hessnatur

hessnatur is a German natural-textile clothing and mail-order company headquartered in Butzbach, in the Wetterau district of Hesse. The brand serves consumers seeking clothing made with natural materials and production methods that place greater emphasis on environmental protection, worker welfare, and product suitability for people with particular sensitivities, including allergies. Its offer is centered on apparel and related textile goods rather than on a single technical product category. The company began in 1976 in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, founded by Heinz Hess and Dorothea Hess under the name “dorothea hess - Versand naturgemäßer Waren.” The founders jointly managed the business until 1982. As demand and the company’s operations expanded, hessnatur moved in 1986 to a larger facility in Bad Homburg, from which it operated both its shop and mail-order activities. Its early identity was closely associated with natural clothing and the use of materials and manufacturing practices positioned as alternatives to conventional mass-market textiles. Ownership became a major theme in the company’s later history. Neckermann acquired a majority interest in 2001 and held the entire company from 5 January 2001. hessnatur was subsequently connected to the Primondo holding structure, which was affected by the insolvency of Karstadt/Quelle and Arcandor. In 2010 and 2011, the prospect of a sale to the US private-equity firm Carlyle Group prompted opposition from employees, customers, and civil-society organizations concerned about the effect of a financial-investor takeover on the company’s ecological and social standards. In March 2011, these groups established the hnGeno cooperative with the aim of purchasing hessnatur. Carlyle withdrew its bid in May 2011. The sales process remained contested and was suspended indefinitely in June 2011, although a later agreement with Swiss investor Capvis had been signed on 31 May 2012. Antitrust approval followed at the end of June 2012. The works council challenged the transparency of the sales negotiations, but the Giessen Labour Court dismissed the case on 27 June 2012. In autumn 2012, the company’s advisory board was reconstituted, with Götz Werner, founder of the dm drugstore chain, becoming its chairman. The company’s scale increased over time. In 2009, hessnatur had approximately 320 employees, including about 270 in Butzbach. Reported turnover exceeded €100 million for the first time in the 2020/21 financial year. Because hessnatur’s brand proposition depends heavily on responsible sourcing, the company has continued to emphasize monitoring suppliers and promoting ethical production standards. In a 2010 Stiftung Warentest comparison of 20 T-shirt suppliers, which assessed environmental and social commitment, corporate policy, consumer information, and transparency, hessnatur was the only supplier judged to demonstrate a strong overall commitment. hessnatur therefore occupies a specialist position in the German apparel market: it combines direct and mail-order retail with a differentiated natural-fiber and responsible-production proposition.

hessnatur was established in 1976 in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe by Heinz Hess and Dorothea Hess. It initially operated under the name “dorothea hess - Versand naturgemäßer Waren,” reflecting its original focus on mail-order distribution of naturally oriented goods. The founders jointly managed the business until 1982. Expansion led the company to relocate in 1986 to a larger building in Bad Homburg, where its retail and mail-order operations were administered. Over the following decades, hessnatur developed a specialist reputation for natural textiles and clothing intended for environmentally conscious customers and people with particular sensitivities, including allergies. Its identity was built around material selection, environmental considerations, and attention to the social conditions under which garments were produced. A significant ownership change occurred in 2001, when Neckermann acquired a majority stake and then became the company’s complete owner on 5 January 2001. hessnatur was later assigned to Primondo, a holding company affected by the insolvency of Karstadt/Quelle and Arcandor. The company’s financial and ownership position consequently became part of wider restructuring and disposal discussions. In 2009, it employed approximately 320 people, with roughly 270 based in Butzbach. Reported turnover was about €58 million in 2009 and €60 million in 2010. At the end of 2010, the Carlyle Group announced its interest in acquiring hessnatur. The possibility of a private-equity takeover generated opposition from employees, customers, and organizations concerned with clean production and corporate accountability. On 17 March 2011, these groups founded the hnGeno cooperative, seeking to purchase the company and preserve its ethical and ecological orientation. Carlyle withdrew its offer in May 2011. After further uncertainty over competing bids, the sale process was suspended indefinitely in June 2011. A later transaction proceeded despite the earlier uncertainty. Primondo had signed an agreement with Swiss investor Capvis on 31 May 2012, and the transaction received antitrust approval at the end of June. Contemporary reporting cited a price of approximately 48 million Swiss francs. The works council challenged the management’s handling of the negotiations, arguing that the process lacked transparency, but the Giessen Labour Court rejected the claim on 27 June 2012. In autumn 2012, the advisory board was reconstituted and Götz Werner, the founder of dm, became its chairman. hessnatur continued operating as a specialist natural-textile apparel business. The company has stated that it works to maintain ethical production standards among suppliers and to monitor production practices. Its responsible-production credentials were reinforced by a 2010 Stiftung Warentest assessment of 20 T-shirt suppliers. The review examined environmental and employee commitments, corporate policy, consumer information, and transparency; hessnatur was the only supplier in the comparison assessed as showing a strong commitment across these areas. The company later grew beyond its earlier scale, reporting sales above €100 million for the first time in the 2020/21 financial year. Available reference material does not identify a current parent company, owner, chief executive, or definitive corporate website, so those fields remain unconfirmed in this dossier.

