The German Potato Trade Association (DKHV) awarded its honorary president Dieter Tepel the Medal of Honor of the German Potato Trade for outstanding achievements and tireless commitment to the potato industry at its annual International Berlin Potato Evening on February 6, 2024.
On the eve of Fruit Logistica, the DKHV welcomed some 500 guests from 12 countries in the festive atmosphere of the Hilton Berlin ballroom. The guest list showed representatives from politics, science, the European association landscape, and over 190 companies. DKHV President Thomas Herkenrath welcomed the national and international guests. After his welcome, in which he highlighted the importance of the potato trade, he recognized the merits of Dieter Tepel, who has made a significant contribution to the development and unity of the German potato industry.
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10 Years KMG
Dieter Tepel, born on August 23, 1944 in Holzwickede, began his professional career in 1968 at Landhandel Dortmund KG. After a successful entrepreneurial career, he handed over company management to his successor in 2006. He has been voluntarily committed to the potato trade since 1979. He played a significant role in the merging of the East and West German potato industries after 1989. His commitment led to the founding of the German Potato Trade Association in 2007, which he led as president until 2015. The founding of the Potato Marketing GmbH (KMG) in 2014 is also due to his initiative. As managing director, he developed the KMG into what it is today and passed the baton to Martin Roffhack and Anke Schönfelder at the end of 2023.
“Dieter Tepel has earned lasting merits through his successful and unifying work in the potato industry,” emphasized DKHV President Thomas Herkenrath as he spoke at the International Berlin Potato Evening. “He is not only a bridge builder who has united the potato industry, but also a visionary who has significantly contributed to the positive image of the potato and the potato industry through the founding of the KMG. Dieter Tepel receives the Medal of Honor of the German Potato Trade for his life's work and his significant role in the potato industry of Germany.”
Dr. Karen Willamowski (m) will retire this year as Deputy Managing Director of the DKHV.
As another laudator, Olaf Feuerborn, Chairman of the Union of the German Potato Industry e.V. (UNIKA), recognized Dieter Tepel's merits for the entire cross-association potato sector. “Dieter Tepel not only says 'We are talking about the one potato', but he lives it! Both in his daily work as DKHV President and as a committed member of the UNIKA Board, Advisory Board and various specialist committees, cross-association cooperation has always been a matter close to his heart. For Dieter Tepel, potato production and trade go hand in hand." The Medal of Honor of the German Potato Trade is the highest award of the German Potato Trade Association e. V. and was awarded for the first time.
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For more information:
www.dkhv.org