Kneipp

What Kneipp does

Kneipp GmbH is a German natural cosmetics and dietary supplements company founded in 1891 in Würzburg, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the diversified healthcare group Paul Hartmann AG since 2011. The company manufactures and sells plant-based bath, shower, body care, and skincare products — including bath salts, bath oils, shower gels, body lotions, hand and foot care, lip balms, massage oils, and supplements — formulated on the 5-pillar philosophy of Sebastian Kneipp (water, plants, nutrition, balance, exercise) and certified free from parabens, silicones, mineral oils, preservatives, and microplastics. The portfolio also includes dedicated lines for children (NatureKids) and men (Kneipp Hommes), with sub-brands and themed collections such as Good Energy, Derma Protect, Goodbye Stress, and Relaxing.

Name

Kneipp

Legal name

Kneipp GmbH

Website

https://kneipp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kneipp GmbH is a 134-year-old German natural cosmetics and dietary supplements brand, wholly owned by Paul Hartmann AG, selling plant-based bath, shower, body care, and skincare products across 13+ European and Japanese markets via drugstores, own e-commerce, boutiques, and marketplace partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Cosmetics

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120), Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Health and Personal Care Retailers (456)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Bath Additives (Bath Bombs, Salts, Oils, Soaks) (CRABAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spa Body Treatments & Massage (Oils, Scrubs, Wraps) (CRABALAG), Herbal & Botanical Supplements (CRADAGAD)

Keywords

• Natural cosmetics manufacturing
• Bath and body care
• Plant-based personal care
• Aromatherapy bath products
• Dietary supplements wellness

Headquarters

HQ city

Würzburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Natural Cosmetics (Bath, Shower, Body Care): Kneipp generates revenue from a broad portfolio of natural cosmetics including bath additives (bath salts, bath oils, bath milk, sparkling tablets), shower gels and body washes, body lotions and body oils, hand and foot care products, lip balms, and sugar scrubs. Products are sold through retail stores, own e-commerce, and online marketplaces.
2. Dietary Supplements: Revenue from health-focused dietary supplements including Magnesium + B12 Gummies, Valerian Plus, Arnica-based formulations, and other plant-based health products aligned with the Kneipp philosophy.
3. Gift Sets and Bundles: Thematic gift packaging and gift sets targeting gifting occasions, sold both through retail and direct channels.
4. Retail and E-commerce Sales: Revenue from sales through owned e-commerce platforms across multiple countries and through retail partners including drugstores, health food stores, and department stores.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Kneipp manufactures and sells a portfolio of plant-based natural cosmetics and dietary supplements, including bath additives (bath salts, bath oils, bath milk, sparkling tablets), shower and body care products, hand, foot and lip care, massage oils, body scrubs, and food supplements. Products are formulated on Sebastian Kneipp's 5-pillar philosophy (water, plants, nutrition, balance, exercise) and are free from parabens, silicones, mineral oils, preservatives, and microplastics.

Product overview

Kneipp is a German natural cosmetics brand founded in 1891 by Sebastian Kneipp, offering a comprehensive portfolio of plant-based bath, shower, and body care products along with dietary supplements. The product range includes bath salts (flagship product), bath oils, bath milk, sparkling tablets, foaming body washes, shower gels, body milk and lotions, hand creams, foot care products (including calendula and urea formulations for diabetics), lip balms, massage oils, body scrubs, beauty oils, dietary supplements (Magnesium+B12 Gummies, Valerian-based products, wellness sprays), gift sets, and a Nature Kids line for children. Products are organized by core product categories and themed collections/series such as Good Energy, Derma Protect, Goodbye Stress, Relaxing, Muscle Relaxation, Refreshing, Nature Kids, and various scent-based series (White Birch, Mint, Sakura, Neroli, Lavender). The brand follows Sebastian Kneipp's 5-pillar philosophy of water, plants, exercise, nutrition, and balance, with products free from paraffins, silicones, mineral oils, preservatives, and microplastics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NatureKids (Kneipp naturkind): Children's cosmetics product line featuring bubble baths with fruity scents and large foam mountains.
• Kneipp NaturKind

