In April 1874, entrepreneur Heinrich Gratenau founds his own company with 240 Marks of equity. His initial business with butter, ham and coal does not meet the expectations. When his brother August joins the company they both soon turn to the Scandinavian wood business in which they see good opportunities.
The newly started wood trade is established as a firm pillar of the business. In the following years, the company grows steadily and starts the business with pulp already in 1890. The company H&A Gratenau survives both World Wars and starts its overseas business in the 1950s. The merger with the paper and office supply agent “Karl Hesselbacher”, which was founded in 1880, takes place in 1974 and forms the “Gratenau & Hesselbacher” Group.
1. April: foundation of the company ''HEINRICH GRATENAU'' by Heinrich Gratenau Small business transactions at first, primarily in Oldenburg and East Friesland
August Gratenau joins the company management on 1. September
Start of business with "Halla A. B.”, Kotka, Finland
On 1. January August becomes a partner in the company, which changes its name to “H. & A. GRATENAU” they worked as agent for various Lumber suppliers from Scandinavia d
Pulp from Scandinavia was added to the portfolio
Establishment of the pulp department in Bremen
First office in Hamburg was established and pulp department settled in Hamburg
Hamburg is finally registered as the company´s main office the company is now active in various international trading activities with various forest products
Foundation of the company KARL HESSELBACHER from the company Henry A. Marcus, which was established in 1880 and traded paper and office supplies
Merger of KARL HESSELBACHER and HENRY GABRIELSON an agency for Scandinavian paper mills
Establishment of the “Overseas Wood” department
Merger of KARL HESSELBACHER and PAPIMEX Hamburg
Foundation of „HKG Hesselbacher Papier Import und Export KG“
Death of August Gratenau Jr. led the company successfully into an international player for forest products
Death of Bernhard Hesselbacher
Merger with Karl Hesselbacher
Merger with H. & A. GRATENAU
Transformation of the various companies into a new holding structure with operating subsidiaries. Subsidaries are "Gratenau & Hesselbacher Zellstoff-Papier-Karton GmbH & Co. KG“ (ZePaKa) and “Gratenau Holz GmbH & Co. KG”
Gratenau & Hesselbacher: The Foundation Partners are Christoph Andrée, Wolfgang Friedrichsen, Hans Gräfe, Theodor Gratenau, Günther Gratenau, Klaus Hamkens and Dieter Kieschnik
Gratenau & Hesselbacher is foundation member of the "European Paper Network"
"Gratenau Trading International GmbH & Co. KG" was established and is heading the Warsaw, Prague, Budapest and Bucharest
Gratenau & Hesselbacher develops to a world wide trading organization for forest
products. Offices in Shanghai and Buenos Aires are opened.
The focus of the company turns more into paper business.
Wood business is sold
Gratenau & Hesselbacher is restructured and transformed into a pure paper business company. Graphical paper, packaging paper and paper board are the main columns of the business
Leipa Georg Leinfelder GmbH joins the company as major shareholder with 49%. Since the join Gratenau & Hesselbacher also supports the sales team of Leipa.
The branch office in Dubai is established