PRESS RELEASE

BMB Group takes over gastronomy of the state museums on Berlin’s “Museumsinsel”

The BMB Group Berlin is one of the most successful gastronomic business groups in the capital of Germany, operating 23 cafés and restaurants in Berlin and beyond. The newest locations are called “260 Grad” in an exposed position at the Mercedes Platz and “BraufactuM at the Hausvogteiplatz” (formerly known as “Meisterstück”). In addition, the BMB Group Berlin includes various prime locations, a manufactury called “Genusswerkstatt”, and the full-service catering and event brand GENUSSKOMBINAT. The BMB Group was now also able to win the the tender for all gastronomic facilities of Berlin’s state museums owned by the Prussian Cultural Heritage (Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz) on “Museumsinsel”. The gastronomic establishing starts with the James-Simon-Gallery Café and Restaurant on July 13th, 2019.

Founder and Managing Director Boris Freise about the success: "We do not only have a strong connection to Berlin’s “Museumsinsel” in a gastronomic way, we consider that part of the city as our home. Therefore we are pleased that we have received the trust of the state museums and are now able to enrich all exhibitions on “Museumsinsel” with culinary delights."

Designed by the British architect David Chipperfield, the James Simon Gallery is the ideal meeting point and entry point for all visitors and functions as a link between “” and “”. Wide glass fronts and simple, concrete walls, combined with dark wood elements, airy sitting areas and comfortable leather chairs in- vite visitors to stroll through the exhibitions, step by in the shop and relax in the café / restaurant in the James Simon Gallery. Its name will be revealed shortly before the opening on July 13th.

Boris Freise explains the gastronomic concept: "A Café during the day, a restaurant in the evening. Tourists looking for a cozy place for a high-quality, small breakfast in the sun will find just as much on the menu as the Berliner, who wants to recharge his energy during the lunch-break with a dish of the day on the huge terrace by the water." In “Museumsinsel”-manner, the dishes are "arty", seasonal and changing frequently as well as depending on the sea- son, there are also sophisticated vegetarian alternatives on the menu. The classic, but newly interpreted "Berliner Stullen" are also not missing.

In the evening hours, the light-flooded café slowly transforms into a stylish and cozy restaurant right next to the river Spree, where a fine cuisine spoils the Berliners and the Berlin-visitors with culinary delights. As a "gateway to the ‘Mu- seumsinsel’, the James Simon Gallery and the inlying restaurant are always accessible without admission ticket. "This gives us the opportunity to highlight different exhibition pieces and, with the help of a gastronomic storytelling, make the exhibits tangible between the courses through small anecdotes and stories," explains Freise. Inspired by one of the most recognizable exhibits on display in the “Neues Museum” - the bust of Nefertiti - the team around the experi- enced maître Isabell Wendel, who will be the head of the dining establishment, has come up with sophisticated art- related dishes and menus. "One of the desserts is my personal highlight," reveals Isabell Wendel in advance. "We serve our guests an Egyptian-inspired dream as you have never experienced before."

For further information please contact: Patricia Kurowski, Communications Manager, Anna-Louisa-Karsch Str. 2, 10117 Berlin, Tel: 030/308 777 523, [email protected], www.bmb-gruppe.de

In addition to the café and restaurant of the James Simon Gallery, the BMB Group will look forward to another four cafés, which will soon be included in the portfolio of the BMB Group and whose conception and the respective takeo- ver will also be holistically adapted to the particular museum focus:

Café in the Pergamon Museum. The panorama Expected opening in late summer / autumn Opening Hours: Friday to Wednesday | 10 AM to 6 PM Thursday | 10 AM to 8 PM Focus: Oriental cuisine. Creative bowls, salads, oven-hot flatbreads

Café in the Neues Museum Expected opening: Oct 1, 2019 Opening Hours: Friday to Wednesday | 10 AM to 6 PM Thursday | 10 AM to 8 PM Focus: Small and international snacks, modern interpretations of Egyptian classics

Café in the Expected opening: Jan 1, 2020 Opening Hours: Friday to Wednesday | 10 AM to 6 PM Thursday | 10 AM to 8 PM Focus: Mediterranean bowls and Italian snacks, Italian coffee

Café in the Expected opening: May 1, 2020 Opening Hours: Friday to Wednesday | 10 AM to 6 PM Thursday | 10 AM to 8 PM Focus: cozy little café in French bistro style

About the BMB Group:

17 years ago, the three founders of the BMB Group, Barbara Ewald, Mirko Alexander Nikolitsch and Boris Freise met each other as students. The foundation for today's successful group of companies, with up to 500 employees from 20 countries and more than 50% female leadership positions at peak times, was laid 16 years ago with the opening of “Gran Caffè” at the Spreepromenade, a Berlin coffeehouse institution , The starting capital for today's successful BMB Group was only DM 5,000.00 - meanwhile the turnover is over EUR 16,000,000.00 - trend rising. A total of 23 cafés and restaurants now belong to the Berlin based group, of which three are restaurants under the BraufactuM brand. The latest addition to the portfolio is the “260 Grad” bar lounge and event location on the exposed Mercedes Platz. Genusskombinat, the umbrella brand of the BMB Group, covers the areas for high-quality catering and events. The catering company uses its gourmet facilities not only as restaurants, cafés or beer gardens, but also as event locations for various occasions.

For further information please contact: Patricia Kurowski, Communications Manager, Anna-Louisa-Karsch Str. 2, 10117 Berlin, Tel: 030/308 777 523, [email protected], www.bmb-gruppe.de