Axel Oberwelland & family

Early Life

Axel Oberwelland was born on August 1, 1966, in Bielefeld, Germany. He is part of the fourth generation of his family to be involved in the candy business. He attended high school in Bielefeld, followed by a boarding school near St. Moritz, Switzerland, and then studied business at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Rise to Success

Axel Oberwelland's career began with his inheritance of Storck GmbH, a German candy company. In 2003, he assumed leadership of the company. Storck is well-known for its iconic brands such as Werther's Original, Riesen, and Toffifee. Storck also manufactures house-brand chocolate for Aldi. Under Axel's leadership, Storck has expanded its global presence and continued to be a leader in the confectionery market.

Key Business Strategies

Axel Oberwelland has focused on maintaining the quality of Storck’s products and expanding its reach. Storck has seen continued growth, with products sold in more than 100 countries. While the company's revenue is not publicly disclosed, in 2011 the company was said to have earned about $2.1 billion.

Philanthropy

Storck GmbH established the Stork Foundation in 1992 to protect endangered storks in Germany.