AGROLAB FINALIST OF 'ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR'

Award for innovative strength and personal commitment

Impressive growth rates, innovative excellence and social commitment: For the 17th time, auditing and consulting firm Ernst & Young (EY) has nominated Germany's best medium-sized entrepreneurs. Following a strict, multi-stage selection process, 58 companies made it into the final of the Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 competition, including Dr Paul Wimmer and Dr Helmut Deschauer of AGROLAB GmbH.
"These are remarkable entrepreneurs, who have successfully entered new business segments thanks to their ability to innovate", said Peter Englisch, Global Leader of the EY Family Business Center of Excellence and responsible for the German Entrepreneurs Award.

The 58 finalists stand out due to innovative talent and strong customer commitment. They demonstrate efficient organisational structures with short decision pathways, thus offering a flexible response to changing market conditions. In addition, they are aware of their social responsibility. "This year's finalists demonstrate quite clearly that corporate growth and commitment to society are not mutually exclusive", as Peter Englisch explained.

Innovation and teamwork are the secret to success

Companies finding themselves in the final have achieved tremendous growth rates. They come from all the major industries, achieving average annual sales of 100 million euros and employing an average of 500 people. In 2012, they appointed more than 2,700 new employees as compared to the year before. The AGROLAB GROUP also increased its sales in 2012 by 10 percent, with a 7% rise in the number of employees to 1,055. "AGROLAB pays constant attention to minimising costs and enhancing its services. Such endeavours have made us the market leader in terms of value for money", explains Paul Wimmer.

A major characteristic amongst this year's finalists is the ability to rapidly react to changing market conditions with innovative products and services: they make above-average investments in innovation. Thus they are capable of rapidly bringing new developments to market as well as coping with the growing consolidation of many industries. The successful implementation of innovative concepts is reliant on qualified, dedicated employees. The continuing professional development of employees therefore plays a pivotal role in the companies.

About the Entrepreneur of the Year award

The Entrepreneur of the Year award honours entrepreneurial excellence, which is judged by an independent jury in different categories - globally in over 50 countries, and in 2013 for the 17th time in Germany. The competition, organised by EY, is supported by renowned companies and media enterprises, including DZ BANK, Jaguar, Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper and Manager magazine. In addition to awarding successful entrepreneurs, EY also supports budding entrepreneurs by sponsoring the Entrepreneur of the Year Junior Academy.