The history of the KNOX brand

Our history at a glance

1846 - 20. June

Hermann Eduard Zwetz in Blankenhain / Thüringen geboren

1860-1865

Hermann Eduard Zwetz absolviert seine Ausbildung zum Apotheker.

1876 - 16. Mai

Hermann Eduard Zwetz und die Apothekertochter Minna Christiana Amalie Mohrstedt (geb. 10.Jan. 1854) heiraten in der Kirche zu Zörbig.

1877

Apotheker Zwetz übernimmt mit seiner Ehefrau die Löwen-Apotheke in Zörbig bei Halle von Apotheker Gustav Heinrich Mohrstedt. Er führt auch bis 1879 in seinem Wohnort Auma (15 km nördlich von Schleiz) die Markt-Apotheke und erwirbt am 16.11.1877 das Ortsbürgerrecht.

1878 - 14. Nov.

Die Tochter Elisabeth Minna Anna wird in Zörbig geboren.

1884

Sale of the Löwen-Apotheke in Zörbig.

1888

The address book of the city of Schleiz registers „Vorländer and Zwetz“ under the trade classification „chemical compounds“. Acquisition of the property set to become the company's home.

1893 - March 20th

First entry in the trade register by the registration court of Schleiz (the keeping of a trade register was first started in approx. 1890 onwards).

1895 - March 1st

Member of the „Geschichts- und altertumsforschender Verein zu Schleiz“ (Society of Historical and Antique Research concerning Schleiz). In a celebratory declaration from the society dating back to 1902, a presentation by the pharmacist Zwetz on the history of pharmacy is mentioned.

1902

In the city of Schleiz's address book, Hermann Zwetz home address (Greizer Str. 28) is registered. The company register makes mention of a „smoke agent and smouldering material factory“. Hermann Zwetz is also named as a pharmacist in the section of business and commercial tradesmen.

1919 - Dec. 24th

Karl Bayer, a pharmacist in Schleiz, becomes the company's owner

1923 - Nov. 10th

The pharmacist Hermann Zwetz dies at age 77.

1926

In the branch register, the smoking agent factory is registered under the name of pharmacist Carl Bayer.

1949

Elisabeth Bayer, daughter of Hermann Zwetz, is registered as the owner of the smoking agent factory in the trade register on 7 April 1949.

1952

Mrs Bayer surrenders the company. From that time on, it functions as storage for the GHG (Wholesale Cooperative for Fruits and Vegetables) and for the KONSUM. The building slowly began to deteriorate.

1952 - May 31th

Erich Koch purchases the smoking agents factory „Apotheker Hermann Zwetz“ in Schleiz. The business re-opens in Mohorn-Grund in Niedermühle (Am Tharandter Wald 10). Packaging is still carried out in Bayer's manor in Mohorn (demolished in 1994!).

1953 - Jan. 15th

Transcription of the commercial register at the district office of Freital.

1958

The brand‘s name is now „KNOX“

1961

The new factory grounds in 1961

Construction of an office and packaging barrack in Grund (present day location). Export has become an important variable.

1974 - February 15th 9:00 am

A fire almost completely destroys the production hall. The production is resumed step by step in one barrack. The remainders of the main building are roofed on a provisional basis and continue to serve as a warehouse for raw materials. Building materials were practically unavailable in the former East Germany.

1978 - Sep. 5th

Matthias Koch is registered as the owner of the company in the trade register.

1984 - Dec. 1st

After the death of Matthias Koch, Marion Koch continues the company in the old tradition.

1989

The company survives the turbulent times surrounding the political and economic transition.

1990

Expansion of the production halls and warehouses used to date.

1990 - 1995

Increase of productivity, among other things by introduction of new technology, in order to adjust the company to the realities of the economic market.