SOMMER is very pleased. For the second time since 2009, we received the award "Finalist of the Year" in the nationwide competition "Großer Preis des Mittelstandes" of the independent Oskar Patzelt Foundation. Among 4,674 nominees nationwide, the jurors of the Oskar Patzelt Foundation selected the TOP TEN Bavarians from 889 companies in the competition region of Bavaria and honoured the finalists of the year 2021.

The focus is not on turnover growth and number of employees, but rather on medium-sized companies that excel in all criteria of the competition. Thus, in addition to individual business management criteria, the companies are considered as a whole. Under this year's motto "Now more than ever", the jury evaluated seven key figures and 50 qualitative questions in the five categories:

• Overall development of the company
• Creation/securing of jobs and training places
• Modernisation and innovation
• Commitment to the region
• Service/customer proximity
• Marketing

The managing partners of the company, Oliver Sommer and Iris Sommer-Pechstein, were delighted to receive the "Finalist of the Year 2021" award in front of 400 invited entrepreneurs at a grand gala evening at the Würzburg Congress Centre on 18 September. To be able to set an entrepreneurial example for the Hochfranken region in Bavaria was a special honour.

In the course of the award ceremony, the owners thanked all employees in particular for their commitment and trustful cooperation. The statue presented will find a worthy place in the company.