When Franz Rieks founded his bakery in Nieheim in 1870, he certainly could not have imagined that 150 years later his business would still be run by his great-grandchildren in the fifth generation. Thomas Rieks and his wife Anika have made the bakery famous through more than just their specially created Nieheim grain bread or the sensational bee sting. Their very special connection to the BILSTER BERG also plays a role in their success.

Thomas Rieks is a master baker by passion and his vocation was practically laid in his cradle by his father. His wife Anika always wanted to live out her love of sweet things, become a pastry chef or patissier and travel the world in the process. But then she met Thomas and decided to train as a cook and confectioner in nearby Bielefeld.

Together, the two have been running the family business very successfully for almost three years – a tradition in Nieheim.

First contact with the BILSTER BERG

Thomas Rieks got to know the BILSTER BERG right at the beginning of the construction phase during a guided tour. During this tour, he got into contact with Managing Director Hans-Jürgen von Glasenapp and asked whether the BILSTER BERG had any demand for their baked goods.

The managing director liked the ideas, and just a few days later Thomas and Anika were at the BILSTER BERG together for the first time, bringing sandwiches, coffee and cake for 140 construction workers. Anika explains: “The offer was so well received that we were completely sold out within a very short time. From that day on, we came every noon between 12 and 1 p.m. to provide the workers with sandwiches and home cooking.” The foundation stone of an almost 10-year cooperation was laid.

Challenges during the construction phase

For Anika, every day was a new challenge, because where she could still drive on a road just as the day before, but there was no way through the next day. In addition, the 34-year-old had just become a mother at that time; her son Max took his nap every noon at the BILSTER BERG.

The employees knew nothing about it, because Max always slept peacefully in the car. “It worked fine until the day Max started yelling,” Anika remembers. The construction workers were very surprised at first. But relatively quickly, a worker grabbed Max and took him for a ride in the excavator. So Max fell asleep again and everyone got their lunch on time.

The BILSTER BERG is part of the family

To this day, Anika or an employee of the bakery drives to the BILSTER BERG every day and brings baked goods, for some events even several times a day.

For Anika, the BILSTER BERG is part of the family. “I almost feel at home here. That’s probably because I’ve been here since the beginning! The grounds are great and the people are all super nice.” Her personal highlight, however, are the sunrises and sunsets. “They are simply unbeatable at the BILSTER BERG. You almost don’t need to go to the beach anymore,” she says with a laugh.

Anyone who asks Anika Rieks about experiences at the BILSTER BERG that she remembers most spontaneously blurts out: “BMW! When BMW organised an event at the BILSTER BERG for six weeks in 2019, it was already a huge logistical challenge for our entire team. Baking for over 4,000 people in six weeks – you don’t have that every day! But in the end everyone was happy and we were almost sad when it was all over. We were ready for a holiday afterwards,” Anika smiles.

Anika and Thomas also like to visit the BILSTER BERG in their free time. At the beginning of the year (even before Corona) they had a big party to celebrate Thomas’ 40th birthday. And whenever time allows, they go for a spin on the BILSTER BERG. “Whether as co-drivers or behind the wheel ourselves, it’s always a highlight for both of us,” says Thomas Rieks.

Support for regional companies especially in difficult times

Of course, the Corona pandemic also initially confronted the Rieks bakery with major challenges: “Since then, supplying has involved much more effort for us. For example, every loaf of bread, every piece of cake has to be packed individually. But somehow that works. And it doesn’t matter, that’s just the way it is now,” explains Anika Rieks. “But the cooperation with the BILSTER BERG has worked very well even during this difficult time!”

BILSTER BERG feels the same way. Hans-Jürgen von Glasenapp says: “It has been very important for us to work with local and regional companies from the very beginning. Especially in difficult times like the Corona pandemic, it shows that you can count on each other. As long as we have events, we will rely on the excellent quality of Bäckerei Rieks.” And Anika Rieks concludes, “We have grown very fond of the BERG through our years of working together and therefore give our best every day again. We look forward to many more years at BILSTER BERG!”