What C. Thywissen does

C. Thywissen GmbH is a sixth-generation, family-owned industrial oil mill founded on July 1, 1839 in Neuss, Germany, currently employing approximately 120 people across its Neuss headquarters and Marl production site, plus a minority stake in Hungarian processor Ökoil Kft. The company processes oilseeds — primarily rapeseed, linseed, and sunflower — through seed preheating, crushing, pressing, and multi-stage refining into a portfolio of refined vegetable oils offered in stages from filtered crude to fully refined edible oil, plus the by-products oil meals (animal feed), lecithin (natural emulsifier), press cakes, and glycerin. Its Marl-based glycerin refinery, operated through the Natural Energy West (NEW) joint venture with Diester Industrie International, Bunge, and Agravis, is described as one of Europe's largest and produces 100% vegetable-origin glycerin at minimum 99.5% pharma-grade purity, alongside biodiesel from EU rapeseed oil.

The commercial model is B2B industrial commodity sales, with sales teams organized by product category (oil, meal, glycerin, biodiesel) offering contract-based pricing, customized refining stages, and tailored logistics. Distribution leverages Rhine harbor infrastructure at Neuss for inland waterway, road, and rail bulk transport, supplemented by an underground pipeline supplying sunflower oil directly to the Thomy (Henkel) food facility in the adjacent harbor. Customers span food manufacturing, oleochemistry and pharmaceuticals (cosmetics, antifreeze, microchips, lubricants), animal feed (ruminants, pigs, horses), and renewable fuels. Certifications include DIN EN ISO 9001, DIN ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, EFISC, QS, Kosher, Halal, ISCC EU, ISCC PLUS, and ISO 50001. A digital platform, ONEtobeONE, connects customers, suppliers, and freight partners for transparent contract and shipment management.

Recent corporate activity reflects a focused, capex-driven operating posture: a 2021 acquisition of a stake in Ökoil Kft. (Hungary), the 2021 closure of the Hürth malt mill concluding a multi-year exit from malting, and a 2023-2024 modernization cycle at Neuss that overhauled seed-ship unloading, added new seed silos, and delivered a new multifunctional building with a state-of-the-art laboratory and one of Europe's most modern fully automated IBC filling systems. Governance is via Thywissen Holding GmbH with 17 family shareholders, a 5-member advisory board, and managing directors Detlef Volz, Dominik Baum, and Timo Windhopf. No external parent or private equity backing is disclosed.

Name

C. Thywissen

Legal name

C. Thywissen GmbH

Website

https://c-thywissen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1839

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

C. Thywissen GmbH is a 185-year-old family-owned industrial oil mill in Neuss, Germany, processing oilseeds into refined vegetable oils, animal feed meals, lecithin, biodiesel, and pharmaceutical-grade glycerin for B2B customers across food, oleochemical, animal feed, and renewable fuel sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Oilseed Processing

NAICS

Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing (311224), Fats and Oils Refining and Blending (311225), Starch and Vegetable Fats and Oils Manufacturing (31122)

SIC

Fats & Oils (2070)

akta.pro primary industry

Vegetable Oil Crushing & Refining (Soy, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Corn, Cottonseed) (AFAKAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commodity Edible Vegetable Oils (Refined/Bleached/Deodorized) (AFAJALAA), High-Oleic & Specialty Oilseed Oils (AFAJALAC), Industrial Frying Oils & Foodservice Oil Blends Manufacturing (AFAKAEAI)

Keywords

• Vegetable oil processing
• Oilseed crushing
• Animal feed production
• Biodiesel manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical glycerin

