Meica
Meica is a fourth-generation, family-owned German meat and sausage manufacturer founded in 1908 in Edewecht, Lower Saxony. It produces canned sausages, currywurst, bratwurst, vegetarian, organic, and convenient meals under brands including Deutschländer, Curry King, Bratmaxe, and Mini Wini for German consumers and exports to approximately 30 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1908
- HeadquartersEdewecht, Germany
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Meica does
Meica Ammerländische Fleischwarenfabrik Fritz Meinen GmbH & Co. KG is a German family-owned meat and convenience foods manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in Edewecht, Lower Saxony. The company is operated by the fourth generation of the founding Meinen family and runs a single primary production facility that supplies Deutschländer, Mini Wini, Trueman's, Curry King, Bratmaxe, Volle Kelle, and Kohlkönig branded product lines. Meica holds the cited market-leader position for canned sausages in Germany and produces what its own materials describe as the most successful currywurst in German food retail (LEH). The portfolio spans classic pork sausages, poultry products, vegetarian lines (meat-free sausages, hot dogs, bratwurst, currywurst), organic-certified products under the Bio label, and convenient meals including stews and north German kale dishes. Soups and stews are kettle-cooked using traditional recipes, and Bratmaxe Würz-Griller products are hand-marinated.
Meica sells through German supermarket chains under standard retail pricing and exports to approximately 30 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and other international markets, with a B2B dealer portal (litho-service.de) supporting retail-partner access to product imagery and catalog data. Revenue is generated almost exclusively through hardware-style product sales across chilled sections, vegetarian sections, and tinned foods areas of well-stocked supermarkets. Certifications relevant to regulated distribution include IFS food safety, HACCP, ISO 50001 energy management, USA export certification, and EC Eco-Regulation No. 848/2018 organic certification (DE-ÖKO-006). The company emphasizes palm oil-free formulations, avoidance of flavor enhancers, colorants, and phosphates in most products, and the use of heat-recovery and water-saving production techniques.
The customer base is broad and consumer-facing: general German and international retail consumers, including families with children (Mini Wini), barbecue enthusiasts (Bratmaxe), and growing vegetarian and flexitarian segments. Distribution relies on established retail supermarket networks rather than direct-to-consumer e-commerce. Marketing is conducted primarily through the corporate website (meica.de), a Curry King Facebook page, and contact forms. Meica has no public listing, no venture or private equity investment, and no disclosed acquisitions, with management led by Managing Director Michael März.
Meica firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Meica
- Legal name
- Meica Ammerländische Fleischwarenfabrik Fritz Meinen GmbH & Co. KG
- Website
- https://meica.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1908
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Meica is a fourth-generation, family-owned German meat and sausage manufacturer founded in 1908 in Edewecht, Lower Saxony. It produces canned sausages, currywurst, bratwurst, vegetarian, organic, and convenient meals under brands including Deutschländer, Curry King, Bratmaxe, and Mini Wini for German consumers and exports to approximately 30 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Meica industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Processed Meat and Sausage Manufacturing
- NAICS
- All Other Food Manufacturing (31199), Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing (311991)
- SIC
- Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hot Dogs, Frankfurters & Bologna (Emulsified/Comminuted Meats) (AFANAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Ethnic & international prepared meals manufacturing (AFAKAHAG)
Keywords
Where Meica is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edewecht
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Meica business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Food Product Sales: Meica generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of sausages, currywurst, bratwurst, convenience meals, vegetarian products, and classic specialities to retail customers through supermarket chains across Germany and approximately 30 export countries.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Meica product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Meica manufactures and distributes a portfolio of German sausage specialties, ready-to-eat currywurst, bratwurst, convenient meals, and vegetarian products under brands including Deutschländer, Mini Wini, Trueman's, Curry King, Bratmaxe, Volle Kelle, and Kohlkönig. Products are sold through well-stocked supermarkets in Germany and exported to approximately 30 countries, positioning Meica as Germany's market leader for canned sausages.
