Employees of Löwensenf are about to depart for Düsseldorf.

In a significant development, Develey Senf & Feinkost, a Bavarian-based company, has announced the planned closure of its mustard production facility in Düsseldorf. The facility, located on Kieshecker Weg, has been operational since 1965 and currently employs 40 workers who produce the popular Loewensenf and ABB-Mostert brands of mustard.

The news comes as a shock to the employees, with CEO Stefan Durach informing 54 staff members on Tuesday, February 18th, of the closure. The exact number of employees affected beyond the initial 54 is not specified. Additionally, 14 administrative staff are also expected to be impacted.

Loewensenf, a mustard brand closely associated with the state capital of Düsseldorf, has been produced at the Kieshecker Weg facility since 1918. The brand and its iconic recipe will continue, but the production will be moved to another facility. The location of the new production facility has not been disclosed.

The lease agreement for the Kieshecker Weg production facility expires at the end of 2026, but it is not specified if the move will occur before or after this date. What is certain is that the mustard produced in Düsseldorf will no longer be produced at the Kieshecker Weg location.

Despite the closure, the purity law that governs the production of Loewensenf in Düsseldorf will still be adhered to. This law ensures that only natural ingredients are used in the production process. The company operates multiple production sites, and it is expected that the production of Loewensenf will be transferred to one of these facilities.

Interestingly, Develey acquired Loewensenf in 2001. The brand has been a significant part of Düsseldorf's mustard tradition, and the planned closure signals the end of this tradition. However, the company assures that a socially acceptable solution will be found for the employees in Düsseldorf.

The production of ABB-Mostert brands of mustard will not be affected by the closure. The mustard produced in Düsseldorf has been a staple in German households for many years, and this decision is likely to have a significant impact on the local community.

As the situation unfolds, more details are expected to be revealed. The company has not yet disclosed the location of the new production facility for Loewensenf, nor has it specified whether the move will occur before or after the lease agreement expires in 2026.