What Zimbo does

Zimbo is a German packaged meat and sausage manufacturer founded in 1953 in Bochum by Max Zimmermann, originally as a delivery-based food wholesale operation selling regional sausage products to food retailers. The company transitioned to self-service packaged sausage formats in 1960 and to in-house manufacturing in 1976 with a production facility in Börger, Emsland, subsequently expanding into Westphalia, Thuringia, and internationally into Hungary, France, and Poland. Zimbo has been a subsidiary of zur Mühlen Gruppe since mid-2019 — zur Mühlen being characterized as one of the largest companies in the European meat and sausage industry — having previously operated under Swiss Bell AG majority ownership from October 2008. The legal entity operating the business is zur Mühlen ApS & Co. KG, registered in Flensburg, Germany, with a Danish general partner (zur Mühlen ApS, Herning); the company is managed by Maximilian Tönnies and Axel Knau.

The core product portfolio spans sliced cold cuts (Aufschnitt), spreadable sausages (Streichzart including onion sausage and liver sausage varieties), piece products (Stückartikel), Thuringian regional specialties (Rostbratwurst, Kochschinken, Leberkäse, Gutsleberwurst, Gutsrotwurst, Zungenrotwurst, Frühstücksfleisch), international specialties, assorted butcher platters (Metzger Aufschnitt, Geflügel Metzger Aufschnitt), and a Beef Jerky sub-brand built around 100% Bio Grassland Beef in four flavors (Classic, Sweet Chili, Pepper, Honey BBQ). Manufacturing relies on traditional German meat processing techniques with recipes produced in the regions of origin to preserve authenticity, supported by multi-certification quality assurance covering QS (Qualität und Sicherheit), IFS (International Food Standard), HACCP, ISO, BIO/organic, and RSPO sustainable palm oil standards. Modern packaging is engineered to preserve aroma and freshness for self-service retail formats.

Zimbo operates a consumer packaged goods (CPG) business model, generating revenue through wholesale supply of branded packaged meat and sausage products to German and European food retailers (supermarkets, grocery chains, and discount retailers) rather than through direct-to-consumer channels. Distribution is managed through traditional food retail channels at retailer-determined retail prices. Customer-facing marketing is anchored on the company website (zimbo.de), which carries a recipe database, brand storytelling, and product information, supplemented by distinctive red-logo and color-coded packaging designed for shelf-level consumer identification. The company does not disclose pricing models and does not operate a direct e-commerce or app-based sales channel.

Name

Zimbo

Legal name

zur Mühlen ApS & Co. KG

Website

https://zimbo.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Zimbo is a German packaged meat and sausage manufacturer producing traditional sausages, regional specialties, and organic beef jerky for sale through German and European food retail channels. Founded in 1953, it operates as part of zur Mühlen Gruppe since 2019.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Processed Meat Products

NAICS

Animal Slaughtering and Processing (3116), Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (42447)

SIC

Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Sausage Manufacturing (Fresh, Cooked, Fermented, Emulsified) (AFANAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Regional Processed Meats (Ethnic/Traditional Sausages, Regional Cures) (AFANAEAK), Jerky & Meat Snacks Manufacturing (AFAKAIAH), Jerky & Meat Snacks (CRADABAK)

Keywords

• Meat processing products
• Sausage manufacturing
• Regional German sausages
• Cured meat products
• Beef jerky snacks

Headquarters

HQ city

Budapest

HQ country

Hungary

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Meat and Sausage Product Sales: Zimbo generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of packaged meat and sausage products to food retailers. Products are sold under the Zimbo brand through grocery stores, supermarkets, and food retail chains across Germany.
2. Private Label/Regional Specialty Production: Production of authentic regional specialties using original recipes in their country of origin, sold through retail channels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Zimbo produces and sells packaged meat and sausage products under its own brand to German food retailers. The portfolio includes sliced meats (Aufschnitt), spreadable sausages (Streichzart), whole-piece items (Stückartikel), Thuringian regional specialties, international specialties, Rostbratwurst, and organic Beef Jerky snacks. Products are manufactured at facilities in Germany (Böklund, Börger in Emsland, Westphalia, Thuringia) and abroad (Hungary, France, Poland).

