Timeline
Company Kuttenkeuler
1924
The company was founded by Heinrich Kuttenkeuler in Siegburg. Initially trading bicycles and motorcycles.
1925
Expansion to include car trading, car oils and car accessories. Abandonment of the bicycle trade.
1928
Expansion to include mineral oil trading and construction of the first gas station in Siegburg on Frankfurter Straße begins.
1934
Forced cessation of trade in fuels due to forced management by the Nazi regime. Expansion of the company’s activities to include a tire shop and a vulcanization plant.
1937
Relocation of the operating facility to Cologne-Bayenthal.
1942
Relocation of the company to Nümbrecht (already 40 employees at this time).
1948
Move back to Cologne-Bayenthal.
1954
National expansion of the lubricant trade.
1966
Today’s managing director Hans-Willi Müller joins his great-uncle Heinrich Kuttenkeuler’s company. At this time operating 3 gas stations.
1972
Move to the current company headquarters in Cologne-Rodenkirchen.
1983
Death of the company founder Heinrich Kuttenkeuler.
1985
Start of tax warehouse operations for fuels in Neuss.
1991
Expansion of lubricant filling to include another hall and the associated expansion of storage capacity.
1995
Hans-Willi Müller is elected chairman of the Federal Association of Independent Gas Stations (bft). He will remain in office until 2004.
1998
Start of cooperation with Aral by merging an Aral and a bft gas station in Sankt Augustin-Buisdorf.
1999
First new building in the Aral colors in Bonn-Bad Godesberg (180 m² shop); Construction of the first public natural gas filling station in North Rhine-Westphalia at the same location.
2001
Carsten Müller joins after completing his studies. New construction of the Aral station in Blankenheim (350 m² shop and restaurant); Termination of the long-standing collaboration with Texaco and later DEA; ISO 9001 certification
2000 for the lubricants sector;
2003
Further capacity expansion in the lubricants sector.
2004
Automation of lubricant filling.
2006
Expansion of the delivery program in the area of winter chemicals by taking over a business operation (radiator antifreeze, window antifreeze, lubricants).
2009
Carsten Müller becomes managing director.
2012
The bft gas station in Goch was named “Gas Station of the Year.”
Seit 2012
Steady growth and expansion of the gas station network. In addition, expansion of the export business for motor oils and winter chemicals.
Heute
The Kuttenkeuler company is a successful medium-sized company based in Cologne-Rodenkirchen. It employs around 55 people and operates a network of over 60 gas stations across Germany. In addition to gas station operations, the company is also active in the lubricants trade and export business. The total turnover is now over €400 million.
100 years of passion for mobility: Kuttenkeuler celebrates its anniversary
The Kuttenkeuler mineral oil trade is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with a ceremony and an open day. What began in 1924 with a small bicycle shop in Siegburg by Heinrich Kuttenkeuler has developed into a modern company with several gas stations and a wide range of fuels, lubricants and alternative energy sources.
From bicycles to gas stations and lubricants
The company’s history is closely linked to the development of mobility in the 20th century. Starting with the sale and repair of bicycles, Heinrich Kuttenkeuler soon expanded his business to trading in fuels and lubricants. As the number of automobiles on the roads grew, so did the need for gas stations, and so Kuttenkeuler opened the first gas station in 1928.
Hans-Willi Müller takes over and expands the business
After Heinrich Kuttenkeuler’s death in 1983, Hans-Willi Müller took over the entire business. Under his leadership, the Kuttenkeuler mineral oil trade developed into one of the leading providers in the region. Müller was also heavily involved in the Federal Association of Independent Gas Stations (bft) and advocated for the interests of the industry.
Son Carsten Müller leads the company into the third generation
Carsten Müller, the son of Hans-Willi Müller, has been running the company in the second generation since 2004. Like his father, he is passionate about his work and is committed to the future of the industry and the association. In addition to conventional fuels and oils, he also invests in alternative forms such as e-fuels, HVO, hydrogen and electricity.
The future in sight
Looking ahead to the next 100 years, Carsten Müller is convinced that the Kuttenkeuler mineral oil trade will continue to play an important role. “The mobility of the future will be diverse,” said Müller. “We will continue to provide our customers with high-quality fuels and lubricants, but also develop new offerings for alternative energy sources and mobility solutions.”
The third generation is already in the starting blocks
With Carsten Müller’s 3 sons, the third generation is already in the starting blocks to lead the company into the future. The Kuttenkeuler company has been an integral part of the mineral oil industry for 100 years and stands for tradition, innovation and passion for mobility.