There is hardly a star at the European Culture Awards that Prof. Dr. Hermann Bühlbecker would not have tempted with his sweet Verzückerli. He has been successfully managing the Lambertz chocolate factory in Aachen since 1978 and is considered the Printenkaiser, who has long since produced much more than just seasonal baked goods and has saved the survival of many formerly independent brands.

His multiple award-winning company is not only a pioneer in the field of sustainable production, in which it only uses palm oil and cocoa from sustainable cultivation, but has also been involved in a wide variety of social and community projects for decades. Professor Bühlbecker is also supporting the European Culture Prize out of conviction for the third time in a row – after the Dresden Frauenkirche and the Vienna State Opera, now also in the Bonn Opera House.

"When the gala had to be canceled last year due to the pandemic, it hurt us all a lot, which is why we didn't hesitate for a moment to support the rescheduled event this year, even though it was completely unclear whether it would be able to take place at all," according to Hermann Buehlbecker. The Printenkaiser is particularly looking forward to the Scorpions, Katarina Witt, David Garrett and Katie Melua at the European Culture Prize Gala in Bonn.