Samsø Syltefabrik

What Samsø Syltefabrik does

Samsø Syltefabrik A/S is a Danish food manufacturer specializing in pickled and preserved vegetables, headquartered at Trolleborgvej 12 on Samsø island and operating Denmark's only remaining pickle factory. The business traces its origin to the Trolleborg cooperative dairy founded in 1887; after the dairy closed around 1960, surplus capacity was redirected into asparagus processing and then formal pickle manufacturing. The company was renamed Samsø Konservesfabrik in 1974 when ownership transferred to FDB (now COOP) and local vegetable growers, renamed again to Samsø Syltefabrik in 2013, and has been owned by equity fund Erhvervsinvest since 2016. It processes approximately 5,000 tonnes of locally grown produce annually — red cabbage, red beets, cucumbers, gherkins, pumpkins, asiers, and potatoes — with peak throughput of about 80 tonnes of red cabbage per day during the Christmas season and up to 70 employees on site during high season.

The production stack is built on traditional Danish pickling methods using exclusively brewed fermented vinegar supplied by De Jydske Eddikebryggerier rather than chemically manufactured acetic acid, with the company certified under ISO 22000 (food safety management based on HACCP) and requiring Global G.A.P. certification from its agricultural suppliers. The product range sits under multiple brand umbrellas: Samsø Syltefabrik (conventional, organic, and no-sugar-added pickled vegetables), Trolleborg (premium-exclusive line), Frk. Anna (high-fruit, low-sugar marmalades), and Samsø Konservesfabrik. The company also develops adjacent categories — mustards, ketchups, and cherry sauces — and produces a complete assortment in formats suited to retail, bulk, and foodservice (e.g., 5 kg burger-cucumber packs).

Commercially, Samsø Syltefabrik runs a hybrid revenue model. Branded own-label products are sold through Danish retailers, private-label and contract-manufacturing volume is produced for established Danish food brands (Løgismose, Meyers, Holm, Princip), and a dedicated food-service channel engages restaurants, caterers, and institutional kitchens via named sales representatives (Frank Jakobsen, Henrik Reimer Johansen) as well as food wholesalers. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company is led by CEO Frank Jakobsen, appointed February 2019, succeeding Mads Quistgaard.

Name

Samsø Syltefabrik

Legal name

Samsø Syltefabrik A/S

Website

https://samsoesyltefabrik.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Samsø Syltefabrik is Denmark's only remaining pickle factory, producing traditional pickled vegetables and preserves on Samsø island under multiple own brands and private labels for major Danish food brands and retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pickled and Preserved Foods

NAICS

Specialty Canning (311422), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Fermented & Pickled Fruit & Vegetable Products (Pickles, Kimchi, Sauerkraut) (AFAKAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Vinegar & Pickling Solutions Manufacturing (AFAKADAG)

Keywords

• Pickled vegetable manufacturing
• Danish food production
• Private label preserves
• Organic marmalade production
• Food service supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Branded pickled products (own brands): Manufactures and sells pickled products under own brand names SAMSØ SYLTEFABRIK, SAMSØ KONSERVESFABRIK, TROLLEBORG, and 'SYLTET PÅ SAMSØ', including conventional, organic, and no-sugar-added variants of red beets, red cabbage, cucumbers, gherkins, pumpkins, asiers, and potatoes.
2. Private-label / contract manufacturing: Produces private-label products for major Danish retail chains and other brands including Løgismose, Meyers, Holm, and Princip. Also manufactures products for other brands, offering co-development of pickled goods, ketchups, mustards, cherry sauces, and semi-manufactured produce for food manufacturers.
3. Frk. Anna marmalades: Frk. Anna is a line of high-fruit-content marmalades (jams) with low sugar content, no preservatives, made with organic cane sugar, sold under the company's own brand.
4. B2B Food Service & Professional: Supplies professional food businesses with pickled vegetables and root crops, offering bulk and foodservice-sized packaging formats (e.g., 5 kg burger cucumbers).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Samsø Syltefabrik is Denmark's only remaining operating pickle factory, producing pickled vegetables (red beets, red cabbage, cucumbers, gherkins, pumpkins, asiers, potatoes), marmalades, ketchups, mustards, and cherry sauces. The company sells under its own brands (SAMSØ SYLTEFABRIK, TROLLEBORG, SAMSØ KONSERVESFABRIK, Frk. Anna) and manufactures private-label products for major Danish retail chains and brands such as Løgismose, Meyers, Holm, and Princip.

