Plastro Mayer produces for well-known brands. Isabel Grupp-Kofler reveals the story behind her success
Most Germans associate the name Grupp with the Trigema company. The entrepreneurial family behind the clothing manufacturer from Burladingen in the Swabian Upland has been present in the German public space for decades.
First, it was Wolfgang Grupp – known for his expressive opinions on talk shows and public appearances, as well as for advertisements featuring Charly the monkey, symbolizing Trigemy textiles produced exclusively in Germany. Today, the company is represented by Bonita and Wolfgang Grupp junior, who took over the reins as the heads and owners of the company over two years ago.
Hidden manufacturer for famous brands
However, there are more companies operating in the extended Grupp family. In Trochtelfingen, less than 20 km from Trigema's headquarters, Plastro Mayer produces injection molded plastic components, as well as cables and power cords. The company also produces components for industrial customers and, upon request, assembles them into a finished product under contract manufacturing. Tool production also takes place within the company.
The managing co-owner is Johannes Grupp, the younger brother of the well-known Wolfgang senior. He is supported in management by his daughter, Isabel Grupp-Kofler. She was recently recognized by Business Insider Deutschland as a “future creator”. “Every household in Germany has something that we produce,” Grupp-Kofler says confidently. “Even if you don't see it at first glance.” Plastro Mayer is not its own consumer brand, but a supplier to companies such as Miele, Liebherr, Kärcher, Hansgrohe, Starmix, Mockmill and Sedus.
Sometimes these are internal components of refrigerators, such as egg or butter containers, other times they are components for small electrical appliances or complete toy sets. None of these services is “rocket science,” Grupp-Kofler admits, but their combination in this form is unique. “This is our key distinction. We are the ones who enable ideas to be realized.”
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Succession and family values
Over the course of 15 years, she gradually matured into her role. She joined the company through an internship program, and before taking up managerial positions, she got to know all the departments. Many of the current 250 employees know her as a child running around the plant.
The path to the company was not obvious to her. “Injection technology and tool construction were not my passion,” admits the graduate of economics and international management in Ravensburg and Reutlingen. “But it's about family and our employees.” Today, the company's portfolio suits her very well, and she gained additional knowledge by studying plastics processing technology part-time at the University of Stuttgart.
Plastro Mayer was founded almost 70 years ago as a subsidiary of Trigema. The name comes from “Plastik Trochtelfingen” and the surname of Josef Mayer, the founder of Trigema. The company has been operating independently since 1976 and achieves approximately EUR 30 million in annual turnover. Three years later, Johannes Grupp became its head – and continues to lead it today.
“When my father retires, that's his decision,” says the daughter, who now focuses mainly on strategy, innovation and branding. The father is responsible for production and financial matters. They make decisions after many, often intense, discussions. “We often agree, but not always. But it's about the issue, and then the topic is closed – no one holds a grudge.”
However, they agree on the strategy: they focus on healthy growth without acquisitions. They also rule out moving production abroad, although it would be cheaper. In this they resemble the philosophy of Wolfgang Grupp from Trigema – “Made in Germany” and the support of local employees. “Maybe it's the family values that we all took from home,” says the entrepreneur, who also has Turkish roots and dual citizenship thanks to her mother. However, he emphasizes that although family relations are close, the companies are independent in business terms.
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The voice of entrepreneurs and public activity
At the same time, he criticizes the policy, demanding better conditions for companies. “Too much interference in the economy leads to chaos” – claims. In her opinion, the state should focus more on safety, infrastructure and competitive energy and labor costs. It is also important to reduce bureaucracy, which particularly burdens the medium-sized enterprise sector.
Grupp-Kofler also operates outside the company: it is, among others, president of Junge Unternehmer Baden-Württemberg, member of Club europäischer Unternehmerinnen and mentor in the Grace Berlin Accelerator program supporting female entrepreneurs. About 70 percent spends time in the company, 30 percent in work-related travel. “I draw inspiration from outside, which I then implement in the company.”
She often speaks publicly about entrepreneurship, leadership, diversity, the role of women in technical professions and succession in family businesses. She is active on social media and has thousands of followers. “Medium-sized businesses need to be visible, and outreach helps with that.”
Since 2024, she has been the wife of Georg Kofler – former director of ProSieben and Premiere, pioneer of HSE24 teleshopping and a famous investor from the program “Die Höhle der Löwen”. Despite her activity on social media, she does not consider herself an influencer.
The text is a translation from German “Die Welt”
