Emsland Group

What Emsland Group does

Emsland Group is a privately held German manufacturer of starch-based ingredients, plant proteins, and fibers derived from potatoes and peas. Founded in 1928 and headquartered in Emlichheim, Lower Saxony, the company operates seven production sites across Germany (Emlichheim, Wietzendorf, Golßen, Kyritz, Cloppenburg, Hagenow, Wittingen) and is Germany's largest potato starch processor, handling more than 2.2 million tons of potatoes and 160,000 tons of peas annually. Its core product portfolio spans native and modified starches, dextrins, potato flakes and granules, pea and potato proteins and fibers, and downstream technical specialties such as adhesives, construction additives, textile sizing, and glass fiber sizing. The group is the European market leader for dried potato products through its wholly owned subsidiary Emsland Food GmbH, and the consumer-facing 'Echt vom Feld' retail brand is operated via Mecklenburger Kartoffelveredlung GmbH.

The business is organized into three commercial divisions: Food (serving snacks, bakery, dairy alternatives, meat analogues, confectionery, coatings, and food retail), Technical Specialties (industrial adhesives, construction, textiles, paper, and sustainable packaging), and Animal Nutrition (compound feed, aquaculture feed through the Emsland-Aller Aqua joint venture, and pet food ingredients). Products are sold in more than 100 countries through 120+ representative offices, with an export ratio above 75%. Emsland runs a sales-led go-to-market model with regional key account managers and a layer of exclusive regional distribution partners (Caldic, UniBourne, Pulcra, Azelis, Alinda Velco, Dagal, REDA). R&D is anchored by the Innovation Center in Emlichheim and the Emsland Asia Food Innovation hub in Bangkok (both opened 2014), supporting application development for plant-based and clean-label applications.

Revenue for fiscal year 2024/25 was €960 million, generated through transaction-fee B2B ingredient sales with quote-based pricing. The leadership team consists of CEO Gerrit-Jan Wesselink, COO Stefan Hannemann, and CSO Christian Kemper, supported by regional Managing Directors in the USA and Turkey (Emsland Nişasta). Emsland maintains a comprehensive certification stack spanning ISO 9001/14001/50001, FSSC 22000, IFS Food, OK Kosher, HALAL CONTROL, Non-GMO Project, ISCC PLUS, EcoVadis, ZDHC Level 3, and GOTS, and operates under the long-term EmVision 2030 investment program targeting advanced modified starch technology and a 2040 net-zero emissions goal.

Name

Emsland Group

Legal name

Emsland-Stärke Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung

Website

https://emsland-group.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Emsland Group is a privately held German manufacturer of starch, protein, and fiber ingredients derived from potatoes and peas, serving food, technical, and animal nutrition customers in 100+ countries through seven German production sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Starch and Plant-Based Ingredients

NAICS

Wet Corn Milling and Starch Manufacturing (311221), Grain and Oilseed Milling (3112)

SIC

Grain Mill Products (2040)

akta.pro primary industry

Native Starches & Flours (Corn, Potato, Tapioca, Wheat, Rice) (AFAJABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Starch-Based Thickeners (Native & Modified Starches, Dextrins) (AFAJAMAA)

Keywords

• Potato starch products
• Modified starch ingredients
• Pea protein ingredients
• Plant-based food ingredients
• Technical starch applications

Headquarters

HQ city

Emlichheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Starch Products: Sale of native and modified potato and pea starch products to food, technical, and industrial customers
2. Potato Flakes and Granules: Dried potato products for food processing industry and retail/private label sales
3. Protein and Fiber Products: Pea and potato protein isolates and fibers for food applications including plant-based alternatives
4. Technical Specialties: Adhesives, construction additives, textile applications, and filter materials for industrial customers
5. Animal Feed and Pet Food: High-quality animal feed ingredients and pet food solutions

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Emsland Group manufactures starch-based ingredients and plant-based proteins from potatoes and peas for the food processing, technical, and animal nutrition industries. The company processes over 2.2 million tons of potatoes and 160,000+ tons of peas annually across seven German production sites, producing native and modified starches, dextrins, potato flakes and granules, pea and potato proteins, fibers, and starch-based technical specialties for adhesives, construction, textile, and paper applications.

Product overview

The Emsland Group is a German manufacturer of starch-based products and plant-based ingredients derived from potatoes and peas. The company operates a multi-product portfolio organized into three divisions: Food (including potato starch, flakes, granules, proteins, fibers, and pea ingredients for food applications), Technical Specialties (construction additives, adhesives, textile solutions, glass fiber sizing, and paper products), and Animal Nutrition (feed and pet food ingredients). The product range includes native and modified starches, dextrins, potato flakes and granules, plant proteins, and fiber ingredients. Key product brands include Emjel (confectionery), Empet (pet food), and the consumer retail brand 'Echt vom Feld'. With seven production facilities in Germany and over 120 representative offices worldwide, the company processes over 2.2 million tons of potatoes and 160,000 tons of peas annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Echt vom Feld: Brand for dried potato products sold in food retail sector
• EmVision 2030
• Emsland Innovation
• WaltrAut

