The long-standing fish shop, Fisch-Feinkost Klaassen, in Emden, Germany, is closing its doors after 37 years. This marks the end of a family business spanning over 150 years.
The closure isn't due to economic hardship. The Klaassen family received an unexpected purchase offer and accepted it for future prospects, involving a collaboration with a Greetsiel-based crab dealer.
The Klaassen family—Dieter, Petra, and Matthias—are transitioning to Greetsiel, joining the newly formed joint venture with crab dealer Bernd de Beer, Dutch shrimp supplier van Belzen, and Jakob Smit. They will be employed rather than self-employed, exchanging their high workload (70+ hours/week) for a more balanced lifestyle.
Matthias Klaassen's successful online fish business, developed since 2009, will also be taken over and continue under the same name. He will lead this division of the new venture.
The company was founded in 1874, starting with Dieter Klaassen's great-grandfather. The business had seven employees and included a production facility. Dieter Klaassen primarily handled production, while Petra Klaassen focused on sales.
While the family is looking forward to the future, they regret the abrupt closure and the inability to personally say goodbye to all their loyal customers. The 150-year history of the independent family business in Emden has concluded.