Berlin, February 7, 2024. As part of its annual International Berlin Potato Evening on February 6, 2024, 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.
On the eve of Fruit Logistica, the DKHV received around 500 guests from 12 countries in the festive ambience of the Hilton Berlin Ballroom. The guest list included 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 speech, in which he emphasized the importance of the potato trade, he paid tribute to the merits of Dieter Tepel, who made a significant contribution to the development and unity of the German potato economy.
Dieter Tepel, born on August 23, 1944 in Holzwickede, began his professional career in 1968 in the Landhandel Dortmund KG. After a successful entrepreneurial career, he handed over his company to his successor in 2006. As early as 1979, he was involved in the potato trade on a voluntary basis. He made a significant contribution to the unification of the East and West German potato industry after 1989. His commitment led to the founding of the German Potato Trade Association e.V. in 2007, which he headed as president until 2015. The founding of Kartoffel Marketing GmbH (KMG) in 2014 also goes back to his initiative. As Managing Director, he developed KMG into what it is currently and handed over the baton to Martin Roffhack and Anke Schönfelder at the end of 2023.
“Dieter Tepel has earned lasting merits in the potato industry through his successful and merger-oriented work,” emphasized DKHV President Thomas Herkenrath 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 made a significant contribution to the positive image of the potato and the potato industry by founding 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 in Germany.“
As a further laudator, Olaf Feuerborn, Chairman of the Union of the German Potato Industry e.V. (UNIKA), praised Dieter Tepel’s merits for the entire potato industry across all associations. “Dieter Tepel not only says ‘We are talking about the one potato’, but he lives it! Both in his day-to-day work as DKHV President and as a committed member of the UNIKA Executive Board, Advisory Board and various specialist committees, cross-association cooperation has always been a matter close to his heart. Potato production and trade go hand in hand for Dieter Tepel.“
The Medal of Honor of the German Potato Trade is the highest award of the German Potato Trade Association and was awarded for the first time.
About the DKHV e.V.
As an independent trade association, the German Potato Trade Association (DKHV) represents the interests of around 170 potato trade entrepreneurs, packers, peeling companies, but
