotive & Commercial Vehicles

• Metal & Building Services

• Workwear

• Construction site and hazardous materials management services

1. 1Förch (Unternehmen) – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Förch (Unternehmen) – Wikidatawikidata.org