Products and services

• Potato Starch, Modified Potato Starch & Dextrins Native and modified potato starch products and dextrins used as functional ingredients in food applications, technical applications such as adhesives, textiles and construction additives, and animal feed.
• Waxy Potato Starch & Modified Waxy Potato Starch Specialty waxy potato starch variants with enhanced freeze-thaw stability and texture properties for food applications.
• Potato Flakes Dried potato products for food processing industry, retail products under 'Echt vom Feld' brand, and applications in snacks and convenience foods.
• Potato Granules Dried potato granules for the food processing industry used in further manufacturing of potato products.
• Potato Protein Protein products derived from potato processing, used in food sector applications and animal feed.
• Potato Fibers Dietary fiber products from potato processing used in food applications for nutritional enhancement.
• Pea Starch & Modified Pea Starch Native and modified pea starch ingredients for food applications, providing clean-label functionality.
• Pea Protein Plant-based protein ingredients derived from peas for food, sports nutrition, and meat alternatives.
• Pea Fiber Dietary fiber ingredients from peas used in food applications for clean-label nutritional solutions.
• Emjel LC 15 Jelly and gum ingredient for vegan and vegetarian confectionery applications, setting new standards for plant-based solutions.
• Empet SmartBind Functional binding solution for wet pet food applications for cats and dogs, entering the wet pet food market.
• Food Coatings Coating solutions for food applications including French fries, snacks, and bakery products for enhanced texture and protection.
• Meat Analogues Plant-based meat alternative solutions using potato and pea ingredients for meat replacement applications.
• Dairy & Alternatives Plant-based dairy alternative solutions including vegan cheese, parmesan, and sandwich cheese products.
• Adhesives Starch-based adhesive products for paper sack, packaging, and industrial applications.
• Construction Additives Starch-based construction additives including wallpaper paste, tile adhesives, and starch ethers for building materials.
• Textile Products Starch solutions for textile industry applications including sizing and finishing.
• Glass Fiber Sizing Specialized sizing products for glass fiber manufacturing.
• Feed Products Nutritional products for animal feed applications including cattle, swine, and aquaculture.
• Pet Food Potato and pea-based ingredients for pet food and companion animal nutrition.
• Echt vom Feld Retail brand for dried potato products sold to consumers, managed by Mecklenburger Kartoffelveredlung GmbH.
• Paper Products Starch-based solutions for paper manufacturing and processing applications.
• Sustainable Development Products Bio-based and compostable packaging solutions made from starch for sustainable development applications.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered regional and core.

• DagalregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2025New partnership established September 2025 with Dagal for distribution services.
• Pulcra ChemicalsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2025New distribution partnership announced February 2025 for textile customers in Europe. Pulcra Chemicals serves as distribution partner for technical specialty products in European textile market.
• UniBourne Food IngredientsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Distribution partnership established January 2025 for India market. UniBourne serves as exclusive distributor for Emsland Group products in India, expanding the company's presence in the growing South Asian market.
• CaldicregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2024New distribution partnership announced July 2024 to serve Norway, Denmark and Iceland. Caldic serves as exclusive distributor in Nordic and Icelandic markets.
• REDA Food IngredientsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2024New partnership established May 2024 with REDA Food Ingredients for distribution services.
• AzelisregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024New partnership in the area of technical specialties announced January 2024 with Azelis for distribution of technical specialty products.
• Alinda Velco S.A. GroupregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2023Distribution partnership established November 2023 with Alinda Velco S.A. Group.
• Healy Chemicals UK Ltd.regionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Joint venture established in 2007 with Healy Chemicals UK Ltd., with Emsland Group holding 50% shares.
• Aller Aqua Technology AScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2006Joint venture established October 2006 with Danish company Aller Aqua Technology AS. Created Emsland-Aller Aqua company for developing and producing fish feed and other animal feed based on proteins. Europe's most modern fish-feed factory opened in Golßen in September 2008.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Roquette: Global French leader in starch, polyols, and plant-based proteins including pea protein (NUTRALYS). Most direct competitor to Emsland in modified starches and pea-based ingredients for food, nutrition, and pharma/pharma excipients.
• Südstärke (Südzucker subsidiary): German potato starch producer (Schwandorf, Germany) under Südzucker AG. Direct German domestic competitor in native and modified potato starch for food and industrial markets.
• Avebe: Dutch cooperative specializing in potato starch and potato protein for food, feed, and industrial applications. Closest geographic and crop-overlap competitor to Emsland's core starch business.

Broad incumbents

• AGRANA: Austrian fruit, starch, and sugar group with potato and corn starch operations. Comparable to Emsland in starch-based food ingredients and technical specialties across European markets.
• Cargill: Global agribusiness and food ingredient giant offering starches, sweeteners, texturizers, and plant proteins. A broad incumbent whose starch and plant-protein offerings intersect with Emsland's portfolio across food, feed, and industrial end markets.
• Ingredion: US-headquartered global ingredient solutions provider offering native and modified starches, sweeteners, and plant-based proteins across food, beverage, and industrial segments. Overlaps with Emsland in starch and clean-label ingredients at larger scale.
• Tereos: French cooperative producing starch, sweeteners, ethanol, and plant proteins from wheat, corn, and potatoes. Competes with Emsland in modified starches and is increasingly active in pea and other plant proteins.
• BENEO (Südzucker subsidiary): German/Belgian ingredient producer (chicory-derived inulin, rice starch, wheat gluten). Overlaps with Emsland in functional food ingredients targeting clean-label and nutritional applications.

Emerging players

• Cosucra: Belgian specialist in pea-derived ingredients (Pisane pea protein, pea fiber). Niche direct competitor to Emsland's pea protein and pea fiber lines, particularly in plant-based foods and sports nutrition.
• PPM (Potato Processing & Marketing, formerly Solanic): Dutch/German processor of potato protein isolates for food and nutrition markets. Smaller, focused competitor in the potato protein segment that overlaps with Emsland's potato protein product line.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance14 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Emsland Group