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Although it's web of ownership is twisty, it is intriguing, according to the sixth generation of ownership by brothers Eddie and David Kraft in an interview with Florists' Review. e co-owner brothers take annual turns as leader of the company—a sharing ability that was foisted upon them by outside professionals as much as their parents; more on that later. eir brother, Michael, had also been a company co-leader but unfortunately passed away in April 2019. Seventh- generation Kraft talent also exists in Kraft-lings who work for the company during breaks from university. Getting existential for a moment, every moment in the present owes its reality to the past, and the flower entity that is Nanz & Kraft is no exception. Henry Nanz emigrated from the then-agrarian Stuttgart, Germany, in 1850, to Louisville, Ky. Why? Because at that time, Germany was rife with contentious religious and political issues and even hunger riots. Political prisoners were released if they agreed to go away to America. A large influx of those German immigrants settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, and spillover of the immigrants soon found its way down to Louisville, Ky., 100 miles away. While not a political prisoner, Henry decided to avoid the choice and made his own, arriving in Louisville in 1850 and set up his flower business—as noted by a historical account from the company's 1896 catalog: "… in a humble way, with one little greenhouse, size 10 feet by 50 feet. At that time, flowers were in little demand, and the wants [of the populace] were supplied from this small establishment." His business sold shrubs, ornamental and fruit trees, cut flowers, and hothouse plants, and like florists in the latter half of the 19 th century, Henry operated greenhouse facilities to grow all the company's plants. Henry's eldest daughter, Sarah (Sallie), married Henry A. Kraft Jr., a former Prussian native and butcher by trade, in 1869. At this time, Henry Kraft Jr. did not become involved in the flower industry, preferring instead to continue in the wholesale butcher business. One year later, in 1870, Henry Nanz acquired business partners Alfred and Carl Neuner—from the same area in Germany as himself—renaming the company as Nanz & Neuner Florist, Farm & Greenhouses. e entity sold flowers and bouquets for everyday requirements, as well as floral wreaths and crosses for other ceremonies, vegetable and flower seeds, bedding plants, fruit and ornamental trees, and roses. Roses—some 500 varieties—were offered by Nanz & Neuner, with historical sales estimates bragging of millions of units, customers from all over the nation and 25 working greenhouses. By 1880, the firm owned 30 acres of land for growing plants, including 31 greenhouses on 2.5 acres of this land; employed 16 men; and considered themselves wholly involved in the wholesale and retail flower industry. After Alfred Neuner abruptly left to begin his own floral concerns in 1896— and Carl Neuner's previous departure— the original Nanz company lists son-in- law Henry A. Kraft Jr. as its president and founder Henry Nanz as secretary and manager. e title of president was provided to Henry Kraft Jr. after he provided financial salvation to Nanz following Alfred Neuner's departure. However, Kraft and sons did continue as "silent" partners, preferring to focus on their butcher concerns and leaving Nanz to operate the day-to-day of the flower entity. However, following Nanz's death in 1914, the Kraft family assumed full control of the company, with grandson Edward A. Kraft named its leader in 1918, continuing as such for several decades and his son—Edward A. Kraft Jr.— taking over from him. In 1958, with a nod to the past, the company was renamed Nanz & Kraft Florists, with ownership passing to Edward Ramsey Kraft in 1967. After fire destroyed what was then its second location for the singular shop in 1976, temporary space was used until the physical business was rebuilt a year later with a new 20,000 square-foot footprint. "Nanz & Kraft are no longer operators of our own nursery," says current co-owner Eddie Kraft. "Nor do we grow all of our plants from seeds or cuttings, and roses are no more a specialty than at any other retail flower shop. "But," he continues, Although it's web of ownership according to the sixth generation Eddie in an interview . e co-owner leader of the company—a sharing ability that was foisted upon them land for growing plants, including 31 greenhouses on 2.5 acres of this land; employed 16 men; and considered greenhouses on 2.5 acres of this land; employed 16 men; and considered themselves wholly involved in the wholesale and retail flower industry. greenhouses on 2.5 acres of this land; employed 16 men; and considered 1997 Business 52 February | 2022

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