Martin Sommer, General Manager, Wilhelm Rosebrock GmbH in Bremen, Germany, tells FIDI Focus why rejoining FIDI is an important development for his company
Wilhelm Rosebrock GmbH & Co. KG is a company of 120 people that can trace its history to the end of the 19th century, when founder Wilhelm Rosebrock ran a horse-drawn shuttle service from the port at Bremen.
Company stories can be complex. So, let’s make this one simple. In the 1930s, Martin Sommer’s grandfather joined the company and started the household goods moving service. Then, after World War II, Germany was left with 360,000 US troops stationed in the country – there was an obvious opportunity.
‘We were one of the first companies in Germany to work on the US military household goods contract,’ says Sommer. ‘We’ve been doing it ever since, gradually expanding to service practically all of Europe with our partners.’ After the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, the business decided to focus more on corporate and private moving.
When Sommer joined the company 20 years ago, Rosebrock expanded its expertise in domestic and international moving and the worldwide transportation of cargo; this was timely, as the number of US troops in Germany was diminishing. Making the change was a slow process, says Sommer. ‘We were like a large ocean ship taking time to change direction.’
Today, the team is building on that strategy – which is why FIDI membership matters.
Sommer has looked east, opening a branch in Warsaw in 2018, which has been successful. ‘It’s been a blessing,’ he says. ‘We have a team of 14 good people there and a strong available workforce that will support our expansion in Poland, processing general cargo shipments worldwide for our national and international customers.’
He is also very proud of Rosebrock’s expanding port operations in Bremerhaven. ‘Our new facility allowed us to grow our handling by roughly 300 40ft containers a month, with our own teams and equipment, very quickly. We’d like to do more if we can. It’s really working well for us.’ The next step was Rosebrock’s compound becoming an official custom-bonded area in January 2024.
These developments have helped to grow Rosebrock’s domestic and international moving business and have led to FIDI membership. Today, the company handles all facets of international moving for partners and customers worldwide.
So, in this competitive market, what makes Rosebrock special?
‘It’s our team,’ Sommer says. ‘We have the skill and the knowledge to handle every kind of shipment worldwide with our own resources. We can book cargo ourselves – ocean freight, air freight or a truck – we don’t have to use brokers. Even the customs clearance in and out of the EU is handled by one of our teams. The expertise and qualifications are all in-house. We also have a strong network of partners.’ And it is when problems arise that the Rosebrock experience really shines. ‘It’s when things get tough that we have the opportunity to show how good we are.’
Rosebrock has been a FIDI member before, but when FAIM was introduced, the previous management didn’t see the need to be certified. ‘It wasn’t their way of doing business,’ says Martin.
Becoming FIDI-certified again has been a long journey that started with getting various ISO certificates. How does Sommer feel now the process is complete? ‘It’s very satisfying for everybody,’ he says. ‘To pass the first-time audit with no non-conformities shows the dedication of the people involved. We really wanted to be part of the FIDI family again and join some of the best companies in our industry.’
Rosebrock attended the FIDI Conference in Edinburgh with three of his team, including representation in the FIDI 39 Club. Sommer is keen to get more involved with FIDI, but recognises that, as a newcomer, he needs to sit back and watch first. Everyone in the company is excited to become part of the FIDI family. ‘We are a strong team and we are proud of our history,’ he says. ‘You can rely on us.’
