Patrick Puhlmann recently visited the family-run business. Accompanied by Seehausen’s mayor, Detlef Neumann, the district administrator spoke with the owner, Kurt Wohlfahrt.
“Would you like a Bierbeißer or something spicy?” Wohlfahrt asked by way of greeting, reaching boldly into the packed display case. If you’re looking for homemade sausage—or specialties from other countries—you’ve come to the right place. And yet, the store and workspace aren’t particularly spacious. Wohlfahrt prioritizes quality over quantity in every aspect of his business. “The heart of our business is my five employees, who have my back. Without this small team, it wouldn’t work,” the butcher explained to his visitors. “They also contribute their own ideas, which is very important.”
Wohlfahrt’s son is also part of the business at the moment. “He’s actually apprenticing with a colleague, but he’s with us right now. We experiment a lot together—we’ve even tried bratwurst with gummy bears before,” says the proud father. He’s delighted that the trade is staying in the family, given its long tradition. Wohlfahrt’s father ran a butcher shop in Goldbeck, and his current business was also once owned by his ancestors. Since 2012, Kurt Wohlfahrt has been known even beyond the district’s borders, having been crowned German champion for the best bratwurst.
The butcher shop owner is currently planning to invest in modernization. High on his list is the purchase of a solar power system, primarily to generate the energy needed for refrigeration more cost-effectively on his own, especially in the summer. Wohlfahrt is also looking forward to the Hanseatic city renovating the parking lot in front of his shop. “We’d like to lease a portion of it and use it for our business,” he says.
After the tasting, Puhlmann and Neumann were impressed by more than just the cookies. The district administrator praised Wohlfahrt’s achievements, which also represent the Stendal district beyond its borders. “In addition to the high quality, another definite plus is incorporating customer feedback into product development. The fact that customers travel over a hundred kilometers just to visit us is proof of that,” said Puhlmann.