1873

31.1. Amalie Auguste Melitta Bentz, née Liebscher, is born in Dresden as the daughter of a publisher, "a remarkably pretty woman", of lively spirit, full of energy and aware of her duties.

1904

Horst Bentz is born in Dresden 

1908

Melitta Bentz invents the first usable filter for preparing grounds-free coffee in Marschallstrasse 31 in Dresden.

20.6.   Melitta Bentz receives protection for her "coffee filter with curved and indented bottom and slanting extraction holes" as a registered utility model, together with its corresponding "filtration paper".

8.7.   Melitta Bentz also receives a patent for the above-mentioned "coffee filter"

15.12.   Melitta and Hugo Bentz register a "commercial agency and commission business" with Dresden's Office of Trade. The owner is Amalie Augusta Melitta Bentz, the company's premises are an 8m² room in the family's apartment in Marschallstrasse.

1910

Golden and silver medals at the International Hygiene Fair in Dresden for the "Filtration Apparatus" patented in 1908.

1914

Bottleneck in the production of coffee filters: aluminum is requisitioned to build zeppelins (alternative materials include tin and iron)
Paper mills have to make do with waste materials for paper production.
The German government blocks coffee imports.

1916

Hugo Bentz is drafted to Rumania as a member of the "conscripted militia". His wife Melitta runs the business alone till the war ends. Filter production stops, Melitta earns a living for her family by selling cartons.

1920

Systematic expansion of sales force begins under the management of Willy Bentz.

1922

Export of filters begins (Prague, Basle)

1923

4.8.     The company "Bentz & Sohn OHG" is entered in Dresden's commercial register, (No. 18303), the business object is extended to include "utensils for the household, kitchen, filter paper, tea filters, jars, light shield devices, fork cleaners, cloth holders, household books, savings boxes, cooking and heating apparatus, electrical kitchen appliances".

1925

The characteristic red-and-green branded packs are created in order to differentiate Melitta from its competitors.
100,000 filters in German households, first "advertising brochure" for the filter.

1926

Practical demonstrations in home and kitchen appliance stores with "demonstration ladies" (first time such promotion technique is used by Melitta)

1929

Hugo Bentz buys buildings offering 11,000 m² of space from Sprave AG (chocolate factory) in Minden. The city of Minden exempts the company from "real taxes" (income tax) for the first 5 years.

28.3. The company "Melitta Bentz" is entered into Minden's commercial register.

2.4.  Production starts with 85 employees. The company's complete machinery and fittings are transported from the under-sized premises in Dresden to the spacious new site in Minden within 4 days (Easter).

22.4. "Bentz & Sohn" founds a branch office in Minden

Horst Bentz becomes joint owner of Bentz & Sohn

1930

Melitta introduces Christmas bonus

1932

Typical lettering of Melitta logo is created.
Horst Bentz raises statutory holidays at Melitta from 6 to 15 days.

1934

25.4.   Foundation of first branch in Switzerland (110 employees) marks the start of foreign activities (first in Zürich, then in Egerkingen).

1936 

The fast-drip filter is given its conical shape. The branded "filter bag" is created and patented.
First stand at catering exhibition in Meißen with coffee filters for pubs and restaurants.
Melitta introduces 5-day week with free Saturday.

1937

Melitta logo altered to its current look.
Packaging changed to folding boxes.
Eccentric press with embossing tools purchased to process filter bags (116/min.)

1938

29.11. Name changed to "Melitta Werke Bentz & Sohn".
Social responsibility: foundation of Melitta Aid.
First Melitta advertising film shown at movie theaters.

1940

Sale of coffee filters and filter paper getting increasingly difficult.
Melitta employs "Fremdarbeiter" (foreign workers) from Eastern Europe for certain periods.

1941

Melitta declared "NS-Musterbetrieb" (national socialistic model plant)

1943

Entire peacetime production program (with exception of milk filter material) has to be discontinued. Essential war-time goods have to be produced by order.

1945

18.5. The undestroyed parts of the Minden factory are requisitioned as accommodation for Allied troops. Premises must be vacated within 8 days. Most of the machines have to be left behind.
Provisional accommodation of various departments in other buildings in Minden and the surrounding area.

