The foundations of the company Kathi were laid long ago by early generations - thus the present proprietor Rainer Thiele "inherited" its future.
His grandparents - family Thiele and family Pötzsch were domiciled in Halle as bakers and confectioners. Their children, Käthe Pötzsch and Kurt Thiele, married around 1936. The bond laid the foundation stone for "KATHI".
Kurt Thiele founded a wholesale company for baking supplies in 1936. In 1949 Käthe Thiele developed a recipe for the production of a spread for bread "liver sausage pâté" - a big seller in postwar times. She conducted interurban sale by means of a three-wheel vehicle and worked meticulously on further recipes for baking mixes, soups and sauces.
The idea to found a company for the production of comestible goods was close - and was realized with the support of the parents of Käthe and Kurt Thiele. The company Kathi, named after Ka...ethe Thi...ele, was "born" in a garage of the residential house Meckelstraße 25 in Halle.
Production of basic mixes for cakes and dumpling as well as ready-to-cook soups, using purely natural ingredients, commenced in order to make family feeding easier and to disburden women at home.

1.4.1972 Condemnation. Business is continued under the name VEB Backmehlwerk Halle

The brand name "Kathi" remains protected by patent law (trademark law). Rainer Thiele personally pays the expenses at the patent office Berlin – thus all boxes must carry the lettering "Kathi".
Rainer Thiele works as economical director and leaves the company in the same year. He is drafted for reservist service (refusal to join the party). The meanwhile appointed official manager leads the company into the red, since he stems from a foreign branch (metal processing). After his return, Rainer Thiele leaves the company due to considerable discrepancies. Rainer Thiele worked at VEB Süß- und Dauerbackwaren Halle (consolidation of nationally owned companies).

Rainer Thiele resigns from his employment in the compound in order to be able to commit himself anew to the company Kathi.

The application for denationalization is filed, records are repeatedly untraceable. Some of Rainer Thiele’s partners in the denationalization commission were the same persons, who had expropriated his father in 1972.

10/1990 - Following the application for denationalization, Rainer Thiele becomes accountant general at Kathi, in order to be able to attend to the denationalization process and secure the company inventory.

1.1.1992 Foundation of Kathi Rainer Thiele GmbH. Rainer Thiele is managing partner, other partners are his wife Margret Thiele and his Son Marco Thiele.

16.7.1992 Entry in the commercial register HRB No. 4206

1991 - Filling of foreign products (co-packer function), in order to secure the company’s existence. Own products will again be manufactured as of the 2nd half-year

Commencement of reconstruction/modernization / new development of the production and administration buildings

Inauguration of the completely automated manufacturing plant (13 million DM investment volume)

The special identity of the trade mark Kathi refers to the clear commitment to corporate responsibility as owner family.
The legendary son of the founders and successful manager of the reprivatisation organises with his professional high specialised family the future of the company. “Kathi” stays a family. The new generation takes over responsible duties in the family business.

Family Thiele: partners and managing partner

Managing partner: Dipl.-Kfm. Rainer Thiele

Sales manager: Marco Thiele

Manufacturing and engineering manager: Thomas Wilhelm

Marketing manager: Ulrike Petermann

Festival at Kathi

On 5. June 2004, a festival connected with an open day took place on the premises of Kathi.
Occasion for the event was the 10 year jubilee of the premises in the Berliner Straße built up 1994.
About 5,000 guests from politic and economy as well as people of the city Halle enjoyed in spite of contrarious whether conditions a colourful program moderated by “Georg Friedrich Händel”.
Highlight of the festival was the presentation of the Händel cake, a unique composition with marzipan and poppy seed with a decoration of cocoa.

Inauguration of the new stock and logistic complex of the Kathi Rainer Thiele GmbH

On 16 November 2006, about 400 guests celebrated with family Thiele and the employees of the company the inauguration of the new stock and logistic complex of the Kahti Rainer Thiele GmbH.

55 years Kathi

The Kathi Rainer Thiele GmbH, founded 1951 by the parents of the managing partner, Kaethe and Kurth Thiele, in Halle (Saale) looks back on 55 years of an emotional and successful company and trade mark history.
For this reason we celebrate in our domestic market and this with a Kathi-jubilee tour through 100 markets in the new Bundeslaender.
We are out on promotion with an in-store carriage in the design of the 50s bake cakes, inform and advise customers.