innotaste

What innotaste does

Innotaste GmbH is a Krefeld-based B2B distributor of specialty food ingredients founded in late 2004 as the Food Segment of the C.H. Erbslöh Gruppe (a fifth-generation distribution conglomerate operating since 1876). The company curates a portfolio of roughly 17 international ingredient suppliers including dsm-firmenich (flavors), BENEO (chicory/rice derivatives, isomalt, palatinose), Lallemand (yeast extracts), AkzoNobel/Nouryon (chelates), Bel Industries (functional milk proteins), Divi's Laboratories (carotenoids/vitamins), Coralim (food colors), Spicemasters (herbs/spices), EPO (botanical extracts), Nielsen-Massey (vanilla), Stevia Natura, Condimentum (mustard), Alpha Group (pharmaceutical lactose), and Finlays Solutions (tea extracts). It serves food, beverage, and pharmaceutical manufacturers across more than 15 European countries, with sister companies in Benelux (since 2011), Central Europe (Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, plus Western Balkans since 2005), and Poland (since 2018).

The company's distinctive technical offering centers on proprietary application laboratories located in Germany, Austria, and Poland, where prototypes and product innovations are prepared for customer testing. Innotaste maintains its own certified warehouse on the Krefeld port site, enabling one-week delivery on stocked products, and accommodates order quantities ranging from 25g samples to 100 metric tons. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification and an EU Bio (organic) certificate, and is a member of the German flavor and food law industry associations (DVAI, BLL).

Commercially, Innotaste operates a transaction-fee distribution model: it sources ingredients from international manufacturers, holds inventory, and resells to European customers with standard 14-day payment terms. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales (Account Managers and Application Technicians embedded with customers) with a channel structure of regional sister companies that extend geographic reach without duplicating corporate infrastructure. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, reflecting the custom nature of B2B specialty ingredient supply. The company does not run consumer marketing and does not maintain a public-facing technology stack beyond its corporate website and product documentation.

Name

innotaste

Legal name

Innotaste GmbH

Website

https://innotaste.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Innotaste is a Krefeld-based B2B distributor of specialty food ingredients (flavors, extracts, colors, proteins, functional ingredients) operating as the Food Segment of the C.H. Erbslöh Gruppe, serving food, beverage, and pharmaceutical manufacturers across 15+ European countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Food Ingredients Distribution

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311), Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing (31193)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Food-Grade Additives & Functional Ingredients Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food-Grade Chemicals & Processing Aids Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAJ), Compounding Ingredient & API Distributors (Pharma Supply) (HLAIAJAO)

Keywords

• Food ingredient distribution
• B2B flavor solutions
• Specialty food ingredients
• Functional food ingredients
• Food color distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Krefeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Food Ingredient Distribution: Innotaste generates revenue as a distributor of flavors, extracts, food colors, and other specialty food ingredients. It acts as an intermediary between international ingredient manufacturers and European food, beverage, and pharmaceutical companies. The company stocks products in its own certified warehouse and delivers typically within one week. Revenue is generated through product sales with flexible order quantities ranging from 25 gram samples to 100 metric tons.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Innotaste is a B2B distributor of specialty food ingredients, including flavors, botanical extracts, carotenoids, vitamins, chelates, herbs and spices, functional milk proteins, yeast extracts, food colors, plant-based proteins, stevia, vanilla, tea extracts, pharmaceutical lactose, and rice derivatives. The company sources from 17+ international manufacturers and resells to food, beverage, and pharmaceutical manufacturers across 15+ European countries, with own application laboratories for prototyping and certified warehouse delivery within one week.