Product overview

Zimbo is a German meat and sausage company offering a diverse portfolio of meat products. The product range includes: Aufschnitt (sliced meats) featuring Salami, Schinkenwurst, Paprika-Lyoner, Bierschinken, Cervelatwurst, Putensalami, Edel-Salami and Geflügel-Salami varieties; Streichzart (spreadable products) including various Zwiebelmettwurst (onion sausage) and Leberwurst (liver sausage) products; Stückartikel (piece items) such as Schinkenbockwurst; Thüringer Spezialitäten (Thuringian regional specialties) including Thüringer Kochschinken, Thüringer Leberkäse, Thüringer Gutsleberwurst, Thüringer Gutsrotwurst, Thüringer Zungenrotwurst, and Thüringer Frühstücksfleisch; Snacks including Beef Jerky in four flavors (Classic, Sweet Chili, Pepper, Honey BBQ); Metzger Aufschnitt and Geflügel Metzger Aufchnitt (assorted meat platters); and 4 Jahreszeiten Salami. Products are manufactured in Germany (Emsland, Westphalia, Thuringia), Hungary, France, and Poland. The company operates as part of zur Mühlen Gruppe after acquiring majority stake from Swiss Bell AG in 2008 and full acquisition in 2019.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aufschnitt (Sliced Meats) Range of sliced meat products for German retail consumers, including Salami, Schinkenwurst, Paprika-Lyoner, Bierschinken, Cervelatwurst, Putensalami, Edel-Salami, and Geflügel-Salami varieties.
• Streichzart (Spreadable Meats) Spreadable meat product range including Zwiebelmettwurst (onion sausage) varieties and Leberwurst (liver sausage) varieties sold through German food retail.
• Stückartikel (Whole-Piece Items) Individual whole-piece sausage products such as Schinkenbockwurst sold in natural casing and similar whole-piece items for retail consumers.
• Thüringer Spezialitäten (Thuringian Regional Specialties) Regional Thuringian sausage and cured meat specialties produced in Thuringia to original recipes, including Thüringer Kochschinken, Thüringer Leberkäse, Thüringer Gutsleberwurst, Thüringer Gutsrotwurst, Thüringer Zungenrotwurst, and Thüringer Frühstücksfleisch.
• Internationale Spezialitäten (International Specialties) International meat and sausage specialty products made for German food retail.
• Rostbratwurst Thuringian-style grilled sausages (Rostbratwurst) sold through German food retail.
• Beef Jerky (Classic, Sweet Chili, Pepper, Honey BBQ) Organic beef jerky snack line made from 100% Bio Grassland Beef, air-dried, available in four flavors: Classic, Sweet Chili, Pepper, and Honey BBQ.
• Metzger Aufschnitt (Butcher's Sliced Meat Platter) Assorted sliced meat platter containing Lyoner, Bierschinken, Paprika-Lyoner, Pistazien-Lyoner, and Norddeutsche Jagdwurst, packaged together for retail.
• Geflügel Metzger Aufschnitt (Poultry Butcher's Platter) Poultry sliced meat assortment platter containing oven-baked Geflügel-Fleischkäse, Geflügel-Bierschinken, Geflügel-Jagdwurst, and Geflügel-Lyoner varieties.
• 4 Jahreszeiten Salami Premium salami made from selected lean pork, aged slowly and gently to develop a unique smoky aroma.
• Knusperschinken Thuringian specialty ham, oven-baked until crispy and seasoned with a select blend of spices, prepared like a holiday roast.
• Edel-Salami High-quality premium salami, gently smoked, full in aroma with fine seasoning, positioned as a classic for the discerning gourmet.
• Thüringer Leberkäse Traditionally produced Thuringian Leberkäse made with best pork and pork liver, seasoned with selected spices.
• Schinkenbockwurst Crispy Bockwurst in natural casing made from fine pork and chunky bacon, mildly smoked with a hearty-spicy flavor.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Reinert: German sausage and meat products manufacturer (part of Tönnies group); comparable in product mix (sausage, salami, ham specialties) and German retail distribution model.
• Böklunder: German sausage/liverwurst brand operating as a sibling under zur Mühlen Gruppe. Same parent, overlapping retail channels, and similar specialty positioning — the most operationally comparable brand to Zimbo within its own group.
• Rügenwalder Mühle: German sausage and processed meat brand; the closest direct competitor to Zimbo with comparable product categories (salami, Lyoner, sliced meats), identical retail distribution channels, and similar heritage positioning. Most relevant like-for-like comparison in the German sausage category.
• Wiltmann: German sausage and roast pork brand with nationwide food retail distribution; competes with Zimbo on sliced meats, Lyoner and roast/sausage categories via similar discounter-to-supermarket channels.
• Müller Fleisch: German meat processor and sausage maker supplying food retail and foodservice; comparable mid-sized German meat processor with overlapping sausage/specialty meat product range.
• Gutfried: Premium German salami and sausage brand with retail presence comparable to Zimbo's Aufschnitt categories; direct competitor on sliced sausage/Salami shelf space across German food retail.

Broad incumbents

• Westfleisch: German meat cooperative and processor with extensive sausage, ham and processed meat range; broader slaughtering/processing footprint but overlapping retail sausage category.
• Tönnies: One of Germany's largest meat groups and parent of zur Mühlen's Reinert brand; broader portfolio across slaughtering, processing and retail brands. Indirect competitor at the parent-group level and yardstick for group scale.
• Danish Crown: Major European meat group headquartered in Denmark (parent-context to zur Mühlen ApS); relevant as a group-level scale benchmark for European meat processing and distribution.

Others

• Bell AG: Swiss meat company and former majority shareholder of Zimbo (2008–2019); used here as a strategic/financial peer for ownership history rather than as a current direct competitor in the German market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Zimbo