Investigative measures have included reviews of data supplied by various national entities in line with the ongoing inquiry.
In the bustling city of Hamburg, a food company named Forrest Cook has been delivering meals to around 3,000 children in dozens of daycare centers for several years. However, the company's origins and the entities behind it remain shrouded in mystery, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
Forrest Cook operates under the umbrella of the daycare provider Waldforscher gGmbH. Yet, a search for the founder of Forrest Cook yields no results, and the responsible parties behind Waldforscher appear to have a complex web of around a dozen participation, real estate, and asset management firms.
A man named Anatol Weidemann, also known as Weydemann and Arturo von Dziengel, is at the center of this web but is not listed in any official position in the company register. Weidemann, when questioned, feels untouchable and suggests that no explanation or justification is required.
The Hamburg Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating Waldforscher gGmbH for a serious allegation of tax evasion. The issue seems sensitive; even the responsible authorities do not provide clear information. An insider who wants to remain anonymous says, "The longer it runs, the less noticeable it becomes."
There is a blatant lack of transparency in the daycare centers sector, with only a few profit-oriented, globally active corporations currently active. The market is dominated by small businesses, but the picture has changed in some cities. The prospect of good money attracts more and more new providers, and the competition for children has begun.
Increasingly, international corporations are making inroads on the market, buying up smaller companies, and the market is concentrating on ever larger companies. For years, Forrest Cook generated millions in revenue annually while appearing as a small nature daycare provider.
The case of the large kitchen rented by Weidemann in a Hamburg industrial area in 2016 has been pending in court for years, with a first lawsuit dismissed in most points, and an appeal trial currently underway. Weidemann's former landlady accuses him of not fully transferring the rent after a few months and, according to her account, of completely looting the kitchen's equipment in the end.
CORRECTIV, a German investigative journalism platform, has photos, inventory lists, and documented statements that seem to confirm the incident. Weidemann denied the allegations in court and did not respond to CORRECTIV's request for comment.
Private Equity Firms and investment companies advertise with stable returns, coupled with a good feeling; the talk is of sustainable investments and low-risk investments. However, the case of Forrest Cook raises questions about the true nature of these investments and the importance of transparency in the sector.
Experts argue that it is absolutely necessary to have nationwide uniform standards to ensure equal, good nutrition everywhere. Doreen Sieberding of the GEW says, "The question is, how are the states responsible for ensuring that no shady business operators are involved." As the case of Forrest Cook continues to unfold, these questions remain unanswered.
