Despite the joint television spots, the former Trigema boss Wolfgang Grupp has never met the years of the years of his company’s years of advertising-the monkey Charly-in real life. “I never saw the Trigema monkeys,” said Grupp Senior (82) of the ‘Augsburg Allgemeine’.
“We were both filmed independently of each other. The scenes were cut together. For his 70th birthday, the children would have given him the appearance of a monkey. “However, that was another monkey and not the trigema monkey from advertising.”
It used to be a real monkey
The clothing manufacturer Trigema has repeatedly advertised with a monkey for clothing from the Swabian small town of Burladingen since 1992. At first it was a real chimpanzee, dressed in a shirt, tie and red glasses. According to the company, he received nuts during the shooting. Because chewing looked like a speech movement, the animal received a human voice through a speaker. There were regular advertising appearances before the ARD day show and other broadcasters together with the ex-Trigema boss.
For advertising with a real monkey, Trigema was also repeatedly criticized by animal rights activists. Since 2018, the company has been advertising with an animated 3D version of the chimpanzee. According to their own statements, they wanted to set an example of animal welfare and also get involved in the protection of chimpanzees in the wild. Charly had received a digital fresh cell cure last autumn. As a ‘Ai fashion influencer’, there were new outfits for him-for example a pink suit or a white hoodie (hoodie).
Next generation at the helm
At the beginning of 2024, Grupp handed in the chief position at Trigema to his daughter Bonita and his son Wolfgang Grupp Grupp Junior. The company patriarch withdrew from the operational business – but still mixed in the company.
Through regular public appearances – also apart from commercials – Wolfgang Grupp Senior is one of the best -known merchants in Germany. He repeatedly staged himself as a responsible boss, who always had the concerns of employees and customers – according to his own representation. Grupp Senior and his children are committed to Germany, which was and is an important part of the advertising.