Product overview
Meica is a German meat and sausage company founded in 1908, family-run in its fourth generation and headquartered in Edewecht, Lower Saxony. As Germany's market leader for canned sausages, Meica operates as a diversified food company offering multiple product categories across its portfolio. The core products include the Deutschländer brand (Germany's favorite sausages combining the best of wiener, frankfurter, and bockwurst), Mini Wini (child-focused mini sausages in various formats), and Trueman's (American-style hot dogs). The flagship Curry King currywurst line includes multiple variants (original, poultry, extra hot, XXL, spicy onion, high-protein Kong, vegetarian) and is the most successful curry sausage in German food retail. The Bratmaxe barbecue bratwurst range offers pork, poultry, vegetarian, cheese, and Tex Mex varieties, plus the new organic Bratmaxe Bio introduced in 2024. The Volle Kelle convenient meal line provides stews (chili con carne, lentil, pea, potato, leek-cheese) while Kohlkönig offers traditional north German kale dishes. A full vegetarian range includes meat-free sausages, hot dogs, bratwursts, and currywurst. Organic-certified products include wieners, bockwurst, and the Pur & Bio line. Additional offerings encompass classic specialties like Ragout Fin and Mockturtle, plus various specialty sausages (beef, pork-free, Bavarian white sausage). Meica exports to approximately 30 countries worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Deutschländer: Germany's most popular sausage brand; described as combining the best of German sausages - crisp as wiener, spicy as frankfurter, tender as bockwurst. Includes varieties like Geflügel, 3er, and Dicke.
- Mini Wini
- Trueman's
- Curry King
- Bratmaxe
- Volle Kelle
- Kohlkönig
- Ragout Fin
- Mockturtle
Products and services
- Deutschländer Germany's most popular sausage brand combining the best qualities of wiener, frankfurter, and bockwurst (crisp, spicy, tender), sold to general consumers through supermarket chilled foods sections. Available in original, poultry (Geflügel), 3er, and Dicke (chunky) variants.
- Mini Wini Mini cocktail sausages specially designed for children with extra mild, fine, and small characteristics, sold to families through supermarkets. Includes chain, singles, poultry, and the carrot (Karotte) variant introduced in 2025 with 30% vegetable content.
- Trueman's American-style hot dog brand known for exceptional tenderness, popular at parties and family occasions. Available in regular pork, poultry, and vegetarian (soy-based) variants for general consumers and vegetarians/flexitarians.
- Curry King Ready-to-eat currywurst from the chilled foods cabinet, served with curry powder and wooden fork for authentic German currywurst enjoyment. The most successful curry sausage in German food retail. Range includes original, poultry, Extra Hot, XXL (400g), Spicy Onion, high-protein Kong, vegetarian (Echt Veggie), and seasonal Limited Edition variants.
- Bratmaxe Bratwurst brand optimized for barbecue, described as crisp on the outside and juicy inside. Available in pork, poultry, veggie, cheese (Käsebratwurst), Tex Mex, and Bio (organic introduced 2024) variants, sold to consumers for grilling and frying.
- Volle Kelle Convenient stew meal brand offering ready-to-heat German stews including chili con carne, lentil stew (Linseneintopf), pea stew (Erbseneintopf), potato stew (Kartoffeleintopf), leek and cheese stew with minced meat, and vegetarian chili sin carne. Sold to consumers seeking quick traditional German meals.
- Kohlkönig North German kale (Grünkohl) specialty brand available September to March with Pinkel, Kochmettwurst, and Kasslerwurst varieties. Sold to consumers in northern Germany as a traditional regional meal.
- Meica Bio (Organic Sausages) Organic-certified sausage line including Bio-Wiener, Bio-Saft-Bockwurst, and Pur & Bio wieners, plus Bratmaxe Bio bratwurst. Made from organically reared meat meeting strict Bio-Siegel (DE-ÖKO-006) standards, sold to organic-conscious consumers.
- Vegetarian Sausage Range Vegetarian sausages, bratwurst (Veggie-Griller), hot dogs, Curry King (Echt Veggie), and Trueman's vegetarian hot dogs on soy protein basis. Sold to vegetarians and flexitarians seeking authentic sausage taste without meat.
- Classic Specialties (Ragout Fin and Mockturtle) Ragout Fin (tender veal and poultry with mushrooms in cream and white wine sauce) and Mockturtle (lean meat with dumplings and mushrooms in seasoned sauce) offered in 400g and 800g portions. Classic French-inspired and traditional German delicacies sold through supermarket classic specialties sections.
- Classic Specialty Sausages (Wiener, Frankfurter, Bockwurst, Beef, Münchner Weißwurst) Traditional German sausage staples including Wieners (Vienna-style), Small Wieners, Frankfurter Style, Saft-Bockwurst, Echte Knacker, Kleine Knackzarte, Schinken-Würstchen, Beef Sausages (Rindswürstchen), Münchner Weißwurst (Bavarian white sausage), Poultry Sausages and Wiener, Bockwurst 10+1 value pack, and Snibbels stew slices, sold to general consumers seeking classic German sausage varieties.
