Fri Dec 05 10:30:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text followed by a news article version:

Summary:

Following criticism leveled against drugstore chain dm for its stance on engaging with the AfD party after the “Familienunternehmer” association invited party representatives, Rossmann CEO Raoul Roßmann has publicly defended his competitor. Roßmann expressed regret that Rossmann’s withdrawal from the association was used to attack dm’s position. Dm’s CEO, Christoph Werner, said they received criticism for allegedly supporting the AfD. Roßmann emphasized that the debate has been oversimplified and that his company’s relationship with dm is based on mutual respect and a long-standing friendship between their fathers.

News Article:

Rossmann CEO Defends DM Amidst Controversy Over AfD Engagement

BERLIN – Raoul Roßmann, CEO of drugstore giant Rossmann, has publicly defended rival company dm following a wave of criticism surrounding dm’s response to the “Familienunternehmer” (Family Business Owners) association inviting representatives from the right-wing AfD party to a recent event.

The “Familienunternehmer” association sparked controversy last week with its decision to include AfD representatives in a parliamentary evening, leading several prominent companies, including Rossmann and Vorwerk, to withdraw their membership. Dm, however, stated that political disagreements should be addressed through dialogue and debate, rather than exclusion.

This stance drew immediate criticism, with accusations of supporting the AfD leveled against dm and its CEO, Christoph Werner. Werner reported a surge of negative feedback, saying, “I received a lot of letters, and our social media channels were inundated with criticism. It was implied that I and the company were taking sides with the AfD.” He condemned the use of “slander, shaming, and calls for boycotts” in public discourse.

Roßmann has now stepped in to express his support for dm, stating in an interview with German newspaper “Die Zeit”, “I want to emphasize that I deeply regret how our withdrawal from the Association of Family Entrepreneurs was used to denigrate the upstanding stance of you, Christoph, and of dm.” He emphasized that the situation had been misrepresented and boiled down to “Rossmann versus dm.”

“This annoys me because our relationship is characterized by mutual respect. It is also based on the friendship of our fathers,” Roßmann explained, highlighting the longstanding ties between the two companies. The public defense comes as the role of businesses in engaging with political parties remains a hotly debated topic in Germany.

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