Dr. Schar
Dr. Schär is a privately-held Italian gluten-free food manufacturer founded in 1921, producing certified gluten-free bread, pasta, pizza, crackers, and baked goods for consumers with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and IBS across more than 40 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1921
- HeadquartersBurgstall, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Dr. Schar does
Dr. Schär AG/SPA is a privately-held Italian food manufacturer headquartered in Burgstall (South Tyrol / Bolzano province), Italy, with a heritage in gluten-free baking dating to 1921. The company produces a broad portfolio of certified gluten-free bread, pasta, pizza bases, crackers, cookies, cakes, baking mixes, and snacks, organized into categories such as Bread/Bagels/Buns, Italian Pizza & Pasta, Baking, Crackers & Chocolate, and Cookies & Cakes. Its proprietary technology centers on gluten-free formulation and specialized ingredient processing, including a slow-risen sourdough-based Artisan Baker line and Monash University Low FODMAP Certified products addressing celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and IBS/FODMAP consumers. The portfolio carries multiple stacked certifications: gluten-free, Low FODMAP Certified, lactose-free, wheat-free, GMO-free, and Kosher.
The company serves three primary consumer segments: people with celiac disease (primary), individuals with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and IBS/FODMAP-sensitive consumers, plus a B2B foodservice channel via Schär Foodservice targeting restaurants and institutional buyers. Its go-to-market combines direct e-commerce (shop.schar.com with free shipping over $45), physical retail distribution across more than 40 countries in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and parts of Asia/Africa, a US subsidiary (Dr. Schar USA Inc., Swedesboro, NJ), and the Schär Club loyalty program that issues points ("seeds") redeemable for rewards. Marketing spans organic social (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok), email newsletters, recipe content, and the Dr. Schär Institute educational resource.
Revenue mechanics are anchored in unit-pricing on individual packaged SKUs (typical retail range $4.49-$7.49 in the US market), supplemented by bulk case packs, welcome boxes for newly diagnosed consumers, and B2B foodservice contracts. The business is privately held with 101-250 employees, no disclosed venture or private equity backing, and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary structure with Dr. Schar USA Inc. as its principal overseas entity. Active product launch cadence (Artisan Baker relaunch in 2025; XL Sandwich Bread and Brioche Bread in April 2026) signals ongoing portfolio expansion.
Dr. Schar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dr. Schar
- Legal name
- Dr. Schär AG / SPA
- Website
- https://schar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1921
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Dr. Schär is a privately-held Italian gluten-free food manufacturer founded in 1921, producing certified gluten-free bread, pasta, pizza, crackers, and baked goods for consumers with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and IBS across more than 40 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dr. Schar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Gluten-free packaged and bakery foods
- NAICS
- Commercial Bakeries (311812), Baked Goods Retailers (445291), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)
- SIC
- Bakery Products (2050), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Cookies & Crackers (2052)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Bakery Manufacturing (Gluten-Free, Artisan, Health-Focused) (AFAKAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Bread & Pastry Specialty Stores (CRAHAGAC)
Keywords
Where Dr. Schar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burgstall
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Dr. Schar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Sales: Schär operates its own online shop (shop.schar.com) for direct consumer sales with free shipping for orders over $45.
- Retail Distribution: Products sold through retail stores nationwide via store locator, reaching consumers through physical retail channels.
- Schär Club Loyalty Program: Customers earn seeds (points) on purchases and redeem for rewards such as discount vouchers, driving customer retention and repeat purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | — | Individual product pricing for retail consumers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Dr. Schar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dr. Schär manufactures and sells certified gluten-free foods across categories including artisan breads, sandwich breads, pizza bases, pasta, crackers, pretzels, cookies, and cakes. The company also operates a Schär Club consumer loyalty program and a Schär Foodservice B2B channel serving restaurants and commercial establishments.
Product overview
Dr. Schär is a gluten-free food company with over 100 years of baking experience, offering a diverse portfolio of certified gluten-free products across multiple categories. The core product line includes the Artisan Baker bread line (White Bread, 10 Grains and Seeds, Multigrain), Brioche Bread, XL Sandwich Bread, Pita Bread, Pretzels, Honeygrams, Marble Cake, Entertainment Crackers, Ciabatta Rolls, and Table Crackers. Products are organized into categories including Bread/Bakery, Snacks, Creative Kitchen, Pasta, and Cookies & Cakes. The company operates Schär Club, a consumer loyalty program, and serves commercial customers through Schär Foodservice. Educational resources are provided via Dr. Schär Institute. The company emphasizes quality commitment with Low FODMAP Certified, gluten-free, and other dietary certifications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Artisan Baker: A premium sub-brand featuring slow-risen, sourdough-based gluten-free breads including white bread, multigrain, and grains & seeds varieties.
- Schär Club
Products and services
- Artisan Baker White Bread Gluten-free 400g white bread loaf from the Artisan Baker line, slow-risen and sourdough-based with no preservatives.
- Artisan Baker 10 Grains and Seeds Bread Gluten-free 400g multigrain bread with 10 grains and seeds, slow-risen and sourdough-based with no preservatives.
