VEB Dauerbackwaren Dresden
Former East German state-owned baked goods combine in Dresden, nationalized in 1972 and dissolved after reunification; its Russisch Brot production was continued by Dr. Quendt from 1991.
Last updated September 29, 2026
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Overview
VEB Dauerbackwaren Dresden was a state-owned baked goods enterprise (Volkseigener Betrieb) in Dresden, East Germany. It emerged from the 1972 full nationalization of the traditional Dresden baked goods factory Berger & Böhme Dauerbackwarenfabrik BERBÖ, which had been founded in the late 19th century as the "Original Wiener Waffel-, Hohlhippen-, Bisquit- etc. Special-Fabrik" in Plauen near Dresden. In 1974 the VEB was subordinated to VEB Elite Dauerbackwaren Dresden. The Dresden-Kaitz facility had begun producing Russisch Brot in 1959, a product that became a sought-after "Bückware" (under-the-counter item) in the German Democratic Republic. In 1982 a test laboratory for bakery machinery was established, and in 1988 a continuous Russisch Brot production line developed by a team led by food technologist Hartmut Quendt was first tested. After the political changes of 1989–1990, the VEB was dissolved and liquidated. Hartmut Quendt saved the machine and founded Dr. Quendt Backwaren GmbH in 1991, continuing the Russisch Brot tradition in Dresden. Today Dr. Quendt is part of the Lambertz Group and remains known for Dresdner Russisch Brot, Dominosteine, Dinkelchen, and Dresdner Christstollen. The VEB itself no longer exists as a commercial entity.
History
The origins of VEB Dauerbackwaren Dresden lie in a factory founded in 1876 by the Austrian Wenzel Hromadka Eidam and the Dresden merchant Heinrich Vollmann as the "Original Wiener Waffel-, Hohlhippen-, Bisquit- etc. Special-Fabrik" in Plauen near Dresden. After several changes of ownership and gradual expansion, the production site was partially destroyed in bombing raids in 1945 and rebuilt by 1946. In 1957 the company Berger & Böhme Dauerbackwarenfabrik BERBÖ had to accept state participation. In 1972 it was fully nationalized as VEB Rubro, and in 1974 it was subordinated to VEB Elite Dauerbackwaren Dresden. In 1959 the Kaitzer Straße production site began making Russisch Brot, which became the main product of the later Dr. Quendt KG and was a "Bückware" (scarce under-the-counter item) in the GDR. In 1982 a test laboratory for bakery machinery was set up. In 1988 a continuous Russisch Brot production line developed by a team led by food technologist Hartmut Quendt (1940–2016) was first tested. After the political changes of 1989–1990, VEB Dauerbackwaren was dissolved and liquidated. Quendt saved his machine and founded Dr. Quendt Backwaren GmbH in 1991 to continue Russisch Brot production in Dresden. He drove a delivery van across the country selling Russisch Brot to shops still interested in East German products. In 1992 he legally protected the name "Dr. Quendt," and in the same year Quendt products were listed in the Spar and Allkauf retail chains. In 1994 production of Original Dresdner Christstollen began. In 1999 the Herbert Wendler company, which had gone bankrupt in 1996, was taken over along with its Dominosteine production. In 2000 capacities were expanded at a new site in the Coschütz/Gittersee industrial area, and in 2008 a new building with an expanded factory outlet and visitor center opened there. The company emphasizes its Saxon heritage in marketing, using the designation "Dresdner Russisch Brot." In 2011 the company celebrated its 20th anniversary and 135 years of "Spezialitätenbäckerei Dresden," reintroducing Dominosteine as an organic product after traditional production had been stopped in spring 2010 because necessary prices for high-quality ingredients could not be achieved in retail. In 2014 the Lambertz Group acquired a majority stake in Dr. Quendt through WIKI Aachener Printen und Lebkuchen Spezialitäten-Vertriebs-Gesellschaft mbH, based in Neu-Ulm; the stake was increased to 100% in 2018. Dr. Quendt accounts for only about 3.5% of group business. The best-known products are Dresdner Russisch Brot, Dominosteine, "Bemmchen," and "Dinkelchen," supplemented by Oblaten. In the Advent season Dresdner Christstollen and Mandelstollen are produced. The company was test winner in the Stollen test by Stiftung Warentest in 2022 and, with 3 million pieces annually, is the largest producer and a member of the Schutzverband "Dresdner Stollen" e.V. In 2017 total production reached 4,630 tonnes. In 2018, in time for the annual election of the Saxon Word of the Year, the first "Limiddid Eddischn Säggsisch Brod" without "hard" consonants was introduced, continued in subsequent years. In the 2000s the comic characters Die Abrafaxe from the magazine "Mosaik" adorned various company products.
- 2022
Test winner in Stollen test by Stiftung Warentest.
- 2018
Lambertz increased its stake to 100%; first "Limiddid Eddischn Säggsisch Brod" introduced.
- 2017
Total production reached 4,630 tonnes.
- 2014
Lambertz Group acquired majority stake in Dr. Quendt.
- 2011
20th anniversary and 135 years of "Spezialitätenbäckerei Dresden"; Dominosteine reintroduced as organic product.
- 2008
New building with expanded factory outlet and visitor center opened.
- 2000
Capacity expansion at new site in Coschütz/Gittersee industrial area.
- 1999
Takeover of the Herbert Wendler company and its Dominosteine production.
- 1994
Production of Original Dresdner Christstollen began.
- 1992
Name "Dr. Quendt" legally protected; products listed in Spar and Allkauf chains.
Products and positioning
State-owned producer of long-life baked goods in East Germany; its Russisch Brot line was continued by Dr. Quendt after reunification.
Russisch Brot
A crisp baked specialty, the main product of Dr. Quendt; produced at the Kaitzer Straße site from 1959 and a "Bückware" in the GDR.
Dominosteine
Layered gingerbread confection; production taken over from Herbert Wendler in 1999; reintroduced as organic in 2011.
Dresdner Christstollen
Traditional German Christmas fruit bread; produced since 1994; largest producer with 3 million pieces annually.
Dinkelchen
Spelt-based small baked snack.
Oblaten
Wafer-like baked goods complementing the biscuits/snacks range.
Bemmchen
A known baked product of the company.
Sources3 sources
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