Product overview

Samsø Syltefabrik is Denmark's only still-operating pickle factory, producing pickled vegetable products under multiple brands. The core product portfolio includes the Samsø Syltefabrik brand (cucumber salad, gherkins, seeded cucumbers, pumpkin, red cabbage, red beets, potatoes) with variants in conventional, organic, and no-sugar-added formulations; the premium Trolleborg exclusive line; Frk. Anna marmalades featuring high fruit content and low sugar; and products under the Samsø Konservesfabrik brand. The company also develops mustards, ketchup, and cherry sauces, and produces private-label products for major Danish chains and brands such as Løgismose, Meyers, and Holm.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Samsø Syltefabrik: Main brand for pickled vegetables including red beets, red cabbage, cucumbers, gherkins, pumpkin and potatoes. Available in conventional, organic and 'no sugar added' variants.
• Frk. Anna Marmelade
• Trolleborg

Products and services

• Samsø Syltefabrik Pickled Vegetables Primary branded product line offering a comprehensive range of pickled vegetables including cucumber salad, gherkins, seeded cucumbers, pumpkin, red cabbage, red beets, and potatoes, available in conventional, organic, and no-sugar-added variants for retail and food service customers.
• Trolleborg Premium Pickles
• Frk. Anna Marmalades
• Private-Label and Contract Manufacturing
• Specialty Sauces, Ketchups, and Mustards
• Food Service Bulk Pickled Vegetables

Quantifiable outcome

• Receives approximately 5,000 tonnes of produce per year from local Samsø growers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Svend Erik Hjuler Rasmussen (organic farmer)minorOthersSvend Erik Hjuler Rasmussen from Randers, Midtjylland, is one of Samsø Syltefabrik's organic vegetable suppliers. He won the title 'Ecologist of the Year 2017' and produces organic vegetables that are sourced by the company when island-grown organic produce is insufficient.
• Local Samsø vegetable growerscoreOthersMany of the growers who were formerly co-owners have continued as suppliers to this day. Samsø Syltefabrik receives approximately 5,000 tonnes of produce per year from local growers, including red cabbage and red beets grown on the island's diverse soil types.
• De Jydske EddikebryggeriercoreOthersSamsø Syltefabrik exclusively uses brewed fermented vinegar from De Jydske Eddikebryggerier rather than chemically manufactured vinegar acid. This is a core quality differentiator reflecting the company's commitment to tradition and quality.
• Global G.A.P. certified agricultural suppliersminorOthersSamsø Syltefabrik requires that suppliers of agricultural produce are Global G.A.P. certified, ensuring consistent quality and food safety standards in the raw material supply chain.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bonduelle Group: France-headquartered global leader in canned and processed vegetables including pickled and preserved offerings. Comparable as a large-scale vegetable preservation specialist serving retail and foodservice across Europe, though at much greater scale and broader product set.
• Hero Group: Swiss-headquartered preserves, fruit, and convenience food company with broad European presence in jams, marmalades, and fruit-based products. Comparable in marmalade and fruit-preserves production (Frk. Anna line) and in retail/private-label business model.
• Orkla Foods Danmark: Danish subsidiary of Nordic branded consumer goods group Orkla, owner of Felix, Beauvais, and other Danish/Nordic condiment, preserves, and food brands. Competes with Samsø Syltefabrik in Danish grocery shelves across multiple product categories but at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Heinz (Kraft Heinz): Global condiment giant (Kraft Heinz) with category leadership in pickles, ketchup, and condiments. Indirectly competitive via private-label programmes and indirect substitute pressure in Danish retail for pickled vegetable and ketchup categories.

Regional players

• Andros / Bonne Maman: France-based Andros Group owns Bonne Maman, a leading European premium preserves and jam brand known for clean-label formulations. Direct competitive overlap in the premium marmalade/preserves category and in retail private-label relationship dynamics.
• Felix (Procordia/Orkla): Swedish heritage condiment and pickles brand owned by Orkla, dominant in Swedish retail across ketchup, pickled vegetables, and preserves. Comparable in product set and Nordic retail placement, but primarily serves the Swedish market rather than Denmark.
• Baxters Food Group: UK family-owned preserves, condiments, and ready meals specialist producing traditional pickled vegetables, chutneys, and jarred goods. Comparable in heritage-driven, traditional pickling positioning and in retail private-label supply model, though primarily serving UK markets.

Direct peers

• Beauvais (Scandza AS): Danish mustard and condiment brand owned by Scandza/Orkla, specializing in traditional Scandinavian mustards and condiments. Direct competitive overlap with Samsø Syltefabrik's mustard and pickled product lines in the Danish retail channel.
• Björnkulla AB: Swedish producer of pickled goods and marmalades, led the recent CEO Frank Jakobsen before he joined Samsø Syltefabrik. Direct competitor in Nordic pickled vegetables and preserves with overlapping customer base and product set.
• Develey Senf & Feinkost GmbH: German mustard and pickled vegetables manufacturer with a market-leading position in condiments and pickles across DACH. Comparable in manufacturing fermented/pickled products, retail private-label supply, and clean-label positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Samsø Syltefabrik