Debate about "Family Businesses": These companies leave lobby group because of AfD's stance
n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Diese-Unternehmen-verlassen-Lobbygruppe-wegen-AfD-Kurs-id30077234.html
Photo: n-tv.de · view article
Corporate Exodus Over Lobby Group's AfD EngagementFollowing the October 2025 AfD dialogue, numerous firms have either left or reconsidered their membership in 'Die Familienunternehmer'.
- The association 'Die Familienunternehmer' faced backlash and member losses after deciding to engage in talks with the AfD.
- AfD representatives were invited to a parliamentary evening at Deutsche Bank in October 2025, sparking controversy over the group's political stance.
- Companies such as Rossmann, Vorwerk, and Fritz Kola responded by terminating their memberships.
- Other members, including Melitta, Deichmann, and Goldbeck, are currently evaluating whether their affiliation aligns with their corporate values.
You do not have 'normal conversations' with right-wing extremism. Not as an entrepreneur. Not as part of civil society. Not as democrats.— Thomas Siepmann, entrepreneur of the advertising agency Tas Emotional Marketing, on Linkedin.
Story Details
| Last Updated | |
| Total Articles | 44 |
Main Topics
News on this topic
Das Hamburger Unternehmen Fritz-Kola hat den Verband der Familienunternehmer verlassen.
Grund sei dessen Öffnung für Gespräche mit der AfD: »Eine offene ... Show more
Debate about "Family Businesses": These companies leave lobby group because of AfD's stance
n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Diese-Unternehmen-verlassen-Lobbygruppe-wegen-AfD-Kurs-id30077234.html
OpinionAfD debate: Rossmann and Vorwerk leave business association: The Association of Family Businesses wants to engage with AfD positions and lifts the "contact ban" ...
zdfheute.de/politik/deutschland/rossmann-vorwerk-afd-familienunternehmer-verband-100.html
More articles on this subject
Previous
Because of the AfD's policies: Prominent names are leaving the family business association.
stern.de/wirtschaft/news/wegen-afd-kurs--prominente-namen-verlassen-die-familienunternehmer-36904290.html
Because of AfD's course: Prominent names leave the Family Business Association
stern.de/wirtschaft/news/wegen-afd-kurs--prominente-namen-verlassen-familienunternehmer-verband-36904290.html
Due to AfD dispute: Vorwerk and Rossmann leave family business association: The Association of Family Entrepreneurs is open to talks with the AfD ...
focus.de/politik/deutschland/wegen-afd-streit-vorwerk-und-rossmann-verlassen-familienunternehmer-verband_1036da3c-b69d-4c88-af67-2284e2920bd6.html
Bremen residents leave family business: | "I cannot support this": Rossmann, Vorwerk, Fritz Kola: The first companies have left the association "Die ...
weser-kurier.de/bremen/wirtschaft/bremer-verlassen-familienunternehmer-das-kann-ich-nicht-vertreten-doc83g1w0a0bjs1e1kzkjec
Rapprochement with AfD: Rossmann cancels association membership in protest: There are signs of a rift within the German economy: As a consequence of opening up ...
n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Rossmann-kuendigt-aus-Protest-Verbandsmitgliedschaft-id30070624.html
Rossmann and Vorwerk leave association due to rapprochement with AfD: The Association of Family Businesses is opening itself up to talks with the AfD – | and ...
stern.de/politik/deutschland/rossmann-und-vorwerk-verlassen-verband-wegen-annaeherung-an-afd-36900086.html
OpinionDue to talks with the AfD: Rossmann leaves the Association of Family Entrepreneurs
taz.de/Rossmann-verlaesst-Familienunternehmer-Verband/!6132770/
Is Melitta pulling the plug? After dialogue with the AfD, the Association of Family Businesses is in crisis
szlz.de/lokales/minden-luebbecke/minden/zieht-melitta-die-reissleine-nach-afd-dialog-kriselt-es-bei-verband-der-familienunternehmer-SQX4ZGFMEZCPBLADCOSACWF4WE.html
After rapprochement with the AfD: Rossmann resigns from the association "Die Familienunternehmer"
goettinger-tageblatt.de/wirtschaft/regional/nach-afd-annaeherung-rossmann-tritt-aus-verband-die-familienunternehmer-aus-PYM2VHIKOBEYTLXYVAWCE6MNHY.html
Family business association earns protest for approaching the AfD
zdfheute.de/politik/deutschland/kritik-familienunternehmer-gespraeche-afd-100.html
Rossmann and Vorwerk leave association after opening up to AfD talks: The Association of Family Businesses is opening up to talks with the AfD ...