• 2021

  Sales surpass €100 million

  [1]Hess Naturen.wikipedia.org

  Sales exceeded €100 million for the first time during the 2020/21 financial year.

• 2012

  Capvis transaction approved

  [1]Hess Naturen.wikipedia.org

  The sale agreement with Swiss investor Capvis received antitrust approval after being signed in May.

• 2011

  hnGeno cooperative established

  [1]Hess Naturen.wikipedia.org

  A coalition of employees, customers, and civil-society participants created a cooperative to seek ownership of hessnatur.

• 2010

  Strong result in Stiftung Warentest supplier review

  [1]Hess Naturen.wikipedia.org

  In a comparison of 20 T-shirt suppliers, hessnatur was the only company assessed as showing a strong commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

• 2001

  Neckermann takes full ownership

  [1]Hess Naturen.wikipedia.org

  Neckermann acquired the entire company on 5 January 2001 after first obtaining a majority stake.

• 1986

  Relocation to larger Bad Homburg premises

  [1]Hess Naturen.wikipedia.org

  Business expansion led hessnatur to move to a larger building supporting its shop and mail-order operations.

• 1982

  Founders end joint management

  [1]Hess Naturen.wikipedia.org

  The founders’ period of joint management concluded after the company’s first six years.

• 1976

  Company founded in Bad Homburg

  [1]Hess Naturen.wikipedia.org

  Heinz Hess and Dorothea Hess established the business under the original name “dorothea hess - Versand naturgemäßer Waren.”

Sustainable and socially responsible natural-textile apparel for environmentally conscious consumers and customers seeking clothing made with carefully selected materials.

• Clothing · 1976

  Natural-fiber apparel

  The core hessnatur range consists of clothing positioned around natural textiles and environmentally conscious production. The assortment serves everyday apparel needs and is aimed at consumers who value material provenance, reduced environmental impact, and production standards beyond those commonly associated with conventional mass-market fashion.

• Organic textile clothing

  Organic cotton garments

  Organic cotton is identified as a characteristic material in the company’s product offer. These garments support the brand’s natural-textile positioning and its appeal to customers seeking alternatives to standard cotton apparel, although the available reference material does not specify individual named collections or product models.

• Special-needs apparel

  Sensitive-skin and allergy-oriented textiles

  hessnatur’s target customers include people with allergies or other sensitivities. The relevant offering is best understood as a product orientation toward carefully selected natural materials and comfortable everyday textiles rather than as a separately documented medical or therapeutic product line.

• 2012

  Sale to Capvis approvedM&A

  Background

  Following prolonged uncertainty over ownership, Primondo had signed a purchase agreement with Swiss investor Capvis on 31 May 2012.

  Action taken

  The transaction received approval from antitrust authorities at the end of June 2012.

  Aftermath

  The works council’s legal challenge over the transparency of the negotiations was dismissed by the Giessen Labour Court on 27 June 2012.

  Reported purchase price. Approximately CHF 48 million (2012 transaction)

  Source

• 2011

  Employee and customer cooperative formed during sale disputeM&A

  Background

  A possible sale to Carlyle prompted concern among employees, customers, and organizations focused on clean clothing and corporate responsibility.

  Action taken

  The hnGeno cooperative was founded to pursue an acquisition and maintain the company’s social and ecological orientation.

  Aftermath

  Carlyle withdrew its bid in May 2011, while the wider sale process was suspended in June before a later transaction with Capvis proceeded.

  Source

• 2001

  Neckermann acquires hessnaturM&A

  Background

  The growing natural-textile company became part of the Neckermann ownership structure, later being held entirely by Neckermann.

  Action taken

  Neckermann completed the acquisition of hessnatur, with full ownership recorded from 5 January 2001.

  Aftermath

  hessnatur was subsequently associated with the Primondo holding structure and later became subject to sale discussions following wider retail-sector financial difficulties.

  Source

1. 1Hess Naturen.wikipedia.org