1946

28.1.   Hugo Bentz dies in Minden

1947

Permission granted to resume production of filter paper, bottlenecks in supply of paper.

1948

Production of normal filter and filter paper range starts again.

1949

Sales force re-established.
Fast-drip filter ranges extended to include catering sizes.

1950

29.6.   Melitta Bentz dies in Holzhausen/Porta.

1951

Company newsletter printed for first time after the war.

1952

Introduction of profit participation for all employees.
Introduction of company pension fund.
Introduction of performance-related bonus system for sales staff.

1953

Foundation of company health insurance fund.
First test runs for production of plastic fast-drip filters.

1954

Production starts at porcelain factory Friesland in Rahling/Varel (former army depot) as new subsidiary factory (production of fast-drip filters).
49 filter bag machines are in operation in Minden.

1955

Horst Bentz becomes sole proprietor of Melitta Werke Bentz und Sohn
Medical report confirms that "Melitta-filtered" coffee is healthier than unfiltered.

1956

Foundation of subsidiary in the Netherlands (Amsterdam) with 8 employees.

1957

Foundation of subsidiary in Austria (Salzburg).
Company's own coffee roasting plant built in Minden.
1.8.   Main factory building in Minden vacated by Allied troops.
Advertising: shop window advertising "50 Years of Melitta" created by Jupp Ernst.

1958

Catering equipment department created (later called Melitta SystemService) and production launch for catering-size coffee machines.
Construction and opening of new administration building in Minden.

1959

Construction of paper factory with Europe's most modern  paper machine in Minden.

1960

Foundation of Canadian subsidiary (Toronto).
Alfred Hennings designs new red-and-green filter paper pack for Melitta.
Feurich-Keks, Munich acquired in February 1960.
Acquisition of Haller-Schokoladenfabrik and Moser-Roth, Stuttgart.

1961

New building for subsidiary in Salzburg.

1962

Foundation of subsidiary in France (Paris).

1963

Foundation of subsidiary in the USA (Cherry Hill, Philadelphia).

1964

Foundation of subsidiary in Denmark (Hedehusene) with 10 employees.

1965

Foundation of subsidiary in Sweden (Handen).

1966

Foundation of subsidiary in Belgium (Sint-Niklaas) with 260 employees.
Acquisition of coffee roaster Carl Ronning, Bremen.
Acquisition of Eul & Günther, Emmerich.

1967

Launch of own plastic film production and conversion facility.
Horst Bentz transfers 90% of shares to his 3 sons (divided equally).
Acquisition of Deutsche Granini GmbH

1968

First South American subsidiary opened in Brazil (Sao Paulo).
Film production starts in Minden with 7 extruders.

1970

Melitta acquires Vox-Kaffee-Werk, Münster.

1971

Coffee and tea machines are awarded "Very Good" certificate by "Stiftung Warentest"

1972

Foundation of subsidiary in Spain (Mostoles)
Foundation of PVG (acquisition of Markmann, Spenge) and entry into vacuum cleaner bag market via grocery store channel.
Melitta hot beverage machines used at Olympic Games in Munich.

1973

Foundation of subsidiary in Argentina (Olivos).
Foundation of subsidiaries in Venezuela and Mexico.
Acquisition of Eul & Günther, Trauchgau.

1974

Melitta Japan Ltd. founded.
Foundation of subsidiary in Columbia.

1975

Production launch at new paper plant in Berlin (investment DM 80 million).

1976

Foundation of Melitta Pacific Ltd., Hong Kong.
Foundation of Melitta Iberica S.A. in Spain.
Production launch of Europe's most modern, computer-controlled high-shelf warehouse for coffee at Kaffee-Rösterei Ronning in Bremen.

1977

Acquisition of Celupa paper mill in Brazil.

1978

Commercial coffee machine department adopts "Melitta aromatechnic" brand.

1979

Investment in Schröter GmbH & Co. KG, Tutzing/Bruchsal (49%) (formerly Wolf).

1980

Production launch of coffee roasting plant in Avaré, Brazil.
Horst Bentz retires from position as general partner.

