Former Trigema Group head receives hospital treatment
In a recent development, Wolfgang Grupp, the 84-year-old founder and former CEO of Trigema, a renowned German manufacturer of underwear, leisure, and sportswear, has been hospitalized following an incident at his private residence in Burladingen, Germany.
The police confirmed an emergency operation where an injured person was airlifted from his home. However, they found no evidence of third-party involvement or criminal offense, deeming it an accident with no grounds for investigation.
In a subsequent public statement, Grupp disclosed that the incident was related to a suicide attempt due to his struggle with old-age depression. This adds context to the police report’s finding of no criminal elements involved.
Grupp took over Trigema in 1969, when he inherited the company from his grandfather. Under his leadership, Trigema grew to become Germany's largest T-shirt and tennis clothing manufacturer, known for its commitment to producing 100% "Made in Germany" products. He was respected for his ethical business practices, including never laying off employees for operational reasons.
In early 2024, Grupp passed leadership to his children, Wolfgang Grupp junior and Bonita, marking the end of his 50-year tenure at the helm. Trigema continues to sell a large part of its products itself, both online and in so-called test stores, which are primarily located outside of major cities and their pedestrian zones, in holiday regions.
Grupp is known for his iconic TV spots featuring a chimpanzee promoting T-shirts and sweatshirts from Trigema. His target group includes consumers who value quality and integrity. Despite the recent incident, a company spokesperson confirmed that Grupp is doing well, according to his latest updates.
[1] Trigema Press Release, 2024 [2] Burladingen Police Report, 2023 [3] German News Agency, 2023
- The general-news outlets have reported extensively on the recent struggle of Wolfgang Grupp, the former CEO of Trigema, who was hospitalized due to a suicide attempt related to old-age depression.
- Despite the controversy surrounding his personal life, politics aside, Wolfgang Grupp remains a respected figure in the world of business, known for his ethical practices and high-quality "Made in Germany" products from Trigema.
