Part 2/8:
The narrative begins in 1878 in the mining town of Wolfenbüttel, Germany, where a man named Wilhelm Mast recognized the local miners' growing need for vinegar. Mast started a vinegar production plant that became an immediate success. Over the years, as the business flourished, Wilhelm expanded his product line to include wine fermentation, leveraging the shared processes of vinegar and wine production. Unfortunately, by the early 1900s, the business faced significant difficulties, culminating in substantial debts.