What LECICO does

LECICO GmbH is a Hamburg-based specialty ingredient manufacturer and supplier focused exclusively on lecithins and phospholipids derived from soy, sunflower, and rapeseed. The company's portfolio spans liquid lecithins, deoiled powders and granules, tailored compounds, fractionated phospholipid concentrates (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol), milk-derived phospholipids produced via proprietary solvent-free membrane separation, and an AlphaSize A-GPC nutraceutical line. Customers are industrial B2B buyers in food, feed, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, technical, and nutraceutical segments, with a minimum order quantity of 25 kg and no direct-to-consumer sales (an affiliated ivovital.com online shop handles small-pack consumer lecithin separately). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

The underlying technology centers on phospholipid fractionation and concentration techniques that isolate specific phospholipid classes for tailored functional and regulatory outcomes, supplemented by enzymatic modification and membrane separation capabilities. Manufacturing is vertically integrated into European lecithin production following the 2019 acquisition by French agro-industrial conglomerate Avril Group. The company carries an unusually deep certification stack for an 11–50 employee firm, including EcoVadis Platinum (top 1%, 2022), ISO 9001, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, HACCP, Kosher, Organic, Non-GMO, Non-GMO Project Verified, and US Pharmacopoeia/NF XXIII for pharma applications.

The business model is a single-stream revenue model built on one-time product sales of lecithin and phospholipid inputs to industrial customers, marketed through direct enterprise field sales, the corporate website (lecico.de), and direct email and phone contact. LECICO positions itself on deep domain expertise, consistent quality with full traceability, and tailored specifications across regulatory regimes. Two senior leaders are disclosed: Sven Göbel (Managing Director) and Philipp Sommer (Business Director). Financial metrics including revenue and headcount growth are not publicly disclosed.

Name

LECICO

Legal name

LECICO GmbH

Website

https://lecico.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LECICO is a Hamburg-based specialty manufacturer of lecithins and phospholipids from soy, sunflower, and rapeseed, supplying industrial B2B customers in food, feed, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, technical, and nutraceutical markets with a vertically integrated European production footprint under Avril Group ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Lecithin and Phospholipid Ingredients

NAICS

Starch and Vegetable Fats and Oils Manufacturing (31122), Fats and Oils Refining and Blending (311225)

SIC

Fats & Oils (2070), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Phospholipids & Lecithin Systems (Deoiled Lecithin, Fractionated Lecithins) (AFAJALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lecithins (Soy, Sunflower, Egg; Fluid/Deoiled/Fractionated) (AFAJACAA), Botanical & Herbal Extracts (Adaptogens, Polyphenols, Essential Oils, Standardized Extracts) (AFAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Lecithin manufacturing
• Phospholipid supply
• Food emulsifiers
• Non-GMO lecithin
• Industrial lecithin

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Lecithin and Phospholipid Product Sales: LECICO generates revenue through the sale of lecithins and phospholipids to industrial customers. Products include liquid lecithins, deoiled lecithin powders, organic lecithins, compounds, phospholipid fractions, milk phospholipids, and nutraceuticals. The company operates as both manufacturer and supplier with its own European production capabilities acquired through Avril Group.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

LECICO manufactures and supplies lecithins and phospholipids derived from soy, sunflower, and rapeseed for industrial applications. Its portfolio includes liquid lecithins, deoiled lecithin powders, organic and non-GMO variants, custom compounds, concentrated phospholipid fractions (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine), milk-derived phospholipids, and the AlphaSize A-GPC nutraceutical line. Products serve as emulsifiers, dispersing agents, wetting agents, release agents, and bioactive ingredients for food, feed, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and technical industrial customers.

Product overview

LECICO is a manufacturer and supplier of lecithins and phospholipids for industrial applications, operating as a portfolio of specialized product lines. The core offerings include: (1) Liquid Lecithins - fluid products from soya, sunflower, and rapeseed in various grades (LECICO F 600 IPM, F 580 IP, F 300 IP, F 200 for soya; SUN 800, SUN FM 580, SUN 400 for sunflower; RAP 200 IP, RAP 100 for rapeseed); (2) Deoiled Lecithins - oil-free powdered and granular lecithins for food, health food, and feed applications (LECICO P 900 IP, P 700 IP, P 580 IP, P 300 IP, G 700 IP for soya; SUN P 400, SUN FP 400, SUN G 400 for sunflower; RAP P 200 IP for rapeseed); (3) Compounds - tailored lecithin combinations for specific industrial needs (LECICO SUN CFM 50, SUN CF 20); (4) Soya Phospholipids - concentrated phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine fractions (LIPAMINE PS 20 F/P, PS 50 P; LIPMAMINE PC 30, PC 30 P IP, PC 50 IP); (5) Milk Phospholipids - bioactive milk-derived phospholipids (LIPAMINE M 20); (6) Nutraceuticals - phospholipid-based dietary supplements (AlphaSize 50WSP, AlphaSize 100 P). Products serve the food, feed, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and technical industries with applications including emulsification, release agents, and nutritional supplements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AlphaSize: AlphaSize is a branded nutraceutical product line containing Alpha-GPC (L-alpha Glycero-phospho-choline) for muscle and cognitive performance, including AlphaSize 50WSP and AlphaSize 100 P variants.
• LIPAMINE
• Lecico

