Dr. Schär
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1921
- HeadquartersBurgstall, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
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.
Dr. Schär firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Dr. Schär industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Dr. Schär is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burgstall
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices18 records
Markets served
Dr. Schär business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- 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
Dr. Schär product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Dr. Schär
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Dr. Schär technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Dr. Schär partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EDEKAcoreEDEKA 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 GroupcoreDr. 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 BerlinminorCollaboration 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 MangiagalliminorInternational 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-ÖsterreichminorCross-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
Dr. Schär competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dr. Schär social profiles
Digital presenceDr. Schär compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance17 records
Dr. Schär financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dr. Schär leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Dr. Schär subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Dr. Schär funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dr. Schär M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dr. Schär
What does Dr. Schär do?
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.
Is Dr. Schär a public or private company?
Dr. Schär is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Dr. Schär founded?
Dr. Schär was founded in 1921. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Dr. Schär based?
Dr. Schär is headquartered in Burgstall, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Dr. Schär make money?
One revenue line is on record: gluten-free food products.
Does Dr. Schär have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dr. Schär.
What industry is Dr. Schär in?
Dr. Schär's product category is Gluten-Free Food Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAAAG, Specialty Bakery Manufacturing (Gluten-Free, Artisan, Health-Focused), with a secondary code of AFAKABAK, Gluten-Free & Specialty Grain-Based Foods Manufacturing (GF pasta/cereals, ancient grains). Its NAICS code is 311811 and its SIC code is 2050.