Entrepreneurial spirit has run through all four generations of the van Nahmen family. The company was founded in 1917 as a Rhenish apple squash factory. People were starving, and the end of the First World War was not in sight. It all began as a rural business run by a young merchant named Wilhelm van Nahmen (I), who produced apple squash. In a time of hunger and hardship, the young and obviously enterprising entrepreneur seized his opportunity. Rhenish apple and beet squash was a sought-after product, nutritious and rich in energy, and ideally suited to the impoverished population. Just 13 years later, in the autumn of 1930, Wilhelm's son, Wilhelm van Nahmen (II), entered the scene. Wilhelm, 19, also embarked on a new venture with entrepreneurial vision and the courage to try new things. He was not deterred by the harsh times of the Second World War, in which squash production once again played an important role. With him, the production of fruit juices began, initially as a contract cider press. This service is still in demand today. For example, orchard owners from the Lower Rhine and neighboring Münsterland had their apples pressed into juice on a contract basis. After the war, the focus shifted to juice. Quantity increased, but quality remained unchanged thanks to the gentle production methods. From then on, Wilhelm van Nahmen concentrated on producing juices from regional fruit. Apple juice, pear juice, and red currant nectar were among the early stages of van Nahmen juice production.