Sustainability Report 2016 / 2017

4 Company The Company The history of the family business Werner & Mertz began in 1867 with the founding of the Werner Brothers (Gebrüder Werner) wax wares factory in Mainz on the Rhine. In 1901 the Erdal brand rose to fame with the development of a completely new shoe polish. Back then the red frog prince was adopted as the compa- ny’s logo, where it still reigns today. At the main production site in Mainz, more than 600 employees work in administration, product develop- ment, product supply and the company’s own logistics department. The above-average length of service of more than 15 years attests to the employees’ satisfaction and identification with the company, its products and its philosophy. Flexible working time models, the high training and continuous education level and many on-the-job activities promote good health support and enhance the good working atmosphere. In 1953 Werner & Mertz opened its second production site in Hallein, Austria, where 160 employees work in production and administration. Hallein is responsible for sales to 19 countries, including Austria, Switzer­ land, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and other markets in southeastern Europe. Werner & Mertz manufactures cleaning and care products for customers in Europe and for sale around the world. The company has branches in France, Belgium, Italy and Spain and a joint venture in Poland. In North America the products are enjoying increasing popularity and in Japan a broad assortment of Frosch brand products is available. In 11 of 13 product groups the company showed better development than the market in Germany in the prior year. Total revenue of the family-owned and operated business rose by six percent to 342 million EUR.