Alfred Ritter has appointed Moritz Ritter and Tim Hoppe as co-CEOs amid a restructuring programme at the German chocolate maker.
The move means “responsibility for the company’s day-to-day operations will once again lie with members of the owner family”, the owner of Ritter Sport and Amicelli brands said in a statement.
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Moritz Ritter and Hoppe are both great-grandchildren of founders Clara and Alfred Ritter.
The pair succeed Andreas Ronken, who is leaving the Waldenbuch-based business after more than two decades, including 11 years as CEO.
Last month, Alfred Ritter said it would cut around 70 jobs at its headquarters, citing the “combination of highly volatile raw material prices, persistently rising costs – particularly for energy and packaging – and a noticeable reluctance to spend on the part of consumers”.
In a joint statement yesterday (18 May), Hoppe and Moritz Ritter said: “Due to the challenging economic situation, we have launched a programme involving painful cuts over the past few months.
“Against this backdrop, we have decided to take responsibility ourselves, working alongside the management and staff to complete the necessary transformation and set the course for a successful future.”
Hoppe and Moritz Ritter are also shareholders in the chocolate business and currently chair the group’s advisory board.
That role will pass to Linda Dauriz, who already sits on the board.
Moritz Ritter has worked at the business since 2009. Hoppe joined in 2011 and has worked as managing director of agricultural trading and transport business Ritter Agrar since 2017.
Commenting on Ronken’s departure, Moritz Ritter said he “had a significant influence on Ritter over the last 20 years and provided important impetus for the company’s further development”.
Hoppe added: “We have great respect for this achievement, both in successful and challenging times, and thank him for his tremendous commitment on behalf of all shareholders.”
Ronken joined Alfred Ritter in 2005 as managing director for production and technology and became CEO in 2015.
“For me, Ritter Sport has always been far more than a traditional family business,” Ronken said.
“The combination of long-term thinking, entrepreneurial courage and clear values has enabled us to drive forward many important future-oriented initiatives together.”
Founded in 1912, Alfred Ritter employs around 1,700 people and posted preliminary sales for 2025 of €712m ($827.2m).
Its brands are sold in more than 100 countries.
In November last year, Alfred Ritter struck a deal to buy Creative Natural Products, the US business behind the Chocolove brand, for an undisclosed sum.
Creative Natural Products, headquartered in Boulder in Colorado, makes its Chocolove products at its facility in the city.
