Like father like son

Ralf: I spoke to Bernd Rupprecht, Head of Sales & Market Development Catering at B.PRO, about my succession. He basically asked me when I was going to jump into the pit (laughs). No, seriously: he wanted to know whether my son might be interested in following in my footsteps. I replied that Lennart was very happy where he was - but maybe he could be persuaded.

Lennart: Mr Rupprecht told me about B.PRO's vision in terms of automation. And although I was happy at my former company, it sounded so exciting to me that I made the switch right away. Because I know from my discussions with end customers how important it is to automate strenuous, repetitive work - also to counteract the shortage of skilled labour. Being able to help shape this aspect also means further personal development for me. I now look after our customers in the DACH region. It's a job that I really enjoy!

Ralf: I particularly appreciate the trust placed in me at B.PRO, because I can work very independently. And we have a great team. I would say that over the past 33 years, 96 per cent of the work at B.PRO has been good. And the rest was always ironed out by someone (laughs).

Lennart: When you've been with the company for so long, it must be a good fit! My father's positive experiences encouraged me to switch to B.PRO. And this impression has been confirmed. The team gave me a great welcome. The management supports the topic of automation 100 per cent - an area that is still in its infancy throughout the industry. Unlike in the usual sales business, here I have the freedom to give creative input, which is gratefully accepted and implemented. I enjoy this pioneering work!

Ralf: Yes, there actually was one. I had an offer to take over my own company in the Frankfurt area. The process was already well advanced when I spoke to the then Managing Director Rolf Waldi about it. His first sentence was: "You're not going anywhere!" In an incredibly open conversation, we worked out various measures that persuaded me to stay. Among other things, Mr Waldi took on my wife, who then spent around ten years creating drawings and animations for B.PRO food serving systems. That was a great time for us. My wife was able to work from home, so the children were well looked after. I was very grateful to Mr Waldi for making this possible in such an unconventional way. We are still in contact today.

Ralf: I am convinced that B.PRO is on the right track. The move to push ahead with automation is simply fantastic. Nobody has dared to do that before us. That's why I'm a bit envious of Lennart, to be honest. He gets to work in a field in which a lot is currently happening. This clearly shows the energy that exists in our company!

Lennart: I was given a very warm welcome. I was given a tour of the plant and of course got to know my colleagues and the organisational structure in the Automation division. The onboarding process was structured and you could tell that someone had put a lot of thought into it.

Lennart: As I have experience in both project work and sales, I take a holistic view of the topic of commercial kitchens. I see the customers' needs and the potential for optimising processes. My age certainly also plays a major role. I grew up with the topics of automation and digitalisation - unlike my father, for example. I'm happy when he manages to unlock his iPhone. (laughs)

Ralf: Careful my dear!

Lennart: I'm looking forward to driving the topic of automation forward together with my colleagues, because I can see the demand from catering companies, clinics etc. I'm giving 100 per cent for this!

Ralf: At the moment there are few interfaces - to put it simply, Lennart is more likely to be found in the kitchen and I in the dining room. But as B.PRO takes a holistic view of automation, we will certainly be able to organise many appointments together in the future.

Lennart: My father has many strengths, but above all he is very ambitious. For as long as I can remember, he has always been on the road from Monday to Friday - working for B.PRO is his passion. He has acquired a lot of expertise and built up a large network over these 30-plus years. His business partners really appreciate his expertise and his character. But sometimes he just needs to stay calm. If he disagrees with his counterpart on a topic, he tends to become stubborn. I always say: getting upset doesn't get you anywhere except wrinkles!

Ralf: You can see that with me too (laughs)! When I think of Lennart's strengths, a buzzword comes to mind: empathy - not only, but of course also in business. The way he deals with customers is incredible. He has such a relaxed manner, which I see at our trade fair appearances, for example. He's much more relaxed than us old hands, who sometimes have a stick up our arse. He's my son, so I have nothing negative to say about him. I'm just very proud of how he's finding his way in life and what he's achieved!