Friedrich Jahn(1923-1998)
Jahn grew up in an economically unchallenging environment. He was a student at primary and secondary school in Linz. He then completed three advanced training classes. He then completed an apprenticeship as a waiter in Linz. Jahn continued his education at the gastronomy school in Salzburg. During this time he married his wife Hermi. Two daughters were born from this union. In 1955, Jahn made his second attempt to become self-employed. He opened the "Linzer Stüberl" restaurant together with his wife. He came up with the idea of grilling and selling chicken that had been bought cheaply from the United States. The concept of what would later become "Wienerwald" gastronomy was born. The offer was well received and the grilled chickens sold very well.
Jahn expanded quickly. He opened further Wienerwald branches in quick succession. As early as 1965, the Vienna Woods chain consisted of a total of 174 businesses. In 1971 he received the Bavarian Order of Merit. In 1973, the Jahn family suffered a stroke of fate when their daughter Evelyn was kidnapped. The kidnappers were arrested at that time. In the same year Jahn was honored with the Federal Cross of Merit. Two years later, in 1974, there were already 375 Wienerwald branches spread across nine European countries. The Jahn empire also included four tour hotels, 30 Vienna Wood hotels, the revolving restaurant in the Munich Olympic Tower, a wine house and 34 investment companies. In the same year, the first establishments of the "Kick" fast food chain opened. Jahn operated with the franchise system.
In 1978 the number of Wienerwald restaurants totaled 551 branches. The Chicken King continued to enjoy economic growth with its concept of quickly prepared poultry. In the same year, Jahn also gained a foothold in the United States and bought two restaurant chains. The following year he opened his subsidiary "Jahn-Reisen" in the tourism sector. By 1982, Jahn's Vienna Woods empire had grown to a total of 1,600 businesses. It employed around 27,000 people. In the USA, 883 restaurants sold Jahn chicken, 300 of which were run by the large restaurateur himself. The McDonald's and BURGER KING chains led to the economic boom stagnating in the mid-1980s, and Jahn was plagued by liquidity problems.
In addition, there were around 260 million marks in debt to various banking institutions. In this situation, Jahn implemented restructuring measures in the group management. The subsidiary "Jahn-Reisen" took over the tourism company LTU. Jahn withdrew from the operational business area. In 1986 the Wienerwald Group was sold for 20 million German marks. Jahn worked as a consultant for the German Wienerwald Group. Shortly afterwards, Jahn bought back the German part of his former empire for a sum of 2.5 million German marks. Two years later, in 1988, he successfully defended himself in court against the accusation of failing to declare bankruptcy of a subsidiary of the company, and Jahn was acquitted.
In the same year, the British food and catering group acquired Grand Metropolitan Plc. in London all of its Wienerwald branches in Germany. The purchase price was reportedly 40 million marks. Nevertheless, Jahn did not withdraw from the catering business. The now 67-year-old founded four "Schnitzelhaus" restaurants in Augsburg and Munich. He soon sold three of them again. He then founded the consulting company Friedrich Jahn Consulting in Switzerland and the company "Bega" in Munich, through which he worked as a consultant on gastronomy issues. In 1993, Jahn became a member of the board of directors of the Swiss company Caspar E. Manz AG. In the same year he received two awards. He was awarded the Great Decoration of Honor of the Republic of Austria, and the city of Vienna honored him with the city's Golden Cross of Merit.
Jahn expanded quickly. He opened further Wienerwald branches in quick succession. As early as 1965, the Vienna Woods chain consisted of a total of 174 businesses. In 1971 he received the Bavarian Order of Merit. In 1973, the Jahn family suffered a stroke of fate when their daughter Evelyn was kidnapped. The kidnappers were arrested at that time. In the same year Jahn was honored with the Federal Cross of Merit. Two years later, in 1974, there were already 375 Wienerwald branches spread across nine European countries. The Jahn empire also included four tour hotels, 30 Vienna Wood hotels, the revolving restaurant in the Munich Olympic Tower, a wine house and 34 investment companies. In the same year, the first establishments of the "Kick" fast food chain opened. Jahn operated with the franchise system.
In 1978 the number of Wienerwald restaurants totaled 551 branches. The Chicken King continued to enjoy economic growth with its concept of quickly prepared poultry. In the same year, Jahn also gained a foothold in the United States and bought two restaurant chains. The following year he opened his subsidiary "Jahn-Reisen" in the tourism sector. By 1982, Jahn's Vienna Woods empire had grown to a total of 1,600 businesses. It employed around 27,000 people. In the USA, 883 restaurants sold Jahn chicken, 300 of which were run by the large restaurateur himself. The McDonald's and BURGER KING chains led to the economic boom stagnating in the mid-1980s, and Jahn was plagued by liquidity problems.
In addition, there were around 260 million marks in debt to various banking institutions. In this situation, Jahn implemented restructuring measures in the group management. The subsidiary "Jahn-Reisen" took over the tourism company LTU. Jahn withdrew from the operational business area. In 1986 the Wienerwald Group was sold for 20 million German marks. Jahn worked as a consultant for the German Wienerwald Group. Shortly afterwards, Jahn bought back the German part of his former empire for a sum of 2.5 million German marks. Two years later, in 1988, he successfully defended himself in court against the accusation of failing to declare bankruptcy of a subsidiary of the company, and Jahn was acquitted.
In the same year, the British food and catering group acquired Grand Metropolitan Plc. in London all of its Wienerwald branches in Germany. The purchase price was reportedly 40 million marks. Nevertheless, Jahn did not withdraw from the catering business. The now 67-year-old founded four "Schnitzelhaus" restaurants in Augsburg and Munich. He soon sold three of them again. He then founded the consulting company Friedrich Jahn Consulting in Switzerland and the company "Bega" in Munich, through which he worked as a consultant on gastronomy issues. In 1993, Jahn became a member of the board of directors of the Swiss company Caspar E. Manz AG. In the same year he received two awards. He was awarded the Great Decoration of Honor of the Republic of Austria, and the city of Vienna honored him with the city's Golden Cross of Merit.