1981

Jörg and Dr. Thomas Bentz assume management as general partners.
Change in organizational structure (holding companies)
Creation of corporate divisions and corporate staff
Creation of business units/operating divisions

1983

Foundation of subsidiary in Australia.

1984

Horst Bentz dies in Ascona, Switzerland
Introduction of cooperative management principles.
Melitta acquires CILIA Teefilter GmbH, Neuwied.

1985

Concentration on "Melitta Coffee". Ronning and Vox brands discontinued.

1986

UB aromatechnic becomes independent company and responsible for sale of Cafina machines.

1987

"UB aromatechnic" renamed "Melitta SystemService", new location in Minden-Dützen.

1988

5 business fields created with 5 separate brands (Melitta, Toppits, Swirl, Cilia, Aclimat) and own clearly defined areas of expertise.
Melitta Coffee Europe becomes a separate legal entity.
Acquisition of Cafina AG, Switzerland (with 70% majority shareholding).

1989

Acquisition of Reneka S.A., France (100%)

1990

Melitta SystemService becomes separate legal entity.
Egon Wellenbrink is used for Melitta advertising campaign, cooperation with Emil Steinberger.
Melitta is Germany's fastest growing coffee brand.
Germany's only coffee museum is opened in Minden.

1991

Acquisition of the "handy bag" brand, France.

1992

Friesland porcelain factory sold in a management buyout.
Acquisition of "Meny" brand, Sweden.

1993

Dr. Stephan Bentz joins company as general partner.
Schröter GmbH renamed as Wolf GmbH.

1994

Eckes AG merges its fruit juice business with Deutsche Granini. Melitta holds 26% stake in the newly formed Eckes-Granini GmbH.
Marubeni acquires 60% of share capital of Melitta Japan.

1995

Acquisition of West-Clean, Sweden (dust filter bags).
Acquisition of Jovita brand, Brazil.
Production launch of new special-grade paper plant in Neu Kaliss.

1996

Foundation of COFRESCO Frischhalteprodukte GmbH (joint venture of Melitta and DowBrands); Dow contributes the brands Domopak, Albal and Glad; Melitta the brands Toppits, Meny and Handy Bag.
Joint venture with Miele in China (production plant in HongDa)

1997

Investment in ESW GmbH electronic service wilms (30%).
Investment in CODIAC (49%) via Melitta France (entry into French dust filter bag business).

1998

Acquisition of dust filter bag manufacturer Delphy in France.
Sales cooperation with DUNI in the Netherlands

1999

SC Johnson acquires DowBrands share in Cofresco.
Salton produces/markets Melitta coffeemakers under license in the USA
Melitta makes contribution to "forced labor restitution fund" of the German Government

2001

outsourcing of IT activities from a joint venture (is4 consumer products and IT providers), in which Melitta holds a minority share

2002

Foundation of Aqamore (water treatment).
inter-media-globe silver for Melitta's PR film.

2003

New administration building for Melitta Coffee Europe in Bremen.

2004

Melitta USA starts production of new pod machines in Cherry Hill.
Melitta celebrates 75^th anniversary at Minden HQ ("Future Forum 2004-2005")
Horst Bentz born 100 years ago and died 20 years ago.
Eul & Günther sold.
Cofresco launches restructuring program to reduce costs.
World's biggest finger painting created on filter paper (Guinness world record).

2005

Melitta launches its first internal Innovation Award. The company's "Innovation Management" and "Innovation Culture" projects are given high priority.
Chief Corporate Management decides that large parts of the old Melitta Household Products (MH) building are to be demolished and replaced by smaller, new buildings.

2006

Melitta Household Products Europe launches extensive restructuring program affecting all European units (incl. approx. 230 redundancies).
Melitta sells Eckes (fruit juice) shares and buys all shares in Melitta Japan from Marubeni

2007

Cofresco headquarter moves from Paris to Minden.
Wolf buys a production site for vacuum cleaner bags from Airflo Holding B.V. in Overpelt (Belgium) and merges with PVG („Wolf PVG GmbH & Co. KG")

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