Headquarters

HQ city

Neuss

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vegetable Oil Sales: Production and sale of refined plant oils (rapeseed, sunflower, linseed) in various refining stages for food industry (cooking oil, margarine, frying fat, mayonnaise, ketchup), bakery and confectionery ingredients, as well as technical/oleochemical applications.
2. Animal Feed (Oil Meals): Sale of toasted rapeseed, linseed and sunflower meal, and cold-pressed linseed cake as high-quality vegetable protein feed components for ruminants, pigs, horses and young animals. Revenue stream from by-products of oilseed processing.
3. Lecithin: Production and sale of liquid native lecithin extracted from rapeseed and sunflower seeds during the refining process, used as emulsifier and dispersing agent in food and cosmetics industries.
4. Biodiesel: Production and sale of biodiesel as alternative energy source through the Natural Energy West (NEW) joint venture in Marl. Biodiesel is sold into the fuel market.
5. Pharmaceutical-grade Glycerin: Refining of glycerin recovered from the biodiesel production process to pharma grade (99.5%+ purity) for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food applications.
6. Specialty Products: Customized specialty products fulfilling specific customer requirements for quality, delivery times, and quantities, including tailored pricing arrangements (fixed forward pricing or flexible pricing) and bespoke logistics solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

C. Thywissen operates an industrial oil mill that processes oilseeds (rapeseed, linseed, sunflower) into refined vegetable oils for food and technical applications, protein-rich animal feed meals, lecithin, biodiesel, and pharmaceutical-grade glycerin (99.5% purity). The company fully utilizes all oilseed components, selling outputs to industrial buyers in food, oleochemistry, animal nutrition, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy sectors.

