Hans Imhoff

Who was Hans Imhoff?

Hans Imhoff was a German industrialist and businessman. He is founder of the Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum, which bears his name.

Imhoff was born in Cologne to Franz and Charotte Imhoff. After leaving Elementary School he then joined a Trade School, where he trained in Commercial and Vocational Studies. Imhoff founded a chocolate and sugar factory after the war, which became very successful. In 1972 Imhoff took over the failing Stollwerck chocolate company, and managed to convert it into a successful business. He built up a European Chocolate group through acquiring other brands such as Sprengel and Sarotti. Imhoff retired from the company in 2002.

In 1993 Imhoff opened the Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum in Cologne which creates around 650,000 visitors per year. In 2001 the city of Cologne gave Imhoff an honorary citizenship.

Imhoff was married to Clare Gerburg Schmitt, with whom he had four children. He died on 21 December 2007 of an infection caused by lung inflammation.