Wolfgang Grupp in the hospital: How is the Trigema pioneer doing?
Wolfgang Grupp, former Trigema boss, is in the hospital. After 54 years, he handed over the management of the company to the next generation.

Wolfgang Grupp in the hospital: How is the Trigema pioneer doing?
Wolfgang Grupp, the former managing director of Trigema, is currently in the hospital. The 83-year-old, who is considered one of Germany's most famous merchants, was admitted after an incident in his hometown of Burladingen. According to the company spokeswoman, Grupp is doing well for his age and there are no known signs of external influence or a crime. The police had confirmed an operation in Burladingen in which an injured person was taken to hospital in a rescue helicopter. The generations don't have to be particularly worried about him, because Wolfgang Grupp is a veteran of the German textile industry and has managed the fortunes of Trigema for over 50 years.
A transition into the next generation
On January 1, 2024, Wolfgang Grupp handed over management of Trigema to his daughter Bonita and his son Wolfgang junior after almost 54 years. This takeover ensures the continuity of the family business that has existed for over 100 years and consolidates the values that Trigema stands for. While Wolfgang Grupp junior is responsible for B2B sales and digitalization, Bonita Grupp takes care of human resources, e-commerce and marketing. Her mother, Elisabeth Grupp, remains in the company as a partner and manages direct sales.
Trigema is committed to social responsibility, economic stability and the preservation of Germany as a production location. The company is proud that its products are 100 percent “Made in Germany” and advertises high quality. The brand became particularly known for its original commercials with a chimpanzee in a shirt and tie, which has since been replaced by computer animation.
A look at the company figures
In 2022, Trigema's sales were 127.2 million euros and the company employed around 1,160 people. Trigema has established itself as the largest production facility for sports and leisure clothing in the textile industry and has also successfully supplied discounters such as Aldi in the past. It is impressive that Wolfgang Grupp senior managed to take the company out of the red and make it the largest T-shirt and tennis clothing brand in Germany.
The philosophy of Trigema and the new leadership
With the transition to the next generation, the new management team emphasizes responsibility towards employees and the region. The corporate values will continue to be the fundamental guiding principles of management. Wolfgang Grupp senior, who was regularly in the office and still gave advice, is now stepping into the background to give the new generation the space to develop.
Amid these changes, the future of Trigema remains promising, and the family business aims to continue to maintain high quality and standards of excellence in order to remain loyal to future generations. With their management qualifications and a clear plan for the future, Wolfgang Grupp junior and Bonita Grupp have everything under control, so you can look to the next few years with optimism.
For more information about Wolfgang Grupp and his company Trigema, read the detailed reports on fr.de and sueddeutsche.de. To learn more about business succession, visit trigema.de.