focus.de/politik/deutschland/rossmann-und-vorwerk-verlassen-verband-nach-oeffnung-fuer-afd-gespraeche_1036da3c-b69d-4c88-af67-2284e2920bd6.html
AfD dispute: Rossmann and Vorwerk leave the Family Businesses Association: The business association "The Family Businesses" wants to open itself up to talks with ...
tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/familienunternehmen-afd-reaktion-rossmann-vorwerk-100.html
Every business owner must talk to AfD politicians – | otherwise chaos threatens: There is outrage because the association "The Family Businesses" is now inviting ...
schwaebische.de/politik/jeder-unternehmer-muss-mit-afd-politikern-reden-sonst-droht-chaos-4137493
After AfD invitation: Rossmann cancels membership of family business association: The Association of Family Businesses announces that it is changing its stance ...
berliner-zeitung.de/news/nach-afd-einladung-rossmann-kuendigt-mitgliedschaft-bei-familienunternehmer-verband-li.10007411
OpinionAfD debate: Bielefeld company Goldbeck reviews membership in association: The construction giant wants to reconsider its membership in the association "The ...
nw.de/nachrichten/wirtschaft/24221997_AfD-Debatte-Bielefelder-Unternehmen-Goldbeck-ueberprueft-Mitgliedschaft-in-Verband.html
Neubaur warns against rapprochement with the AfD: Rossmann and Vorwerk leave the Association of Family Businesses
rp-online.de/nrw/landespolitik/neubaur-warnt-vor-annaeherung-an-afd-rossmann-und-vorwerk-verlassen-familienunternehmer-verband_aid-139644345
After rapprochement with the AfD: Rossmann withdraws from the association "Die Familienunternehmer" (The Family Businesses)
haz.de/wirtschaft/regional/nach-afd-annaeherung-rossmann-tritt-aus-verband-die-familienunternehmer-aus-PYM2VHIKOBEYTLXYVAWCE6MNHY.html
In Protest: After AfD Invitation - | Rossmann and Vorwerk Terminate Membership in Family Business Association
welt.de/wirtschaft/article6926cd06a7ffaf1fe5c74077/aus-protest-nach-afd-einladung-rossmann-und-vorwerk-kuendigen-mitgliedschaft-bei-familienunternehmern.html
Müller, dm, Rossmann: Which companies are opening up to the AfD?: Association of Family Businesses, right-wing major donors: More and more companies are opening ...
freitag.de/autoren/sebastian-baehr/bahlsen-mueller-rossmann-welche-unternehmer-oeffnen-sich-fuer-die-afd
Due to talks with AfD - | Rossmann and Vorwerk resign from the Association of Family Businesses
lebensmittelpraxis.de/industrie-aktuell/46817-wegen-gespraechen-mit-afd-rossmann-und-vorwerk-treten-aus-verband-der-familienunternehmer-aus.html
AfD and the Economy: Is a Firewall Needed?: The Association of Family Businesses is advocating for the removal of the firewall against the AfD ...
t-online.de/finanzen/aktuelles/wirtschaft/id_101017546/afd-und-die-wirtschaft-braucht-es-eine-brandmauer-.html
Rossmann and Vorwerk resign from the Association of Family Businesses, dm under fire
sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/rossmann-vorwerk-familienunternehmer-verband-dm-melitta-li.3344662
Paid articlePaywallAfD dispute: Rossmann leaves the association "The Family Businesses": Dispute at the Association of Family Businesses: Because the leadership wants to open ...
t-online.de/finanzen/aktuelles/wirtschaft/id_101017230/afd-streit-rossmann-verlaesst-verband-die-familienunternehmer-.html
The Association of Family Businesses is opening itself up to talks with the AfD. This is drawing criticism from members. Rossmann is taking action ...
faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/unternehmen/der-verband-der-familienunternehmer-oeffnet-sich-fuer-gespraeche-mit-der-afd-bei-mitgliedern-loest-das-kritik-aus-rossmann-zieht-konsequenzen-andere-unternehmen-sagen-nichts-accg-200267489.html
Protest against AfD rapprochement: Rossmann resigns from the association "The Family Businesses"
haz.de/wirtschaft/regional/protest-gegen-afd-annaeherung-rossmann-tritt-aus-verband-die-familienunternehmer-aus-PYM2VHIKOBEYTLXYVAWCE6MNHY.html
Paid articlePaywall
AfD and German business: Family business owners invite AfD - | no domino effect: Family business owners have invited AfD representatives to an event for the ...
