Lifetime Achievement
Onboard hospitality awards 2020 / 51
Perfect partners
Congratulations to Helga and Rudi Friedrichs, joint winners of our 2020 Onboard Hospitality Lifetime Achievement Award
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his award was given in recognition of Helga and Rudi's dedication to inflight catering excellence for 35 years at Frankenberg. This incredible catering partnership all started in 1985 with a simple dish of roast beef esterhazy, potato dumplings and glazed baby carrots. This was the product that won them their very first airline meal tender. In April of that year, just after their marriage, businessman, Rudi, and food nutritionist, Helga, took over a bankrupt company producing meals-on-wheels in Würselen, near Aachen in Germany. Recognising that the existing model for this company was unlikely to succeed, the young couple soon saw new markets had to be found. Rudi called holiday carrier, LTU, with an offer to tender. The new business was located in the heart of Europe, so targeting the growing travel and airline sector seemed a perfect fit.
Quality focus
With no real idea about airline catering back then, but with a passion for high quality, healthy good food, and just 12 employees, the Friedrichs convinced the airline to take up the offer. They won business for a one
solutions with total customer care month trial period, catering return always in mind. flights, and from there, the young Now, 35 years on, the airline sector company, Frankenberg, went on remains the company’s primary focus to produce all hot meals for one of and sustains the Germany’s biggest beating heart of the carriers. company. The team From its conception, produces in excess of the cornerstone ethic Frankenberg has 200,000 meals every of Frankenberg was provided consistent day for many of the never short-term profit, tailored meal world’s international but a focus on adding solutions with total airlines, with a team value in the long-term customer care of more than 500 and to securing a extended ‘family’ strong base for future always in mind members. generations to build Still a family-owned and run company, on. It was this core belief that drove daughter Laura and husband Sebastian the couple to establish long-term, (pictured) joined the management strategic partnerships with customers team officially in late 2019 and are now and suppliers alike. Combined with policies of sustainable development joint managing directors, dedicated to to maintaining the commitment and ongoing investment in latest to excellence that is Helga and Rudi’s technologies – Frankenberg has undoubted legacy. • provided consistent tailored meal
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