What Gelpell does

Gelpell AG is a Swiss B2B contract manufacturer of capsule-based dietary supplements, headquartered and produced in-house at a single facility in Gähwil, Switzerland. Founded in 2005 as a privately held, family-owned company controlled by Kristina and Tomas Edvinsson, the firm employs roughly 40 staff across two or three shifts and carries a multi-generational pedigree rooted in Dr. Otto Greither's 1916 Salus Haus herbal-remedy business and the Swiss Caps encapsulation legacy.

The product portfolio spans Soft Capsules, Hard Capsules (gelatin and HPMC/vegetarian), Vegetarian Capsules built on pea-starch technology, and the proprietary GELPELL® Beadlets platform — a patented microencapsulation technology using spherical gelatin-based beads to enhance bioavailability of actives such as CoQ10, Vitamin K2 (MK-7), Curcumin, and EGCG, supporting up to 45% active-ingredient payload without excipients. Complementary services cover R&D formulation, regulatory documentation, in-house quality assurance, blister and jar packaging, and end-to-end full-service manufacturing for nutraceutical brand clients ranging from start-ups to established international players.

Revenue is generated through quote-based contract manufacturing fees, R&D and packaging professional services, and technology licensing of the GELPELL® beadlet platform. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales supplemented by trade-show lead generation at events such as Vitafoods Europe. Gelpell markets its 'Swiss-made' quality, broad regulatory footprint (GMP, ISO 9001/13485/22000, FDA 21 CFR Parts 11 and 820, EU MDR, Swissmedic, organic, halal), and clinical bioavailability data as core differentiators, particularly in Asian markets where Swiss provenance carries premium trust value.

Name

Gelpell

Legal name

Gelpell AG

Website

https://gelpell.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gelpell AG is a family-owned Swiss B2B contract manufacturer in Gähwil that produces capsule-based dietary supplements — softgels, hard capsules, vegetarian pea-starch caps, and proprietary GELPELL® microencapsulation beadlets — for nutraceutical brands from start-ups to established players, offering end-to-end R&D, manufacturing, and packaging services backed by broad GMP/ISO/FDA compliance and 'Swiss-made' positioning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nutraceutical Contract Manufacturing

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Delivery Systems & Encapsulation (Microencapsulation, Liposomes, Emulsions, Beadlets, Spray-Dried) (AFAJAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Herbal & Botanical Supplements (CRADAGAD), Hydrocolloids, Thickeners & Gelling Agents (Pectin, Xanthan, Carrageenan, Gelatin) (CRADAOAD), Probiotics & Digestive Health Supplements (CRADAGAF)

Keywords

• Nutraceutical contract manufacturing
• Dietary supplement capsules
• Softgel encapsulation services
• Microencapsulation bead technology
• Private label supplement manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Sankt Gallen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing: Gelpell provides end-to-end contract manufacturing services for nutraceutical brands, producing softgel capsules, hard capsules, vegetarian capsules, and proprietary Gelpell® beadlets. Revenue is generated through manufacturing fees based on order volume and complexity.
2. Research & Development Services: R&D collaboration with clients to develop innovative and effective supplement formulations, including ingredient sourcing, formulation optimization, and pilot batch testing.
3. Customized Packaging Solutions: Provides tailored packaging solutions including blister packs, bottling, labeling, and sustainable packaging options, integrated into the overall manufacturing service offering.
4. Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary Gelpell® beadlet technology to supplement brands seeking enhanced bioavailability and stability for their products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Gelpell AG is a Swiss contract manufacturer that produces premium capsule-based dietary supplements, including softgel capsules, hard gelatin and HPMC capsules, plant-based vegetarian capsules, and proprietary GELPELL® Beadlets using patented microencapsulation technology. The company provides end-to-end services from R&D and formulation through manufacturing, packaging (blister packs, bottling, labeling), and regulatory documentation support for nutraceutical brands worldwide.

Product overview

Gelpell is a Swiss contract manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of capsule-based nutritional supplement products and manufacturing services. The core product line includes Soft Capsules (gelatin-based for oil formulations), Hard Capsules (gelatin and HPMC vegetarian options for powders/pellets), Vegetarian Capsules (plant-based pea starch technology), and proprietary GELPELL® Beads (patented microencapsulation for enhanced bioavailability). Services encompass the entire product lifecycle from R&D and formulation through manufacturing and packaging, providing true end-to-end solutions for nutraceutical brands seeking Swiss-quality production with certifications including GMP, ISO 22000, and ISO 13485.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GELPELL® Beads: Proprietary microencapsulation technology using gelatin-based beads for enhanced bioavailability and stability of active ingredients.

