Georg Nolte, a key figure in the kitchen and furniture industry, has passed away at the age of 84. The senior head of Nolte Family Holding played a crucial role in developing the business into one of Germany's leading kitchen and furniture brands.
Photo: Nolte Küchen.
Born in 1941 in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Nolte was introduced to the industry at a young age through his grandfather. He began his career at Nolte Küchen before taking over Nolte Möbel in 1966. In 1983, his father, Konrad Nolte, entrusted him with overall responsibility for the company group.
Under his leadership, the company achieved several milestones, including implementing computer-based order processing in 1970, obtaining ISO 9001 certification in 1993, and launching the world's first chipboard recycling plant in 1997. His expansion efforts led to the founding of Express Möbel in 2000 and Express Küchen in 2010, catering to the take-away furniture market.
In 2016, Nolte stepped back from operational business, transferring the supervisory board's chairmanship to external leadership. That same year, he separated the Germersheim chipboard plant from the Nolte Group and later formed a joint venture with Italy's Saviola Group under the name Rheinspan. Today, the Nolte Group comprises Nolte Küchen, Express Küchen, and the partition wall manufacturer Drum.
Following the tragic loss of his first wife, Karin Nolte, in 1995, he established the "Karin Nolte Foundation," supporting disadvantaged individuals and advancements in human medicine. He was later married to his second wife, Erika.
Although he had been absent from the industry in recent years due to a serious car accident, Nolte remained engaged in developments. His son, Konrad Georg Nolte, and daughter, Maren Schmitt-Nolte, now lead the company.
Source: www.kuechennews.de