Company

With foresight, diligence and conscientiousness

Prätorius was founded in 1881 and is today a globally operating company in the duty-free wholesale sector.

From regional merchants to international government partners – we understand the individual requirements of each market. We know the strengths of our suppliers and their product ranges. We bring the two together reliably and cost-effectively.

Family values ​​have guided us through all our changes and over almost 150 years of trading history. They shape our daily interactions within the team as well as our communication and interaction with you as a customer or supplier.

Company history

  • 1881Founding

    Ropes, shackles, groceries – with this product range, Johannes Prätorius founded his trading house in Kappeln in 1881. In the following years, Prätorius developed into a typical ship chandler of the time and was continued by the second and third generations of the Prätorius family through two world wars.



  • 1960er-Jahre"Butter steamer" time

    In the 1960s, the business changed: Johannes Prätorius Jr. took over the company from his father. He recognized the trend of the "butter steamer" era and supplied the shipping companies of the shopping tourism fleet with duty-free merchandise. The era of wholesale trading at Prätorius began.

    Prätorius is expanding its expertise as a wholesaler. The business is becoming more international.

  • seit 1999Development with foresight

    As of July 1, 1999, an EU decision prohibits butter trips. Prätorius thus loses its previously largest business segment. What remains is the experience and knowledge of properly handling customs formalities – and a great deal of foresight in the company's development. Prätorius succeeds in opening up new sales markets and secures the continued success of the trading company.


  • HeuteWorldwide merchant

    Whether it's the German Navy, NATO, or cruise lines, they all rely on Prätorius as a trade expert. With over 100 million euros in sales and a network of over 1,000 suppliers, Prätorius is now the right partner for over 1,200 satisfied customers.




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Management

Claus-Willy Schmidt

Managing Partner

To person:

  • At Prätorius since 1991
  • Keeper of the Quaich since 2004
  • Since 2017 in the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne
  • Purchasing and sales, strategy


Elke Prätorius-Schmidt

Managing Partner

To person:

  • 5th generation of the Prätorius merchant family
  • Since 1991 at Prätorius
  • Training as a merchant in wholesale and foreign trade, followed by a degree in business administration
  • Finance, Administration, HR, Strategy

Nicolaus
Schmidt

Managing Director
 

To person:

  • 6th generation Prätorius
  • At Prätorius since 2020
  • Studies: M.Sc. Global Logistics & Supply chain management
  • Strategic orientation, purchasing and sales, employer branding

For us, trading is a matter of trust. Every day.
That is why we strive for long-term business relationships based on family values.

VISIBILITY & TRANSPARENCY

We know all of our direct suppliers personally. Regular sales statistics and records of goods flows create transparency for suppliers.

PASSION

We love what we do. That's why we do everything with the utmost care. Our enthusiasm for retail is intrinsically motivated and has been rooted in the family for generations.

COMMITMENT

We deliver. This works because our proprietary inventory management system fully maps inventory levels at all times, and we diversify our suppliers and logistics partners.