Products and services

• Soft Capsules Premium soft gelatin capsules designed for optimal absorption of oil-based and semi-solid nutritional formulations, featuring superior bioavailability with pre-dissolved ingredients; intended for nutraceutical brands seeking easy-to-swallow delivery for oily and semi-solid preparations.
• Hard Capsules High-quality hard gelatin and HPMC (vegetarian) capsules for precision dosing of powders, pellets, and beadlet formulations, with customizable colors, sizes, and branding options; intended for nutraceutical brands across a wide range of ingredient types.
• Vegetarian Capsules (Veggie Caps) Plant-based soft capsule solution made from pea starch, offering a vegan and sustainable alternative for oil-based supplement formulations with temperature resistance and flexible texture; intended for vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based supplement brands.
• GELPELL® Beads Patented microencapsulation technology using gelatin-based spherical beadlets to deliver active ingredients in a highly stable, bioavailable format; can incorporate up to 45% active ingredient payload with no excipients and is clinically validated for enhanced absorption of CoQ10, Vitamin K2 (MK-7), Curcumin, and EGCG. Intended for supplement brands seeking differentiated bioavailability and dual-phase release profiles.
• Contract Manufacturing Services End-to-end contract manufacturing for softgel, hard capsule, and GELPELL® beadlet products with blister and jar packaging capabilities, serving nutraceutical brands across Europe and beyond.
• Research & Development Services Collaborative R&D services including ingredient sourcing, formulation optimization for stability and bioavailability, and pilot batch production for testing and validation.
• Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance Comprehensive quality control with GMP-certified testing protocols, in-house and third-party testing for purity, potency, and safety, ensuring compliance with international regulatory standards.
• Full Service Manufacturing Integrated end-to-end manufacturing from raw material sourcing through formulation, production, and packaging, with real-time process monitoring and cleanroom-grade environments.
• Customized Packaging Solutions Tailored packaging including blister packs, bottling in various sizes and materials, custom labeling and branding, and eco-friendly sustainable options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Enhanced Vitamin K2 (MK-7) absorption: Clinical trials show 3.8 ng/mL plasma concentration at 24 hours with Gelpell® vs 1.0 ng/mL with conventional softgels
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Recipharm: European CDMO offering formulation, manufacturing, and packaging across dosage forms including softgels and capsules for pharma and consumer health customers. Overlaps with Gelpell's end-to-end service model at greater scale.
• Catalent: Large global CDMO with a leading softgel and oral dose franchise serving pharma and consumer health customers. Overlaps with Gelpell's capsule manufacturing and bioavailability-focused offerings, but at materially larger scale and broader scope.
• Lonza Capsules & Health Ingredients: Business unit of Lonza supplying capsules (hard, softgel) and functional ingredients to pharma and nutraceutical customers. Directly comparable to Gelpell in capsule technology, though part of a much larger diversified CDMO.
• Siegfried Holding: Swiss-listed CDMO providing APIs and finished dosage forms (including softgel and capsules) to pharma customers. Comparable to Gelpell as a Swiss-headquartered contract manufacturer with a focus on regulated dosage forms.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon): Global pharma services division (formerly Patheon) offering contract development and manufacturing for oral solid dose and softgel formats. Comparable to Gelpell as a CDMO for supplement/pharma brands, but at global scale with deeper R&D infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Aenova Group: European-based CDMO with a strong focus on solid dosage forms (softgels, capsules, tablets) for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical customers. Closely comparable to Gelpell as a B2B contract manufacturer serving supplement brands with full-service capabilities.
• Sirio Pharma: Global nutraceutical and health-nutrition CDMO offering softgels, capsules, gummies, and finished dosage forms. Comparable to Gelpell in serving supplement brands across formats with end-to-end contract manufacturing services.
• Bora Pharmaceuticals: Asia-based CDMO with strong softgel and oral solid dose capabilities serving pharma and nutraceutical brands. Comparable to Gelpell in dosage form expertise and customer mix, though operating primarily across Asia-Pacific.

Regional players

• Dottikon ES: Swiss specialty CDMO focused on chemical API manufacturing and select finished dosage forms. Comparable as a Swiss-based, privately controlled CDMO serving regulated customers, though its portfolio is narrower than Gelpell's nutraceutical focus.

Others

• Eurofins: Global testing, inspection, and certification services provider supporting pharma, food, and nutraceutical manufacturers. Related to Gelpell as an adjacent ecosystem participant providing third-party quality and regulatory testing that supplement CDMOs rely on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance74 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Gelpell