Anett Wahl (43) learned all the bakery processes from the ground up and took over the family business in 2017. (Photo: © HWK Cottbus)
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June 13, 2022
Anett Wahl, owner of the Wahl GmbH bakery and confectionery business with over 40 branches, is the "Female Entrepreneur of the State of Brandenburg 2022." The 43-year-old took over the family business in 2017. She focuses on digitalization and process optimization.
Anett Wahl from Bestensee is "Brandenburg's Businesswoman of the Year 2022". The owner of the bakery and confectionery Wahl GmbH in Potsdam was honored by Minister of Economic Affairs Jörg Steinbach and Minister of Social Affairs Ursula Nonnemacher at the 13th Brandenburg Businesswomen's and Founders' Day (UGT).
Anett Wahl (43) is the owner of the Wahl bakery and confectionery, which has more than 40 branches and over 230 employees. She learned all aspects of the bakery business from the ground up and took over the family business in 2017.
"She is thus continuing her parents' life's work with great dedication," reports the Cottbus Chamber of Skilled Crafts . All baked goods are made in the branches from fresh dough (no frozen pre-made products) to guarantee absolute freshness and the best quality. Anett Wahl considers it important to continuously scrutinize not only her products but also the processing methods.
"She has established her own team to develop new products and optimize existing ones . And she focuses on digitalization – from personnel scheduling and route planning to GPS control of the vehicle fleet and a fully networked bakery. For internal ordering, the entrepreneur uses an AI system that calculates and processes orders," the jury stated.
Operations management
Operations management
Craft policy
Anett Wahl receives 3.000 euros for the 1st prize as entrepreneur of the state of Brandenburg 2022.
"I am delighted that the title is coming to southern Brandenburg this year. Anett Wahl is consistently pursuing her path in a challenging, rapidly changing industry," says Corina Reifenstein, President of the Cottbus Chamber of Skilled Crafts . "Around 22 percent of our craft businesses are run by women – and that number is rising. This gives us courage and encourages us to continue on our path," adds the civil engineer.
"In the future, we need many more courageous female founders like Anett Wahl, who aren't afraid to take the risk of founding a company or taking over a business," Reifenstein continued. More than 2.000 skilled trades businesses will face a generational change and thus a successful business handover in the next five years.
Minister-President Dietmar Woidke , patron of the competition, congratulated the winners and emphasized in his message that the prize should encourage other women to "help shape Brandenburg, bring innovations to the market and strengthen the economic power in our state".
Joanna Hajnaj came in second place in the 2022 Businesswoman of the Year competition . She is the managing director of Environmental Protection Technologies for Storage Tanks GmbH in Schwedt (Uckermark). Third place went to Vanessa Arend-Martin from Teltow (Potsdam-Mittelmark). She is the managing director of Buchkontor Teltow.
The "Brandenburg State Entrepreneur of the Year" award, endowed with €1.500, was presented for the fourth time since 2018. A total of 79 applications were submitted for both awards. The competition and the UGT (Industrial Partnership) were held under the motto " Strong Women. Strong Economy."
Labor Minister Jörg Steinbach praised the award winners as resourceful, courageous, and dedicated entrepreneurs : "Around one-third of Brandenburg's companies are run by women. Every single female entrepreneur who holds her own in the market strengthens the economic power of our state. Whether they have founded a new company or taken over an existing one – they have all invested a great deal of time, energy, and perseverance and therefore deserve respect and recognition."
The competition helps to showcase the economic potential of female entrepreneurs and founders in Brandenburg and to document their performance and innovative strength . "Our goal is to awaken even more entrepreneurial spirit and to inspire and ignite passion for a life as an entrepreneur."
Social Affairs Minister Ursula Nonnemacher also emphasized the exemplary nature of the female entrepreneurs: "Brandenburg needs more female founders and entrepreneurs, needs more women in leadership positions. With these awards, we want to encourage even more women in Brandenburg to realize their ideas by starting their own businesses. The award winners impressively demonstrate how successful women already are in a wide variety of sectors."
Female entrepreneurs holding at least 25 percent of the company shares and a management position, micro-entrepreneurs, freelancers, solo entrepreneurs, and female start-ups based in the state of Brandenburg were eligible to apply for the competition . Jury evaluation criteria included company presentation, sustainability, and volunteer work. A requirement for applying for the "Brandenburg State Start-up Award" was that the business could not have been founded before January 1, 2020. The Women Entrepreneurs and Founders Day is funded by the European Social Fund and the state of Brandenburg.
Sources: Chamber of Crafts Cottbus; UGT Brandenburg
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