Product overview

Innotaste operates as a B2B food ingredients distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of 20 product categories sourced from international supplier partners. The core offerings include flavors (Aromen) from dsm-firmenich, botanical extracts from EPO, carotenoids and vitamins from Divi's Laboratories, chelates (Ferrazone, Solvitar) from AkzoNobel/Nouryon, herbs and spices from Spicemasters, functional milk proteins (Nollibel) from Bel Industries, yeast extracts from Lallemand, Isomalt and Palatinose from BENEO, food colors from Coralim, Nutritis from Grap'Sud, Orafti Inulin and Oligofructose from BENEO, milk and whey proteins, Pan Oils from Stearinerie Dubois, plant-based proteins, pharmaceutical lactose, rice derivatives from BENEO, mustard from Condimentum, Stevia (Stevial brand) from Stevia Natura, vanilla extracts from Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, and tea extracts from Finlays Solutions. The company differentiates through its own application laboratories for product testing, flexible order quantities (from 25g samples to 100 tons), and warehouse stock for delivery within one week.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aromen (Flavors) Flavor portfolio from dsm-firmenich offering a range of taste experiences for food and beverage applications, including solutions for sugar and salt reduction.
• Botanische Extrakte (Botanical Extracts) Over 300 botanical extracts from EPO in Italy, specializing in Mediterranean tradition ingredients in dry, soft, fluid, glycolic, and tincture forms for food, pharmaceuticals, and feed.
• Carotinoide und Vitamine (Carotenoids and Vitamins) Synthetic and natural carotenoids and specialty vitamins from Divi's Laboratories Europe AG (Switzerland), available in solid or liquid form.
• Chelate (Ferrazone & Solvitar) Ferrazone is an iron complex from AkzoNobel/Nouryon for prevention and treatment of iron deficiency; Solvitar (Calcium Dinatrium EDTA) is highly effective for stabilizing foods and beverages.
• Kräuter und Gewürze (Herbs and Spices) Herbs and spices from Spicemasters (Netherlands), known for large selection, variety, and consistently high quality. IFS Broker and IFS Food certified, halal and kosher.
• Funktionelle Milchproteine (Nollibel Functional Milk Proteins) Multi-functional milk protein systems from Bel Industries/France, with the Nollibel brand being one of the world leaders, suitable for ice cream, beverages, bakery, chocolate, and dairy products.
• Hefe-Extrakte (Yeast Extracts) Yeast extracts from Lallemand (French-Canadian company), offering 100 years of know-how and a broad application spectrum including clinically documented probiotic strains.
• Isomalt und Palatinose Functional ingredients from pure beet sugar (BENEO) offering a broad application spectrum and efficient energy supply for body and mind.
• Lebensmittelfarben (Food Colors) Complete portfolio of color solutions from Coralim/Spain for food and beverage markets, ranging from coloring foods (juice concentrates and extracts) to artificial colors compliant with EU guidelines.
• Nutritis Natural fructose, natural antioxidants, and phenolic compounds from the GRAP'SUD group, sourced from French wine regions with eco-designed production.
• Orafti Inulin und Oligofructose Functional ingredients from BENEO derived from chicory root, available in powder and liquid form including organic qualities; used as fat and sugar replacers and as prebiotic fiber supporting healthy digestion.
• Milch- und Molkenproteinkonzentrate/Isolate (WPC, WPI, WPH, MPC, MPI) Milk and whey protein concentrates and isolates covering the full range of applications in the large and growing market for protein products, from Alpha Group.
• Pan Oils Customized release agent formulations from Stearinerie Dubois, used as anti-sticking agents in cheese production and other food applications.
• Pflanzliche Proteine (Plant-Based Proteins) Plant-based textured proteins from GRANEA (Poland) providing clean label solutions with neutral taste, high protein content, and improved texture; Non-GMO, allergen-free, and EU-origin.
• Pharmazeutische Laktose (Pharmaceutical Lactose) Direct Compressible Pharmaceutical Lactose from Alpha Group with high compactability, high stability and flowability, excellent mixing properties, low hygroscopicity, and short disintegration time.
• Reisderivate (Rice Derivatives) Functional ingredients from BENEO including conventional and organic rice flours, starches, syrups, proteins, and concentrates.
• Senf (Mustard) Comprehensive range of mustard products from Condimentum including whole yellow, brown, and oriental grains and flours, as well as finished wholegrain, Dijon, and sharp English mustard from a BRC AA-accredited facility.
• Stevia (Stevial Brand) Stevia extracts under the Stevial brand from Stevia Natura, produced using water-based extraction without chemical solvents.
• Vanilleextrakte und Vanilleschoten (Vanilla Extracts and Vanilla Beans) Premium vanilla products from Nielsen-Massey Vanillas using a proprietary cold extraction process and sourcing vanilla from Madagascar, Mexico, Tahiti, and Uganda, including organic options.
• Tee-Extrakte (Tea Extracts) