Dr. Schär

What Dr. Schär does

Dr. Schär AG/S.p.A. is a privately held Italian food company headquartered in Postal (Burgstall), South Tyrol, Italy, specializing in the production of gluten-free and special-dietary nutrition products. Founded in 1921 by Anton Schär, the company operates a portfolio of three core consumer brands — Schär (the flagship gluten-free brand for bread, biscuits, and baked goods), Flavis (special dietary products), and Kanso (clean-label gluten-free options) — and serves people with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and other special nutritional needs. It sells a complementary line of acquired regional brands, including the Semper Gluten-Free business acquired from Hero Group in 2023.

The company manufactures and distributes through 18 production and administrative locations across 11 countries — Italy, Germany, Austria, France, the UK, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the USA, Brazil, and Argentina — supplying retail grocery, health food stores, and pharmacy channels worldwide. Underlying capability rests on a dense stack of food-safety, quality, and dietary certifications (ISO 9001/14001/45001/50001, BRCGS, IFS-Food, SQF, AOECS gluten-free, RSPO, Rainforest Alliance, Kosher, Halal, BIO) held across most plants, supported by a dedicated R&D Centre in Trieste and a 20-person Nutrition Service team engaging healthcare professionals in five European markets.

Revenue is generated primarily through the one-time sale of branded packaged food products through retail distribution; pricing is not publicly disclosed. In 2024, the company reported worldwide revenue of €624 million, an 11% increase over 2023, marking its second consecutive year of double-digit growth (16% in 2023). The founder family, led by Ulrich Ladurner as President, retains ownership, with Hannes Berger serving as CEO.

Name

Dr. Schär

Legal name

Dr. Schär AG/S.p.A.

Website

https://drschaer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Dr. Schär is a privately held Italian food company producing gluten-free and special-dietary products under the Schär, Flavis, and Kanso brands. It operates 18 sites across 11 countries, serving celiac, gluten-intolerant, and special-nutrition consumers through global retail channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gluten-Free Food Products

NAICS

Retail Bakeries (311811), Baked Goods Retailers (445291)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050), Cookies & Crackers (2052)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Bakery Manufacturing (Gluten-Free, Artisan, Health-Focused) (AFAKAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gluten-Free & Specialty Grain-Based Foods Manufacturing (GF pasta/cereals, ancient grains) (AFAKABAK), Snack Bars (Granola, Protein, Cereal Bars) (CRADABAG), Bread & Pastry Specialty Stores (CRAHAGAC)

Keywords

• Gluten-free food products
• Special dietary nutrition
• Celiac disease products
• Gluten-free baked goods
• Gluten-free snacks

Headquarters

HQ city

Burgstall

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Gluten-free food products: Dr. Schär generates revenue through the production and sale of gluten-free food products including bread, biscuits, snacks, and specialized nutrition solutions. Products are distributed through retail channels globally.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Dr. Schär manufactures and sells gluten-free and special dietary nutrition food products, including bread, biscuits, baked goods, and snacks, marketed under three consumer brands: Schär (main gluten-free brand), Flavis (special dietary products), and Kanso (clean-label gluten-free). Products are produced at 18 facilities across 11 countries and distributed globally through retail grocery, health food, and pharmacy channels to consumers with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and other special nutritional needs.

Product overview

Dr. Schär is a food company specializing in gluten-free and special dietary nutrition products. The company operates a platform of three main consumer brands: Schär (the primary brand offering a wide range of gluten-free baked goods, bread, and snacks), Flavis (focused on products for special dietary needs), and Kanso (offering simple, clean-label gluten-free options). The brands share a unified focus on gluten-free quality, safety, and innovation, serving consumers with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and other special nutritional needs worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Schär: Main brand for gluten-free products including bread, biscuits, and baked goods.
• Flavis
• Kanso

Products and services

• Schär Primary Dr. Schär brand for gluten-free baked goods, bread, and snacks serving consumers with celiac disease and gluten intolerance.
• Flavis Dr. Schär brand focused on gluten-free products for special dietary needs, complementing the Schär product line.
• Kanso

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue of 624 million euros in 2024, representing 11% growth
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EDEKAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026EDEKA and Dr. Schär partnered with Peter Maffay and Hendrikje Balsmeyer to support people with celiac disease, combining forces for celiac awareness and gluten-free product availability.
• Hero GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2023Dr. Schär acquired Hero Group's Semper Gluten-Free business in the Nordics, including the crispbread facility in Korsnäs, Sweden. This acquisition helps Dr. Schär consolidate its leadership position in the gluten-free segment in the Nordic region.
• Freie Universität BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Samh-Samen project to revive the cultivation of Samh seeds for Bedouin communities in Jordan, supporting sustainable agriculture and traditional food culture.
• IRCCS Ca' Granda-Milano / Clinica MangiagalliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational expert committee led by IRCCS Ca' Granda-Milano (celiac reference center) together with Clinica Mangiagalli in Milan, supported by the Anton Schär Foundation, working on scientific guidelines for gluten-free diet during pregnancy.
• Interreg V-A Italia-ÖsterreichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border project Re-Cereal launched in November 2016 to reintroduce ancient grain varieties (oats, millet, buckwheat) into Alpine agriculture, with Dr. Schär R&D Centre as coordinator.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dr-schar

Compliance17 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dr. Schär