Quantifiable outcome
- Market leader position in canned sausages in Germany
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Meica
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Meica technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Meica partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Just Ebert Design GmbHminorJust Ebert Design GmbH (www.jed.de) serves as Meica's website agency, responsible for website maintenance and the CCM19 consent management tool installation. They handle technical aspects of the Meica website including cookie consent management.
- Bundesverband Deutsche Tafel e.V.minorMeica supports Germany's federal association of soup kitchens (Bundesverband Deutsche Tafel e.V.) by supplying products. Additionally, numerous regional food banks receive regular food donations from Meica for distribution to those in need as part of corporate citizenship.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Meica competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Vion Food Group: International meat processor with major German operations producing beef, pork, and processed/sausage products for retail and foodservice. Overlaps with Meica in German retail sausage and convenience-meat categories at significantly larger scale.
- Tönnies: One of Europe's largest meat processors, headquartered in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany, with a broad sausage and processed-meat portfolio alongside its core pork slaughtering business. Competitor to Meica in the broader German meat value chain, though at materially larger scale.
- Bell Food Group: Swiss-listed broad-line meat and convenience food group with significant German/European sausage operations (including Abraham, Hoppe, and Zimbo brands). Comparable to Meica across sausages, ready meals, and chilled convenience products at significantly larger scale.
Direct peers
- Zur Mühlen Gruppe: One of Germany's largest sausage manufacturers, supplying private-label and branded cooked/smoked sausages (Bockwurst, Wiener, Knacker) to leading German retailers. Overlaps directly with Meica's product portfolio and customer base in the German sausage category.
- Stockmeyer Gruppe: German family-owned meat and convenience food producer with broad sausage, ham, and ready-meal portfolio. Stockmeyer competes with Meica in German retail across cooked sausages, cured meats, and ready meals.
- Rügenwalder Mühle: German family-owned meat and sausage producer (since 1834) headquartered in Bad Zwischenahn, Germany, and a leading competitor in the same German sausage category. Rügenwalder pioneered a major vegetarian/flexitarian pivot in Germany and competes head-on with Meica's Deutschländer, Curry King, and vegetarian sub-brands in retail sausage aisles.
- Herta (Nestlé Deutschland): Major German processed-meat and sausage brand owned by Nestlé, with deep penetration across German retail. Herta competes directly with Meica in sliced cold cuts, sausages, and convenience meat products sold through the same supermarket channels.
Emerging players
- Theumer / Stockmeyer Convenience: Adjacent German convenience and ready-meal producers in the Stockmeyer universe that compete with Meica's Volle Kelle and Kohlkönig fixed-meal ranges in supermarket ready-meal sections.
Regional players
- Frosta: German frozen-food manufacturer with a strong ready-meals portfolio that overlaps with Meica's Volle Kelle and Kohlkönig lines in retail and chilled/frozen convenience categories. Listed on the German stock exchange and serves the same German retail customers.
- Rothkögel (Eifel-Fleisch): German regional sausage and meat producer with strong traditional/regional brand positioning comparable to Meica's heritage brands. Operates primarily in a different German region (Eifel) but competes in similar retail sausage categories.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Meica social profiles
Digital presenceMeica compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Meica financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Meica leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Meica funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Meica M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Meica
What does Meica do?
Meica manufactures and distributes a portfolio of German sausage specialties, ready-to-eat currywurst, bratwurst, convenient meals, and vegetarian products under brands including Deutschländer, Mini Wini, Trueman's, Curry King, Bratmaxe, Volle Kelle, and Kohlkönig. Products are sold through well-stocked supermarkets in Germany and exported to approximately 30 countries, positioning Meica as Germany's market leader for canned sausages.
Is Meica a public or private company?
Meica is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Meica founded?
Meica was founded in 1908. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Meica based?
Meica is headquartered in Edewecht, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Meica make money?
One revenue line is on record: food Product Sales.
Who are Meica's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Vion Food Group, Tönnies and Bell Food Group. Direct peers are Zur Mühlen Gruppe, Stockmeyer Gruppe, Rügenwalder Mühle and Herta (Nestlé Deutschland). Theumer / Stockmeyer Convenience is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Frosta and Rothkögel (Eifel-Fleisch).
Does Meica have an API?
No public API is recorded for Meica.
What industry is Meica in?
Meica's product category is Processed Meat and Sausage Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFANAEAG, Hot Dogs, Frankfurters & Bologna (Emulsified/Comminuted Meats), with a secondary code of AFAKAHAG, Ethnic & international prepared meals manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 31199 and its SIC code is 2013.