Products and services

• Bath Salts Natural bath salts made from rock salt and natural herbs, Kneipp's flagship product category available in multiple scent variants for aromatherapy bathing.
• Bath Oils Luxury bath oils for premium self-care and aromatherapy bathing experiences.
• Sparkling Tablets / Effervescent Bath Products Effervescent sparkling tablets for invigorating bath experiences.
• Bath Milk Milky bath additives for gentle skin care and moisturizing.
• Foaming Body Wash Foaming shower gels and body washes with aromatic herb scents.
• Shower Gels Shower gels available in various scents and formulations including 2-in-1 body and hair wash options.
• Body Milk / Body Lotion Moisturizing body milk and body creams for daily skin care.
• Hand Cream Hand care creams in various scents for daily moisturizing and protection.
• Foot Care Products Specialized foot care products including foot butter with calendula and urea, suitable for diabetics.
• Lip Balms 100% natural lip balms, including Repair & Prevent variant and colored options.
• Massage Oils Body and massage oils for relaxation and skin nourishment.
• Body Scrubs / Sugar Scrubs Exfoliating body scrubs, including sugar scrubs, for gentle skin renewal.
• Beauty Oils Facial and body beauty oils for skin care and nourishment.
• Dietary Supplements Food supplements including Magnesium + B12 Gummies, Valerian Plus, and wellness sprays such as Arnica Refresh Spray and Ashwagandha Relaxation Spray.
• Gift Sets / Gift Packaging Themed gift sets and gift packaging options for various occasions.
• NatureKids (Kneipp NaturKind) Line Natural skincare and bath products specifically formulated for children, including bubble baths, bath crystals, and sparkling baths with child-safe formulations.
• Kneipp Hommes (Men's Grooming) Line Men's grooming and body care product line, including 2-in-1 shower gels, body oils, and related products with masculine fragrances.
• Good Energy Collection A wellness collection featuring shower gel, shower foam, and massage oil in orange and bergamot scents, designed to boost energy and positivity.
• Derma Protect Line A skincare line for very dry and sensitive skin, including body oil, body milk, and intensive balm products.
• Goodbye Stress Collection A wellness collection designed to combat everyday stress using rosemary and aqua mint essential oils to transform stress into positive energy.
• Relaxing Collection A relaxation-focused collection featuring soothing lavender essential oil to create a serene atmosphere, reduce stress, and promote well-being.
• Muscle Relaxation Line Bath salts and related products formulated for muscle relaxation and recovery.

Quantifiable outcome

• GREEN BRANDS award received for 7 consecutive years (2025)
• +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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Paul Hartmann AGcoreOthersKneipp GmbH is a 100% subsidiary of Paul Hartmann AG. The Kneipp Group operates under the corporate umbrella of Paul Hartmann AG, a major German healthcare and medical products company. Kneipp became affiliated with Hartmann during the early 2000s when external experts took over management after the long period of family ownership.
• CocoonCenter / Atida / EasyparaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party online pharmacy and parapharmacy marketplaces in France that distribute and resell Kneipp products alongside their own product catalogs.
• TEAS, spol. s r. o.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTEAS is the official local distribution partner for Kneipp products in Slovakia, managing sales, customer service, and order fulfillment for the Slovak market from their office in Bernolákovo.
• Signatura Trade Kft.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSignatura Trade Kft. is the official distributor and partner for Kneipp products in Hungary, managing the Hungarian market under the brand name 'Kneipp Magyarország' from their office in Nagykovácsi.
• HARTMANN – RICO a.s.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHARTMANN – RICO a.s. manages Kneipp operations in the Czech Republic, operating the Czech e-commerce site www.kneipp.cz and providing customer service and sales support for the Czech market.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Weleda: Swiss/German natural cosmetics and anthroposophic body-care brand with comparable bath, body, and parent-care portfolio. Most direct comparable on plant-based formulation ethos, drugstore-channel distribution in DACH, and overlapping aromatherapy/essential-oil positioning.
• Lavera: German NATRUE-certified natural cosmetics brand with very similar DACH drugstore positioning, bath/body care range, and natural-formulation stance. Directly competes on shelf at dm, Rossmann, and Müller alongside Kneipp.
• Logona: German natural cosmetics manufacturer (LOGOCOS Naturkosmetik) with comparable plant-based hair- and body-care portfolio and overlapping drugstore distribution. Strong product-overlap on shampoo/body-wash lines and free-from positioning.
• WALA / Dr. Hauschka: Anthroposophic/holistic German natural cosmetics house with similar premium positioning, identical bath/body/skincare overlaps, and overlapping drugstore-and-natural-channel distribution. Directly comparable on philosophy-led marketing.
• Rituals Cosmetics: Dutch body-care and home-fragrance brand with comparable bath/body portfolio and overlapping wellness-lifestyle positioning across European markets. Closely aligned in aromatic bath rituals and mid-premium pricing.
• Santaverde Natura: German natural cosmetics brand focused on aloe-vera-based skincare, with overlapping product categories (body care, bath) and similar NATRUE-aligned free-from positioning in DACH drugstores.
• Weleda AG (parent-level comparison reference): Listed additionally as a leading benchmark for natural cosmetics distribution scale, supply-chain integration (own Demeter farms), and European drugstore presence. Useful peer for unit-economic and international roll-out comparison.

Broad incumbents

• L'Occitane en Provence: Global natural-ingredient personal-care group with comparable botanical/essential-oil body-care portfolio, premium pricing, and bath/body presence across Europe and Japan. Wider portfolio and global scale; not as plant-pure as Kneipp.
• Yves Rocher: French botanical cosmetics group with overlapping plant-based positioning and direct retail footprint, including in French-speaking European markets where Kneipp France operates. Larger portfolio including fragrance, makeup, and broader bath/body range.
• Beiersdorf (Nivea, Eucerin, La Prairie): Hamburg-headquartered personal-care major that owns Nivea body and shower ranges, which compete head-to-head with Kneipp in the same drugstore channels. Additionally owns natural-leaning Eucerin; broad incumbent with massive R&D, marketing, and distribution scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/kneippbenelux
• Facebookfacebook.com/kneippdeutschland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kneipp-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/kneippbenelux

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 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 Kneipp