1770
Johann Wilhelm von Eicken begins trading with colonial produce in Mülheim a. d. Ruhr, among which the manufacturing of pipe and snuff tobacco plays an important role. He thus lays the foundation for the present company.

1866
Carl Heinrich von Eicken takes over the management of the company. He gives up the trade with colonial produce and presses ahead with the production of tobacco products.

1886
After purchasing a tobacco factory in Hamburg the family residence is relocated from Mühlheim an der Ruhr to the old trading and Hanseatic City on the Elbe.

1943
The factory in Hamburg is not spared by the 2nd World War either. It is partly destroyed during the air raids. The plant in Mühlheim which still exists at the time is completely destroyed during air raids by the US Air Force.

1945
Just a few months before the end of the 2nd World War, Hans von Eicken hands over the company to his son, Wilhelm.

1948
After the end of the war, the closure of the factory in Hamburg is ordered by the official authorities as the building is required for the production of X-ray machines.

1963
The official permit is granted to begin producing tobacco again. However, the raw tobacco which is essential for the production is hardly available and is only allocated according to strict quotas.

1970
Von Eicken is granted the exclusive import and distribution rights for Mac-Baren tobacco in Germany. Wilhelm von Eicken hands over the business completely to his son. The new head of the company, Joh. W. von Eicken, is already the seventh generation of the family to manage the company.

1983
The decision is made in favour of the location in Lübeck. After building a new and more modern factory complex in Lübeck –Roggenhorst the head office and production plant are relocated to Lübeck.

1992
Purchase of the former GDR plant Tabak-Haus Dingelstädt/ Eichsfeld near Erfurt.

2000
Marc von Eicken is the eight generation to join the company and has since been running Von Eicken GmbH as managing partner together with his father Johann Wilhelm.

Von Eicken today
Joh. Wilh. von Eicken GmbH has now been in existence for 238 years. The medium-sized company now employs around 430 employees in Germany alone and meanwhile supplies more than 120 nations with tobacco products.