- Artisan Baker Multigrain Bread Gluten-free 400g multigrain bread loaf from the Artisan Baker line, slow-risen and sourdough-based with no preservatives.
- Brioche Bread Gluten-free 370g pillowy brioche-style loaf crafted for breakfast lovers and sweet-bread fans.
- XL Sandwich Bread Gluten-free 280g XL sandwich bread baked with sourdough for balanced texture; gluten-free, lactose-free, wheat-free, Low FODMAP Certified, good source of fiber.
- Pita Bread Gluten-free 150g pita bread for Mediterranean-style recipes.
- Pretzels Gluten-free 150g pretzels snack.
- Honeygrams Gluten-free 160g honey grahams cereal/snack.
- Marble Cake Gluten-free 250g marble cake.
- Entertainment Crackers Gluten-free 175g crackers for snacking and entertaining.
- Ciabatta Rolls Gluten-free 200g ciabatta rolls.
- Table Crackers Gluten-free 210g table crackers.
- Schär Foodservice Foodservice division providing gluten-free products for commercial establishments including restaurants and institutions.
- Schär Club Consumer loyalty program that lets members collect seeds (points) with online purchases and redeem them for rewards such as discount vouchers, with exclusive activities including quizzes and early access to new products.
Companies that use Dr. Schar
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Dr. Schar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature3 records
Dr. Schar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Dr. Schar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Canyon Bakehouse: U.S. gluten-free bread specialist (owned by Flowers Foods) producing sliced breads, bagels, and buns for retail grocery. Directly comparable to Schär's Artisan Baker and XL Sandwich Bread lines on product format and target consumer (celiac and gluten-intolerant shoppers).
- Little Northern Bakehouse: Gluten-free and plant-based breads, buns, and bagels sold through mainstream U.S. grocery. Closely comparable to Schär on gluten-free sliced bread positioning and retail-channel distribution.
- Udi's Gluten Free: Well-known gluten-free baked goods brand (part of Conagra's portfolio) covering breads, muffins, granola, and snacks. Directly competes with Schär in U.S. retail gluten-free bakery aisles.
- Against the Grain: Specialty gluten-free and grain-free bakery producing breads, pizzas, and rolls. Comparable niche positioning to Schär's Artisan Baker and pizza-base product lines targeting celiac consumers.
- Katz Gluten Free: Direct-to-consumer and retail gluten-free baked goods brand covering breads, cookies, donuts, and pastries. Closely comparable product breadth and consumer segment to Schär's cookies/cakes and bakery categories.
Broad incumbents
- Bob's Red Mill: Large-scale specialty flour and baking-mix manufacturer offering a deep gluten-free line alongside whole-grain products. Comparable as a gluten-free baking/ingredient category incumbent with broader portfolio than Schär's branded finished goods.
- King Arthur Baking Company: Iconic U.S. flour and baking brand with a growing gluten-free product line and strong consumer trust. Comparable on the gluten-free baking ingredient and finished-product front, with broader mainstream reach.
Emerging players
- Simple Kneads: Specialty gluten-free sourdough bread brand focused on clean-label, traditionally fermented loaves. Closely comparable to Schär's Artisan Baker sourdough-based positioning and celiac-safe bread positioning.
- Happy Campers Gluten Free: Gluten-free bread and baked goods brand focused on better-for-you, allergy-friendly bakery items. Comparable niche gluten-free bread/rolls play targeting similar health-conscious, allergen-aware consumers.
- Ozery Bakery: Specialty producer of sprouted-grain and gluten-free breads, buns, and breakfast wraps. Adjacent competitor in gluten-free sliced bread and buns with comparable health-forward positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Dr. Schar social profiles
Digital presenceDr. Schar compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Dr. Schar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dr. Schar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Dr. Schar subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Dr. Schar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dr. Schar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dr. Schar
What does Dr. Schar do?
Dr. Schär manufactures and sells certified gluten-free foods across categories including artisan breads, sandwich breads, pizza bases, pasta, crackers, pretzels, cookies, and cakes. The company also operates a Schär Club consumer loyalty program and a Schär Foodservice B2B channel serving restaurants and commercial establishments.
Is Dr. Schar a public or private company?
Dr. Schar is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Dr. Schar founded?
Dr. Schar was founded in 1921. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Dr. Schar based?
Dr. Schar is headquartered in Burgstall, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Dr. Schar make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are retail Distribution and schär Club Loyalty Program.
Who are Dr. Schar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Canyon Bakehouse, Little Northern Bakehouse, Udi's Gluten Free, Against the Grain and Katz Gluten Free. Broad incumbents are Bob's Red Mill and King Arthur Baking Company. Emerging players are Simple Kneads, Happy Campers Gluten Free and Ozery Bakery.
Does Dr. Schar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dr. Schar.
What industry is Dr. Schar in?
Dr. Schar's product category is Gluten-free packaged and bakery foods. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAAAG, Specialty Bakery Manufacturing (Gluten-Free, Artisan, Health-Focused), with a secondary code of CRAHAGAC, Bread & Pastry Specialty Stores. Its NAICS code is 311812 and its SIC code is 2050.