30 Year Anniversary of KiK

Dear Employees, Dear Friends, Dear Partners,
Dear International Guests,
Dear KiK Family!

Thirty years ago, Helmut Kohl was the Chancellor of Germany, Nelson Mandela became the first Black President of South Africa, and Michael Schumacher was the first German to win the Formula 1 World Championship. And... a small store named KiK opened its doors in Düsseldorf Gerresheim.

Today, three decades later, that small store has grown into a vast retail enterprise. Over 4,200 branches in 14 European countries, more than 31,000 employees from over 100 nations – what a great reason to celebrate!

Our mission has always been clear: to offer high-quality products at affordable prices and thus improve the lives of families, young parents, and smart shoppers. We do not offer fast fashion, but long-lasting items and everyday essentials.

In the past 30 years, we have achieved numerous milestones together. From opening new stores across Europe to launching our online shop and starting significant initiatives for sustainability and social responsibility. We are particularly proud of our projects in our production countries such as Bangladesh and Pakistan that help to significantly improve local living and working conditions.

We are not without faults. In the past, there have been crises that affected us as a company and that still resonate to some extent. But: KiK did not bury its head in the sand, but tackled the problems head-on. Sustainability has now become a central pillar of our company. We engage constructively in numerous national and international alliances in the debate on how to effectively achieve better social and environmental standards. Today, we are recognized by politicians, the media, and even critical groups as a fair and reputable partner. We can all be proud of what we have achieved so far.

A special thank you goes to our fantastic employees. You are the true stars of this success story. Without your loyalty, creativity, and tireless dedication, we would not be where we are today. And of course, we also say thank you to our partners and loyal customers who motivate us every day to become even better.

Dear guests, today we not only look back on 30 years of growth and success, but we also look forward to a promising future. We will continue to do our best to improve our product range and our services, explore new markets, and contribute to a more sustainable world.

Let us look to the future with joy and confidence. Let us enjoy this evening and above all: Let us celebrate as only KiK can! To the next 30 years!

Your Management Team

Patrick Zahn     Dirk Ankenbrand     Rüdiger Hartmann