wiwo.de/politik/deutschland/afd-und-deutsche-wirtschaft-familienunternehmer-laden-afd-ein-kein-domino-effekt/100178097.html
Protest against AfD rapprochement: Rossmann resigns from the association "The Family Business Owners"
waz-online.de/wirtschaft/regional/protest-gegen-afd-annaeherung-rossmann-tritt-aus-verband-die-familienunternehmer-aus-PYM2VHIKOBEYTLXYVAWCE6MNHY.html
Paid articlePaywall
Family business owners invite AfD - | sharp criticism: The family business owners invited AfD representatives to an event for the first time ...
op-online.de/politik/familienunternehmer-laden-afd-ein-scharfe-kritik-zr-94054024.html
Next
Similar to This
Previous
Rossmann criticizes the way dm is being handled in the dispute over the AfD: Raoul Rossmann defends competitor dm in the AfD dispute. The Association of Family ...
haz.de/wirtschaft/regional/rossmann-kritisiert-den-umgang-mit-dm-im-streit-um-afd-FM7LG36NUZCKDBF3JZDB5XSVLM.html
Invitation "proven to be a mistake": Association of family entrepreneurs corrects AfD course
n-tv.de/politik/Verband-der-Familienunternehmer-korrigiert-AfD-Kurs-id30089628.html
Family Business Lobby Backtracks After AfD Shitstorm: The influential lobby of family businesses had invited AfD members of parliament to a reception. Now ...
de.euronews.com/business/2025/12/02/lobby-der-familienunternehmen-rudert-nach-shitstorm-wegen-afd-einladung-zuruck
Belated realization by the business association: The Association of Family Businesses is now distancing itself from the AfD - | but it remains to be seen how ...
sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/familienunternehmerverband-kurswechsel-afd-kommentar-li.3347093
OpinionDebate about family businesses: dm and Europa-Park call for a factual discussion with the AfD
swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/dm-europa-park-sachliche-auseinandersetzung-afd-100.html
OpinionAfD: Entrepreneurs should not be intimidated by guilt by association: Organizations like Campact are trying to persuade companies to leave the business ...
nzz.ch/meinung/afd-unternehmer-sollten-sich-nicht-durch-kontaktschuld-einschuechtern-lassen-ld.1914206
Because of AfD invitation: Fritz-Kola terminates membership in the Association of Family Entrepreneurs
berliner-zeitung.de/news/wegen-afd-einladung-fritz-kola-beendet-mitgliedschaft-im-verband-der-familienunternehmer-li.10007895
OpinionAfD debate: Tübingen's Mayor Palmer stands behind family businesses - | Tübingen District - | Reutlinger General-Anzeiger - | gea.de
gea.de/neckar-alb/kreis-tuebingen_artikel,-afd-debatte-t%C3%BCbingens-ob-palmer-stellt-sich-hinterfamilienunternehmer-_arid,7099681.html
Demands to distance themselves from the AfD: Drugstore chain dm is not a member of the family business association after all.
berliner-zeitung.de/news/abgrenzung-zur-afd-gefordert-drogeriekette-dm-ist-doch-kein-mitglied-im-familienunternehmer-verband-li.10007790
Vorwerk ends membership in the Association of Family Businesses: The Wuppertal-based household appliance manufacturer Vorwerk has definitively terminated its ...
wuppertal-total.de/stadtleben/vorwerk-beendet-mitgliedschaft-im-verband-der-familienunternehmer/
AfD divides German economy: Rossmann resigns from family business association, bakers and farmers show willingness to talk
weltwoche.de/daily/afd-spaltet-deutsche-wirtschaft-rossmann-tritt-aus-familienunternehmer-verband-aus-baecker-und-bauern-zeigen-gespraechsbereitschaft/
By no means all business representatives in the country are ignoring the AfD: The debate about how to deal with the AfD is also causing a stir in ...
schwaebische.de/wirtschaft/laengst-nicht-alle-wirtschaftsvertreter-im-land-ignorieren-die-afd-4135462
After rapprochement with AfD: Rossmann resigns from the "Family Businesses" association
waz-online.de/wirtschaft/regional/nach-afd-annaeherung-rossmann-tritt-aus-verband-die-familienunternehmer-aus-PYM2VHIKOBEYTLXYVAWCE6MNHY.html
Paid articlePaywall
This is how Boehringer Ingelheim is reacting to the Association of Family Businesses' rapprochement with the AfD
wiesbadener-kurier.de/wirtschaft/wirtschaft-hessen-und-rheinland-pfalz/so-reagiert-boehringer-auf-den-afd-streit-bei-unternehmern-5192585
Paid articlePaywall Next