TRADITION UND UNTERNEHMERGEIST
Tradition and entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship is a characteristic of the company, with Egon Schindel - third-generation company director - at the helm since 1989.


Synopsis of our company history:


1781


1818


1895


1911


1977


2001


2005


2005


2007


2007

  • 1781
    • The first spring, Weyherser Stahlquelle, is harnessed by senior civil servant Georg Ignazius Weikard with support from his famous brother, Melchior Adam Weikard, who was personal physician of prince-bishop Heinrich von Bibra and from 1784 royal physician for Empress Catherine II of Russia.
  • 1812
    • The "Weyherser Stahlbrunnen" is established.
  • 1818
    • Operation of spa facilities and a restaurant begin with official approval from His Majesty the King of Bavaria.
  • 1895
    • Water is filled in - for that day and age, ultra-modern - glass bottles instead of clay jugs.
      The RhönSprudel brand name is registered with the imperial patent office, and the first label is created.
  • 1911
    • Phillip Schindel, grandfather of the current company director, acquires the spring, thereby establishing the tradition of MineralBrunnen RhönSprudel as a family enterprise under the management of the Schindel family.
  • 1977
    • MineralBrunnen RhönSprudel builds a fully biological effluent treatment plant.
  • 1984
    • RhönSprudel mineral water is honorably mentioned in "NATUR" magazine as "Suitable for baby food".
  • 1988
    • Opening ceremonies are held for a new, innovative two-story building, with storage facilities on the lower floor and production facilities on the upper floor. A new high-capacity bottling line for glass bottles with a capacity of 40,000 bottles per hour is put into operation.
  • 1989
    • Egon Schindel takes over management of the company, which means the company has been family-owned for three generations.
  • 1990
  • 1992
    • Egon Schindel and the Bauer family start a joint venture. Establishment of Bauer Fruchtsaft GmbH, a new, modern fruit juice company.
      Take over of Solid Handelsgesellschaft, including the Schluckspecht cash-and-carry chain.
  • 1993
  • 1994
    • RhönSprudel introduces APPLE PLUS, the first ready-mixed fruit juice spritzer in Germany.
  • 1995
    • RhönSprudel group expands across the border by taking over Adelbodner Mineral- und Heilquellen AG in Switzerland.
      Takeover of Getränke Otto GmbH with Spreewaldperle.
      A new tunnel pasteuriser goes into operation at RhönSprudel for natural preservation of fruit juice spritzers in such a way that all valuable vitamins and trace elements are preserved. The product is treated gently, and the system is highly efficient and features an energy-saving heat recovery facility.
  • 1996
    • Introduction of the DIN EN ISO 9001 quality and safety standards and the HACCP concept.
      Construction of a new 10,000 square meter storage facility with underground tunnel leading to the production area.
  • 2001
    • As the top product in its category, RhönSprudel APPLE PLUS is rated as "good" by Stiftung Warentest.
      A new bottling line for refillable and non-refillable PET bottles is put into operation.
  • 2002
    • Takeover of Brauerei Herborner Bärenbräu

      Commissioning of a new building with storage areas on the ground floor and laboratory, office and EDP spaces as well as a canteen at RhönSprudel, involving significant investment.
  • 2003
    • Commencement of distribution cooperation with BIONADE GmbH
  • 2004
    • An old warehouse is demolished in order to make room for a new building, featuring storage facilities on the ground floor and a production plant on the upper level.
  • 2005
    • RhönSprudel Original in 1.0 l refillable PET bottles is rated "very good" by Öko Test.
    • RhönSprudel Naturell in 1.0 l refillable PET bottles is rated "very good" by Öko Test.
    • Commissioning of a new bottling line for refillable PET bottles for soft drinks.
    • Implementation of the innovative LFS 400 software for optimising warehouse operations and control functions, in order to ensure traceability of the products.
  • 2006
  • 2007
    • RhönSprudel invests in a new filling line by Sidel, France für mineralwater and softdrinks with and without CO2. The capacity of the filling line is 25000 bottles per hour for 0.5 l and 1.5 l PET bottles.
    • Implementation of IFS (International Food Standard) with HACCP Concept.
    • RhönSprudel Original in 1.0 l refillable PET bottles is rated „very good“ by Öko Test.
    • RhönSprudel Naturell in 1.0 l refillable PET bottles is rated „very good“ by Öko Test.