Fritz Lehment

Fritz Lehment GmbH Spirituosenwerk

was a spirits manufacturer based in the Kiel area of Schleswig-Holstein. The company itself used 1868 as its founding date: the date appears on historical Lehment labels, and a photograph taken in Kiel in 1971 shows company signage reading “100 Jahre Lehment, gegr. 1868.” Kiel municipal records document a spirit store operated by Fritz Lehment by 1871; records from 1889–1890 concern the installation of a steam boiler at the business, and records from 1891–1895 identify Fritz Lehment as a distiller selling bottled spirits.

The company expanded from its Kiel operations to a substantial spirits works in nearby Raisdorf. Kiel City Archive photographs document the inauguration of the Fritz Lehment plant at Klausdorfer Straße 28–32 on November 24, 1966, with Friedrich Lehment showing guests through the facility. Contemporary trademark records subsequently identify the company as Fritz Lehment GmbH Spirituosenwerk, Kiel-Raisdorf. Raisdorf has been part of the city of Schwentinental since its 2008 merger with Klausdorf.

In 1968, the Canadian drinks group Seagram acquired a minority stake in Fritz Lehment. A year later, Seagram increased its holding to 100% and became the sole owner of the company. Joachim Lehment remained in management, while Friedrich Lehment moved to another Seagram operation. At the time of the takeover, Silberlöwe Aquavit was listed among Fritz Lehment’s principal brands.