Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Smajek, please start by telling us about the history of your family business so far.

Lucas Smajek: The company was founded in 1949 by my great-grandfather and was further developed by my grandfather. In the 2010s, my mother Christiane Roth took over the company as the sole shareholder and successfully led it into the new era. My sister joined the company about five years ago; she is mainly responsible for all personnel and organizational matters. I have been part of the company for 2.5 years and oversee the operational business of the company together with my mother.

Wirtschaftsforum: How has the company developed in the recent past?

Lucas Smajek: The market has consolidated over the past ten years and is now dominated by the major providers. We have grown along with it. A key decision was to lay a railroad connection in Gießen in the 1990s and to establish tank car supplies. We were also one of the first companies to open what are called ghost stations in Germany, i.e., those that operate fully automatically and are open 24 hours. In 2012 and 2015, we entered the electricity and natural gas business and have built up a broad portfolio here. This has been very helpful in recent years. From Gießen, we are expanding nationwide. We now employ 750 people. It is important to us to continue to maintain our identity as a medium-sized business with family values.

Wirtschaftsforum: Especially in the energy sector, there has been a lot of movement in recent years. What is the market situation today?

Lucas Smajek: In recent years, no year has been like another. The era of crises has increased the sensitivity of both young and old in terms of energy. Heating oil has experienced a renaissance. Price trends, the energy transition, the issue of CO2 emissions – all these factors make the industry exciting right now. Everyone knows that in the future we need a diverse energy mix, but no one knows exactly what it should look like. And nobody dares to spend a lot of money on pioneering investments. Hydrogen is an example. It could be the future for heavy transport. But then all subsidies were stopped and investments failed to materialize due to the lack of economic perspective. Currently, we see that even on the subject of electric power, opinions are divided.

Wirtschaftsforum: How do you see the role of ROTH Energie in the market?

Lucas Smajek: Due to our size and logistics, we play an important role in the SME sector. Hamburg with its port is considered the center for all oil traders. In central Hesse, we are well situated infrastructure-wise and an interesting partner for many companies wanting to move from the north to the south. We try to play the regional card with a decentralized organization that allows us to be close to the customer. Unlike many corporations, we also serve as the extended arm to the end customer.

Wirtschaftsforum: The topic of sustainability dominates the entire energy sector. What do your activities look like regarding products and your company?

Lucas Smajek: For products, our focus here is on HVO 100. The infrastructure is already largely in place. An important role is played by our flexibility through our own fleet and our own warehouses. We can ensure supply over road, water, and rail. Electricity continues to be an important topic, of course. We had also started with hydrogen projects, but then the subsidies were discontinued. Topics like bio heating oil and biodiesel have been relatively marginal for us so far, but will also play a role from 2026 due to the CSRD directive if there is a market for them. We have already converted part of our fleet of about 400 vehicles to HVO 100.

Wirtschaftsforum: What unique selling points does ROTH Energie have in the competition?

Lucas Smajek: With the combination of personal consultation and logistical setup, we can provide advantages to our customers. Additionally, we have high price transparency. Our goal is not to be the cheapest, but to impress with the overall package. That's why we also offer individual service packages in a modular system.

Wirtschaftsforum: What will be your focus in the coming years?

Lucas Smajek: In the area of renewable energies, we want to continue making progress, especially with HVO 100. I see growth potential in electricity and gas. I am certainly looking forward to the further development of the company in what is perhaps the most exciting industry at the moment.