Today in conversation: Jeanette Gonnermann, Managing Director of Hamburger Trade Association.
Frau Gonnermann, what is currently particularly exciting you about your industry?
Jeanette Gonnermann: I'm still excited by the versatility – of both the topics and the products. Above all, I'm impressed by the passion of the entrepreneurs. Many family businesses look back on a long history and continue to develop continuously despite all challenges. This enthusiasm for their own products and the willingness to always break new ground make the industry so exciting for me.
What innovations do you think are still underestimated?
Jeanette Gonnermann: There are several product innovations. However, I see real great potential primarily in the digitalisation of supply chains and in sourcing. Companies today must design their procurement much more flexibly – for example, through second sourcing or new sources within Europe. I also find the business models of food start-ups, which have established themselves and developed into successful food companies, exciting. These are no longer just about import and traditional trade, but also about direct contact with consumers and building one's own community. I believe that traditional import models must evolve precisely here.
What can we learn from the current changes?
Jeanette Gonnermann: Above all, that nothing can be taken for granted anymore. Companies today must be prepared to adapt constantly. Whether geopolitical conflicts, new tariffs, or disrupted supply chains – developments that others follow in the news are already part of our daily work. That's why good networks, reliable information, and a willingness to remain flexible are more important today than ever before.
What do you wish for the future of the industry?
Jeanette Gonnermann: Above all, more reliability and better predictability. Especially with regard to regulation from Brussels, we often find that requirements are changed multiple times or lack practical relevance. I wish that companies were involved in political decision-making processes earlier. This is precisely where I also see the important role of associations: to represent the interests of companies and to bring the practical perspective into political discussions.
What personally gives you hope for the future?
Jeanette Gonnermann: My children! They look at many things with an ease and optimism that we adults have often lost. Recently, they were playing badminton together. My son was frustrated because it wasn’t working out right away. Then his sister simply said, „You’re good enough.“ This sentence motivated him to keep going – and indeed, he got better and better. I believe that this is precisely the attitude we adults can also maintain: accepting challenges, believing in ourselves, and not letting ourselves be discouraged. Fundamentally, I always try to see the positive. For me, the glass is always half-full. This attitude helps me to look optimistically ahead, even in difficult times.