Products and services

• LECICO Liquid Soya Lecithins (F 600 IPM, F 580 IP, F 300 IP, F 200) Fluid soya lecithins in multiple grades with varying acetone insoluble (AI) content from 56% to 62%, including enzymatically modified variants. Used as emulsifiers for industrial food, feed, and technical applications requiring consistent emulsification performance.
• LECICO Liquid Sunflower Lecithins (SUN 800, SUN FM 580, SUN 400) Premium fluid sunflower lecithins, non-GMO, serving as an allergen-free alternative to soy-based lecithin. Includes enzymatically modified variants for specialized industrial applications.
• LECICO Liquid Rapeseed Lecithins (RAP 200 IP, RAP 100) Fluid rapeseed lecithin derived from non-allergenic rapeseed, providing functional phospholipids with an excellent omega-6 to omega-3 ratio for food and technical applications.
• LECICO Deoiled Soya Lecithin Powders and Granules (P 900 IP, P 700 IP, P 580 IP, P 300 IP, G 700 IP) Deoiled soya lecithin powders with 95-97% acetone insoluble content and granular forms for direct oral consumption or food enrichment. Suitable for dietetic health food, drinks, and feed systems with good solubility and dust control.
• LECICO Deoiled Sunflower Lecithin Powders and Granules (SUN P 400, SUN FP 400, SUN G 400) Deoiled sunflower lecithin powders and granules as a hypoallergenic, sustainable, non-GMO alternative to soya lecithin, with fine particle size variants available for applications requiring finer dispersion.
• LECICO Deoiled Rapeseed Lecithin Powder (RAP P 200 IP) Deoiled rapeseed lecithin powder with 95% AI content, providing a non-allergenic alternative to soya lecithin.
• LECICO Sunflower Lecithin Compounds (SUN CFM 50, SUN CF 20) Fluid sunflower lecithin compounds with tailored AI content (10% to 27%) designed for tailor-made applications in the baking industry and other food sectors.
• LIPAMINE Phosphatidylserine (PS 20 F, PS 20 P, PS 50 P) Enriched soya phospholipids with 20% or 50% phosphatidylserine (PS) in fluid and powder forms. Used for cognitive function support, concentration, memory, and stress relief in nutraceutical applications.
• LIPAMINE Phosphatidylcholine (PC 30, PC 30 P IP, PC 50 IP) Enriched soya lecithin products with 30% or 50% phosphatidylcholine (PC) in fluid, powder, or waxy form, supporting liver health, cholesterol control, cell membrane function, and used as release agents in food applications.
• LIPAMINE M 20 Concentrated Milk Phospholipids Concentrated milk phospholipid on a carrier (up to 20% phospholipids including sphingomyelin, ceramides, and gangliosides) obtained through membrane separation without solvents. Supports gut maturation, immune system, and brain development in infant and clinical nutrition applications.
• AlphaSize A-GPC Nutraceutical Products (AlphaSize 50WSP, AlphaSize 100 P) Water-soluble and high-purity powders containing A-GPC (alpha-glycero-phosphocholine) at 50% or 98-102% concentration, designed for powdered mixes, drinks, bars, beverages, and functional food formulations. Provides a precursor for acetylcholine synthesis to enhance cognitive and muscular performance.
• LECICO Organic Lecithins (BIO) Certified organic lecithin variants based on soy and sunflower raw materials. Available as liquid and deoiled lecithin forms for industrial food applications requiring organic-certified ingredients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 0.5% lecithin addition can save approximately 6% of cocoa butter in chocolate production
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Oleon (Avril Group)minorOthers · 1 January 2021Sister company within the Avril Group. Oleon also received a Platinum EcoVadis medal in 2021, demonstrating the group's commitment to sustainability across its portfolio companies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sternchemie: Sternchemie is a Hamburg-based specialist lecithin and phospholipid manufacturer and supplier. Highly comparable to LECICO given its shared specialization in soy/sunflower lecithin, phospholipid fractions, and industrial B2B focus.
• Lasenor: Lasenor is a Spanish lecithin and phospholipid specialist serving food, feed, and nutraceutical markets. Directly comparable to LECICO on product portfolio (liquid/deoiled lecithins, phospholipid fractions) and B2B industrial customer model.

Broad incumbents

• Cargill: Cargill is a global agribusiness and food ingredients giant producing lecithin as part of its broader oils and ingredient portfolio. Overlaps with LECICO on soy/sunflower lecithin supply, but operates at vastly larger scale across many other categories.
• ADM (Archer Daniels Midland): ADM is a global leader in oilseed processing and produces bulk and specialty lecithin as part of its Nutrition segment. Comparable to LECICO as a lecithin supplier, but with a far broader ingredient portfolio and significantly larger scale.
• Bunge: Bunge is one of the world's largest oilseed processors and supplies lecithin alongside refined oils and related ingredients. Competes with LECICO in commodity and food-grade lecithin supply but on a much larger, diversified scale.
• AAK (AarhusKarlshamn): AAK is a specialty oils and fats company with lecithin among its emulsion and functional ingredient offerings. Comparable to LECICO in specialty emulsifier/fat ingredient supply to food manufacturers, though with a broader oils-and-fats portfolio.
• IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances): IFF (post-DuPont N&B integration) supplies specialty food ingredients including phospholipids and emulsifier systems. Comparable to LECICO on phospholipid supply but operates as a global ingredients conglomerate across many categories.
• Kerry Group: Kerry Group is a global taste and nutrition company supplying food and beverage ingredients including emulsifier systems. Overlaps with LECICO on functional ingredient supply to industrial food customers, though with a much broader portfolio.

Emerging players

• VAV Life Sciences: VAV Life Sciences is an Indian specialty phospholipid and lecithin supplier focused on pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Comparable to LECICO on phospholipid fractionation for pharma/nutraceutical end-markets, though smaller in scale and primarily serving Asia.

Others

• Avril Group (parent / sister divisions): Avril Group is LECICO's French parent company and a major agro-industrial group with plant-based chemistry operations including sister company Oleon. Relevant as ecosystem participant providing integrated upstream supply and adjacent oleochemical capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LECICO_GmbH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lecico

Compliance9 records

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 LECICO