Just in time for the company’s 150th anniversary, Lilli Berking, the daughter of the long-standing head of the company, is the sixth generation of the family to take on management duties. “Even as a child, I wanted to work in the family business later on”, says Lilli Berking, who sees it as a great responsibility, but never as an obligation. She has her sights firmly set on many future topics such as digital transformation. Her father is extremely pleased that she is continuing the family tradition. “As much as our work and our brand name shine, it remains a task that requires full strength. In addition to talent and numerous skills, it requires a great deal of passion and heart and soul, and sometimes also perseverance. Lilli is exactly the right person for the job.”
Cristel: Innovations for the kitchen
Feches-le-Châtel, one of the oldest industrial regions in France, is the home of Cristel. Founded in 1826 by Frédéric Japy, the company soon produced France’s first deep-drawn cooking pot – a real innovation at the time. After a rapid rise, the wars of the 20th century and disputes between the divided owners led to economic decline. In 1983, on the initiative of former employees, the company was relaunched under the name Cristel.
However, the cooperative soon reached its limits, so a consultant was brought in – Bernadette Dodane. Together with her husband Paul, she had the courage to take the plunge and took over the company in 1987. The breakthrough came with the ‘Cook & Serve’ concept developed by Paul Dodane. The ‘Mutine’ range with its removable handles, which could be taken straight from the hob to the table, soon became the best-selling cookware in France.
The journey of discovery through the world of family businesses continues: In the next post in our series, you will get to know two companies from Ambiente’s Giving area.
