A Work–Life Balance Milestone for Families: The Koehler Group’s Gretel-Furler Daycare Center Is Officially Inaugurated
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- New daycare center offers spots for up to 95 children
- Move to new facilities to take place in July
- Around 60 guests celebrate new center for daycare, education, and community
The new Gretel-Furler daycare center right next to the Koehler Group in Oberkirch was officially inaugurated with a festive celebration on July 9th. Around 60 guests from the worlds of politics, business, and the community partook in the event and praised the new facilities as an important milestone not only for the work–life balance of families, but also for early childhood education in the region. Since construction began in March 2025, 27 trades and craft businesses, mostly from the region, have contributed to the realization of the Gretel-Furler-Kita.
Koehler: A Truly Family-Friendly Company
Speakers at the inauguration included Koehler Group CEO Kai Furler, KONZEPT-E Managing Director Clemens M. Weegmann, and Oberkirch Mayor Gregor Bühler. Their speeches highlighted just how important modern childcare approaches are, and also described how all stakeholders worked together closely to make the daycare center a reality. “With the Gretel-Furler daycare center, we’re not just opening up much-needed daycare spots, but are also deliberately investing in the future of our employees and our region,” Kai Furler emphasized. “We believe it’s extremely important for us to provide families with the best possible support and create an environment in which kids feel right at home and can flourish from the very start.”
One highlight of the event was the moment when Clemens M. Weegmann and Childcare Center Director Anja Burger were symbolically given the keys to the center by Torsten Schneider of FWD Hausbau and Executive Board of the Koehler Group. In addition, they were delighted with the small personalized bags and branded beanies that children attending the center in the future will receive as a welcome gift and a symbol of just how important they are to the community.
Modern Facilities and an Educational Model Focusing on Individualized Development
The new facilities will provide the perfect foundation for the latest developments in daycare: bright and spacious classrooms, a modern room plan, and lovingly designed outdoor facilities that offer plenty of space for activities, playing, and exploration. The architectural concept was developed by Simon Fellmeth of Bilger Fellmeth Architekten BdA and combines the functional requirements of a modern daycare center with a child-friendly, welcoming design. Another highlight will be what kids get to eat, with a cook preparing fresh food at the daycare center every day, all in line with the children’s needs.
The Gretel-Furler daycare center will be run by KONZEPT-E, which not only boasts over 30 years of experience, but also has its own pedagogical practices for its innovative approach and currently runs 46 daycare and preschool facilities. “Our goal is to provide children with the space and tools they need for self-directed learning, and we’ll be nourishing their strengths and encouraging their curiosity so that they can flourish as individuals,” explained KONZEPT-E’s Clemens M. Weegmann. “The new Gretel-Furler daycare center is the perfect environment for that.” The fees are identical to those charged by the City of Oberkirch and are the same for all families. In addition, there is a flat-rate meal charge for the special nutrition concept.
The children who are currently attending the former St. Josef Kindergarten in Nußbach on a temporary basis will be moving over to the new facilities in Oberkirch at the end of July. Ultimately, these facilities will not just serve as a modern daycare center, but also as an important meeting place for families in the region. “The Gretel Furler Daycare Center is a great asset for Oberkirch, and the city is happy to support and contribute to it by covering a significant portion of its ongoing operating costs,” said Gregor Bühler, mayor of Oberkirch. “Together, we are strengthening the childcare infrastructure and demonstrating how successful collaboration between companies, the operating organization, and the municipality can be.” As a result, in addition to the children of Koehler employees, families in Oberkirch also benefit from the new childcare option, since 40 percent of the spots are allocated by the municipality.
Sustainable Commitment to the Company’s Workforce and the Region
With the inauguration of the Gretel-Furler daycare center, the Koehler Group is once again showing its commitment to the region: The company is creating attractive conditions for its employees, supporting families, and making an important contribution to the city’s social infrastructure. In addition, the company’s close collaborative efforts with KONZEPT-e and the city of Oberkirch show how successful partnerships can create sustainable added value for all stakeholders.
There will be an open house day on September 25th, starting at 3:30 PM, to give Koehler Group employees and residents from the city of Oberkirch the opportunity to visit and learn more about the Gretel-Furler daycare center.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Best regards
Alexander M. Stöckle Corporate Director Marketing & Communications Press Spokesperson
Koehler Holding SE & Co. KG
Tel: +49 7802 81-4749 Fax: +49 7802 81-5749 mailto:alexander.stoeckle@koehler.com