Product overview

C. Thywissen GmbH is an industrial oil mill operating as a single unified production platform with integrated product lines. The company processes oilseeds (rapeseed, linseed, sunflower seeds) into three main product categories: vegetable oils (Pflanzenöl) sold in various refining stages as food ingredients or for technical applications; animal feed (Futtermittel) including protein meals and press cakes; and biochemical derivatives including lecithin (emulsifier), biodiesel (fuel), and pharmaceutical-grade glycerin. Supporting services include quality management, supplier services, oil extraction processing, and specialty custom solutions. The company operates facilities in Neuss (oil mill) and Marl (biodiesel/glycerin refinery) with approximately 120 employees, and holds certifications including ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, ISO 50001, Kosher, and Halal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vegetable Oil (Pflanzenöl) Refined plant-based oils including rapeseed oil (with omega-3 and erucic acid content), sunflower oil (normal and high-oleic with minimum 82% oleic acid), and linseed oil (high in alpha-linolenic acid). Offered in multiple refining stages from filtered crude oil to fully refined edible oil for food manufacturers and oleochemistry customers.
• Animal Feed (Futtermittel) High-quality protein feed components including toasted rapeseed meal, linseed meal, sunflower meal, and cold-pressed linseed cake. Produced as by-products of oilseed processing with low-glucosinolate rapeseed, suitable for ruminants, pigs, sows, calves, horses and young animals.
• Lecithin Liquid native lecithin (natural phospholipid emulsifier and dispersing agent) extracted from rapeseed and sunflower seeds during refining. Used in food production (margarine, cocoa powder), cosmetics, and as a cell-membrane stabilizer that forms liposomes for aroma retention.
• Biodiesel Biogenic diesel fuel (FAME) derived from vegetable oils (rapeseed oil) via the NEW joint venture in Marl. Nearly sulfur-free, with high cetane number, excellent lubricity, and reduced soot emissions. Saves 2.2 kg of greenhouse gas emissions per liter consumed (ifeu Institute 2003).
• Pharmaceutical-grade Glycerin Plant-based glycerin refined at one of Europe's largest glycerin refineries in Marl to pharmaceutical grade (minimum 99.5% purity) from 100% vegetable oil. Used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food (E422 humectant), antifreeze, lubricants, plastics, microchips, and dyestuffs.
• Specialty Products (Spezialitäten) Customized product solutions fulfilling specific customer requirements for quality, delivery times, and quantities, including tailored pricing arrangements (fixed forward pricing or flexible pricing) and bespoke logistics solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• One liter of biodiesel saves 2.2 kg of greenhouse gas emissions (ifeu Institute 2003 study)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ökoil Kft.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2021C. Thywissen GmbH acquired a participation in Ökoil Kft. located in Sajóbábony in northeastern Hungary. The cooperation was driven by strong demand for sunflower oil and longstanding collaboration. Ökoil specializes in sunflower oil processing.
• Verdun Oil Mill (France)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Cooperation established in 2009 for an oil mill with connected biodiesel plant in Verdun, France. The participation was subsequently divested.
• GlobalMaltminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006In 2006, the malting division of C. Thywissen GmbH merged with Schill Malz to form GlobalMalt, becoming the German market leader in the malt industry. C. Thywissen divested its malt production in 2011 and ended last malt activities in 2021.
• Natural Energy West (NEW) GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Joint venture established in 2002 for industrial-scale biodiesel production at Marl industrial park in the Ruhr area. C. Thywissen GmbH is co-shareholder with Diester Industrie International (Paris), Koninklijke Bunge B.V. (Rotterdam), and Agravis Raiffeisen AG (Münster). The JV processes EU rapeseed oil into biodiesel and recovers glycerin for pharmaceutical refining.
• RheinCargocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint logistics project at Neuss harbour for improved berth situation for seed ships. RheinCargo and C. Thywissen cooperated on a new loading facility in Hafenbecken I, enabling simultaneous unloading of seed vessels and improving harbour operations.
• Thomy-Werk (Henkel)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupply partnership with the Thomy food manufacturing facility in Neuss harbour, connected via an underground pipeline for direct delivery of sunflower oil.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bunge: Global oilseed processor and refiner with crushing, refining, and biodiesel capabilities. Bunge is also a co-shareholder with C. Thywissen in the Natural Energy West (NEW) biodiesel joint venture in Marl, making it the most directly comparable peer and a strategic counterparty.
• Cargill: One of the largest global oilseed crushers and refiners of vegetable oils for food, feed, and industrial applications. Directly competes with C. Thywissen across European rapeseed/sunflower processing, refining, and lecithin/feed byproduct streams.
• Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): Global agricultural processor with major oilseed crushing, refining, biodiesel, and specialty ingredient operations. ADM is a directly comparable peer in oilseed processing, glycerin, lecithin, and protein meal across the European market.
• Louis Dreyfus Company: Global merchandiser and processor of oilseeds, vegetable oils, and related byproducts with European operations. Overlaps directly with C. Thywissen in rapeseed/sunflower crushing, refined oils, and biodiesel/glycerin value chains.
• AAK (Aarhuskarlshamn): Sweden-based specialty oils and fats company serving food, personal care, and oleochemical end markets. AAK's specialty-oils portfolio and customer base closely mirror C. Thywissen's high-oleic sunflower, specialty rapeseed, and customized ingredient offerings.

Emerging players

• Verbio: German producer of biodiesel, bioethanol, and biomethane from agricultural feedstocks. Comparable as a domestic German renewable-fuels competitor relevant to C. Thywissen's biodiesel operations and glycerin byproduct economics.
• CropEnergies: Mannheim-based producer of bioethanol and renewable fuels with sustainability certification (ISCC). Comparable as a German renewable-fuels peer with overlapping feedstock sourcing and EU biofuel policy exposure.

Broad incumbents

• Wilmar International: Asia's largest agribusiness group with global oilseed crushing, refining, and oleochemical operations. Comparable at the category level for vegetable oil refining, lecithin, biodiesel feedstocks, and glycerin — though Wilmar is far larger and palm-focused.
• IOI Corporation: Malaysian palm oil major with downstream refining, oleochemicals, and specialty fats. Comparable as a broad incumbent in vegetable oil refining, specialty fats, and oleochemical feedstocks (including glycerin).

Regional players

• Bunge Deutschland / Bunge Europe: European arm of Bunge with crushing and refining plants across Germany and continental Europe. The most direct geographic competitor for German rapeseed processing, refined oils, and feed meals, with comparable Rhine/harbor logistics profiles.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/c-thywissen-gmbh

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 C. Thywissen