The German family behind Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Panera Bread, Pret a Manger and Einstein Bros. Bagels has finally come clean about their reported connection to the Nazis.
“It is all correct,” said Reimann family spokesman Peter Harf, one of two managing partners of JAB Holdings, a private conglomerate.
“There is nothing to gloss over,” he told the German outlet Bild, according to reports.
“These crimes are disgusting.”
Bild recently reported on the Nazi connection — alleging that Albert Reimann Sr. and Albert Reimann Jr., whose family owns controlling stakes of JAB Holdings, both had links to the Third Reich.
A three-year investigation found that the pair used civilian prisoners from Russia and French prisoners of war as slaves in their factories — and were both anti-Semites who supported Adolf Hitler and donated to the paramilitary SS, even before the Nazis came into power.
“Reimann Senior and Reimann Junior were guilty,” Harf explained. “The two men have passed away, but they actually belonged in prison.”
The Reimann family plans to donate $11 million to an undisclosed charity in response to what happened, Harf said.
“The whole truth must be put on the table,” he told Bild.
With Post wires