Gebr. Schoemaker Team

1888 The Port of Bremen is inaugurated and Wilhelm Janssen Schoemaker and Diedrich Schoemaker start operating a ship supply business under the company name Gebr. Schoemaker.

1913 Staff numbers grow to 21, up from five in the early years.

1919 The Schoemaker brothers are not only ship suppliers, but also majority owners of a proud sailing ship: the three-masted “Olga Mathilde”.

1919-1939 Gebr. Schoemaker works for no less than 183 German and foreign shipping companies.

1937 The whaling ship “UNITAS” begins its sea trials, well stocked by Gebr. Schoemaker with all required supplies. The ship supplier is also commissioned to source the equipment for its first nine-month voyage to the Antarctic.
The fleet includes eight vessels, some of which accompany their “mother ship” during the sea trials.

1938 Luxury liners sail on the traditional route from Bremerhaven to New York. The provisions for the passengers are supplied by Gebr. Schoemaker. At this time, Gebr. Schoemaker also has its own coffee blend.

1945-1963 From 1948 onwards, German ships were once again permitted to carry cargo and German ship suppliers were able to offer their services to foreign vessels again. At this time, Gebr. Schoemaker immediately weighs anchor. By 1950, the company succeeds in regaining a good 40 per cent of its order volume and continues its stable growth.

1967 On 1 May, Jochen Heyke takes over the management of Gebr. Schoemaker as general partner.

1973 In only ten days, Gebr. Schoemaker delivers 900 tons of provisions for 6,300 UN troops stationed in the neutral zone on the Suez Canal.

1978 With a staff of 70, Gebr. Schoemaker moves to its new, modern company headquarters in Bayernstrasse.

1983 Gebr. Schoemaker takes over the operation of the duty-free shops at Bremen Airport until 2015.

1989 The company’s new administration building is completed.

2000 New additional state-of-the-art dry and refrigerated warehouses are built. With a total capacity of available space for more than 5,000 pallets and more than 30,000 cubic metres, or 1.1 million cubic feet, Gebr. Schoemaker is well prepared for the new millennium and the challenges of a global market.

2003/2004 Further expansion of office and warehouse capacity to meet growing market requirements.

2004 Strategic positioning: consolidation of activities in high-growth sectors as well as strategic investments in infrastructure such as warehouses and IT, and in personnel.

2005  Implementation of a state-of-the-art ERP system.

2006 Jörg Heyke becomes majority managing partner. HACCP approval is granted.

2009 Growth continues: Gebr. Schoemaker employs over 100 people for the first time and receives an award for training the best apprentice in her year.

2011 Gebr. Schoemaker regularly services more than 50 different cruise ships worldwide. To manage the ever-growing business, the company premises and warehouses are revamped. More than 3,000 additional storage positions are created.
Gebr. Schoemaker receives the status of European Union Authorized Economic Operator (AEO certification).

2012 Gebr. Schoemaker loads more than 5,000 trucks and once again wins the award for best apprenticeship training.

2013 Storage capacity is extended further by taking over the management of another large warehouse complex. Jennifer Heyke joins the company.

2024 Strategic positioning: Consolidation of activities towards growing sectors; strategic investments in infrastructure (warehouse, IT) and HR.