On his 2022 summer tour, Mayor Dr. Ulli Meyer wants to draw attention to traditional crafts. "We have many local craftsmen in St. Ingbert who enrich the people and the economy with their expertise and are strong employers. I am pleased that I can get to know the craftsmen and their work personally," says the mayor.
The second stop of the summer tour takes the mayor to the well-established Bäckerei Schweitzer in Rohrbach. Joining him are the economic promoter Martina Quirin and local representative Roland Weber, who has known both the founders and the current owners, the couple Nicole and Michael Steinmann, for a long time. "Even as teenagers, we used to pick up rolls here around 5 a.m. after the Stampes Festival before going home to bed," he recalls with a laugh. The bakery, founded in 1955 by Artur Schweitzer, is an institution in Rohrbach. In 2002, the son Christoph took over the business and handed it over in 2017 to longtime journeyman Michael Steinmann. He also continues the family tradition: today, in the bakery, both his son and his son-in-law work as bakers alongside the boss, and wife Nicole is supported in sales by their daughter, a pastry chef, and an employee. "And then we still have an apprentice girl and an apprentice boy behind the sales counter," Nicole Steinmann happily adds.
In the bakery, it is still as warm as a sauna in the afternoon, even with the oven turned off. "My workday begins at midnight and ends around 8 in the morning. On weekends, I usually start working even earlier. I go to sleep around 5 p.m.," says Michael Steinmann. The original oven from the 1960s is now a rarity. Only baker Steinmann can operate the three-meter-long peel in such a way that the baked goods are placed safely through the slit, slanting upwards into the glowing depth of the oven. "That really takes a lot of practice," he explains. "My guys still have to learn that." The dough is homemade, and the flour comes from the Schuwer mill in Ormersheim. After the large mixing and kneading machine, the dough is shaped into balls in a preformer – the rest is pure handcraft. And it tastes great, too! In the sales room, which still looks like it did in the old days, the scent of butter ring, nut ring, American cookies, nut wedges, and of course various breads and rolls floats in the air. This is what Bäckerei Schweitzer is known for: tradition of the highest quality.
„I am impressed by your work,“ confirms the mayor. „Bread is a staple food and taken for granted by everyone, but there is so much effort behind it. The Schweitzer bakery has a legendary reputation in St. Ingbert, and you can be very proud of that.”
Contact:
Bakery Schweitzer
Ebertstr. 17
66386 St. Ingbert
Opening hours:
Mon to Fri: 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (also open Wednesday afternoons!)
Sat: 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM
