Dallmayr is a luxury delicatessen food store in Munich, Germany, dating back to the 17th century. Its reputation is comparable to Fauchon in Paris, Fortnum & Mason in London, or Meiji-ya in Tokyo. About 2.5 million people visit the main store every year. Besides luxury food, Dallmayr also sells a luxury brand of coffee, includes a restaurant, a party service, and other food related services. The revenue of 2004 was 455 million euro with about 2,500 employees. The main competitor in Munich is Feinkost Käfer.
The main store, completed in 1950 with a neo classic facade, is located in the Dienerstrasse in Munich between the Marienplatz and the Odeonsplatz. About 2.5 million people visit the main store every year, including VIPs and tourists. (Other sources state 1.3 million people per year, which in any case are still more than Neuschwanstein with 1.1 Million). The list of regular customers includes Queen Sirikit Rajini of Thailand. Besides the first-rate food, the store is also known for its indoor fountain, stocked with live crayfish. Different from a supermarket, there is no central cashier, rather the products are always purchased in the individual departments. The building is known Germany-wide due to the Dallmayr television advertising, prominently featuring the building since 1980, including the staff in blue blouses and white aprons and the historic porcelain vessels. Having a TV spot run three times per day costs the company about 20 million euro per year. Currently, a staff of about 300 is employed in the main store.
On June 29, 2003, Dallmayr opened its first branch store in terminal 2 at the Munich International Airport, a combination of shop and cafe-bistro-bar for 160 people.
The main store dates back to the 17th century, with a Spezereien-Handlung of the Munich citizen and chandler Christian Reitter. The store was established in the current location in the Dienerstrasse between 1671 and 1700. The exact date is not known, a surviving document dates from his death in 1700. After his death his two daughters inherited the store and the chandler guild membership. The name Dallmayr comes with a new owner in 1870, Alois Dallmayr, a merchant from Wolnzach in Bavaria. Alois Dallmayr did not have any heir and therefore in 1895 sold the store to Anton Randlkofer, who died only two years later.
His widow Therese Randlkofer took over the store. While a female top executive was very rare during these times, she managed the business very successfully, and significantly improved the reputation of the store. She was also very skilled in leveraging social contacts for her business, and exchanged recipes with the cooks of the Bavarian court. Around 1900 the store was one of the top food stores in Europe, and its customers included 15 royal and noble households in Europe, including the last German Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany. (One of these 15 was already a customer during the times of Alois Dallmayr, the other 14 became customers during the management of Therese Randlkofer. The numbers also vary slightly with different sources). The store was also awarded the title of Königlich Bayerischer Hoflieferant (Royal Bavarian Purveyor to the Court), and made daily deliveries for Prince Luitpold of Bavaria. The store was also the first store to import bananas from the Canary Islands to Germany, and also offered mangos, plums from China, and lychees during a time when most people had never even heard of bananas. Therese Randlkofer introduced many innovations. For example she used otherwise unsellable corners of larger bacon pieces for salads on a salad bar, hence opening the first cold buffet. The store was also the talk of the town for its modern illuminated advertising. Therese Randlkofer purchased an estate in 1906, the Goldachhof near Ismaning to provide supplies for the store. By 1912 the store had more than 70 employees.
In 1930, due to the depression after the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Dallmayr also encountered difficult times, as especially the purchase of luxury products decreases in a depression. To protect against a downturn, Dallmayr expanded its product portfolio in 1931 to include a new product line, coffee. By 1933, a full fledged coffee department including electric roasting has been established by a 19 year old coffee Expert Konrad Werner Wille from Bremen.
During the devastation of World War II, the main store was completely burned down to the ground in 1940. The coffee division also encountered difficulties, as coffee was only available on the black market. The current owner Paul Randlkofer, grandson of Anton and Therese Randlkofer, and his coffee expert Konrad Werner Wille start rebuilding, partially financed by the sale of the Goldachhof near Ismaning. By 1950 a new store was completed according to the historic plans including the facade. They also expand the business further by including a vending machine service around 1960, initially in cooperation with BMW. During this time, Konrad Werner Wille also developed a new brand of coffee, Dallmayr Prodomo, which became a big success and is still available today. After the death of Konrad Werner Wille in 1977, his son Wolfgang Wille and Georg Randlkofer took over the management of the business. In 1984 Nestle purchased a 50% ownership of the coffee division to establish a foothold in the German coffee market. In 1985, the coffee division is established as a separate company under Wolfgang Wille, the Alois Dallmayr Kaffee oHG. In August 2003 Nestle reduced its share of the Alois Dallmayr Kaffee oHG to 25%. Today Dallmayr is a premium brand name in Germany. As there is no Bavarian court anymore, the company states itself as Ehemaliger Königlich Bayerischer Hoflieferant (Former Royal Bavarian Purveyor to the Court).
(from Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
- Website of Dallmayr Munich
- Location: Munich, 14 Dienerstreet
____________________________________________________________________
Free online travel guide to Munich, Bavaria & Germany. Latest news and visitor information on tourist and sightseeing attractions, opening times, admission charges, entrance fees, the Olympics, the Oktoberfest, beer halls, beergardens, restaurants, bars, nightlife, hotels, shopping, events, public transportation, bus tours and excursions, surrounded by many pictures, videos and useful tools.
Directly from Munich. All you need to know. At a glance.
