Gender equality

Equality and work-life balance

Commitment is something that comes from the heart. It revolves around issues that move us deeply. As a group of companies, we at Mestemacher have been working hard for more than two decades to improve the compatibility of work and family life, as well as gender equality.

We have recognised positive examples in society with our MESTEMACHER KITA PRIZE, MESTEMACHER AWARD “FEMALE MANAGER OF THE YEAR”, Mestemacher Award Top Father Of The Year / Mothers’ Organisation and Mestemacher Award “LIVING TOGETHER”.

MESTEMACHER KITA PRIZE

In 2001, activities began to promote gender equality and the compatibility of work and family life. The Mestemacher Kita Prize was awarded as the first equality prize. The prize was awarded to daycare centres that made a special contribution to gender equality and offered high-quality childcare. The prize was awarded annually in a different region of Germany in order to specifically support and promote local initiatives.

MESTEMACHER AWARD FEMALE MANAGER OF THE YEAR

The MESTEMACHER AWARD “FEMALE MANAGER OF THE YEAR” was established in 2002. The winner received the valuable silver statue ‘OECONOMIA’ and a prize money of €5,000 for social causes.

The aim of the award was to highlight competent female business experts as role models in the male-dominated world of business. The requirements profile for “FEMALE MANAGER OF THE YEAR” included the quality of the professional biography and commitment to gender equality. The person-oriented selection criteria were also based on the concept of work-life balance: the winner should not only excel in her professional role, but also strive to harmonise work, family, leisure and quality of life and be a role model in this sense.

The MESTEMACHER AWARD “FEMALE MANAGER OF THE YEAR” has been presented 21 times.

Mestemacher Award Top Father Of The Year / Mothers’ Organisation

In 2006, Mestemacher initiated the Mestemacher Award Top Father of the Year. The award recognised the practice of partnership-based marriage and family models. The award-winning fathers each received 5,000 euros. The award honoured fathers who support their wives’ career advancement and are involved in childcare and household chores. The project also aimed to raise public awareness of the importance of the father’s role in the development of infants, toddlers and schoolchildren.

In addition, since 2020, Mestemacher has honoured a mothers’ organisation with a special prize of €5,000. For many women, being a wife and mother is the symbol of a fulfilled, happy and responsible life. However, being a woman, a mother and a working professional is often still a challenge marked by obstacles and gender inequality. Mestemacher therefore awarded the Mestemacher Prize to a mothers’ organisation, as the achievements of mothers and fathers form the backbone of our society. The award drew attention to their achievements.

Mestemacher Award LIVING TOGETHER

Being there for each other, helping each other and supporting each other – that was what the Mestemacher Award “LIVING TOGETHER” was all about. Since 2017, the industrial bakery Mestemacher has been awarding this prize to lifestyles that embody self-help, care and support and in which people treat each other in a democratic and liberal manner. The award winners came from the categories of multi-generational houses, shared accommodation or other lifestyle models. The prize money amounted to 3 × 5,000 euros.

PANEM ET ARTES

1994 – 2013

Art lovers have long been familiar with the ‘PANEM ET ARTES’ bread and art edition. Each year, we presented our wholemeal bread in a decorative new design. The artistically designed tins feature modern paintings by international artists. Since 1994, ‘PANEM ET ARTES’ has not only been an attractive eye-catcher on the bread shelves in shops, but also on kitchen shelves at home

Mestemacher Women’s Calendar

2004 – 2019

The Mestemacher Women’s Calendar contained a large collection of portraits and biographies of outstanding women of the 20th and 21st centuries and top fathers of the 21st century. The Mestemacher Women’s Calendar was intended to promote the cause of gender equality, particularly in business and family life.

The Women’s Calendar celebrated strong, inspiring women and top fathers from a wide variety of walks of life. With impressive portraits, authentic stories and a keen eye for topics such as gender equality in business and family life, empowerment, diversity and community, the calendar offered more than just monthly views – it created space for courage, self-confidence and vision. Each page invited readers to rediscover, accompany and celebrate female and male role models.

Mestemacher Forum Future

2008 – 2012

The Mestemacher Forum Future offered inspiring ideas, practical insights and stimulating discussions on the megatrends of our time. Experts, practitioners and cosmopolitan minds came together to discuss sustainable solutions, innovative lifestyles and social responsibility. The forum created space for exchange, idea development and shared visions of the future. The series of events aimed to inform the public and raise awareness of the opportunities and risks that usually arise from change. The participating experts represented different positions and, as key players, were expected to contribute to a lively discussion.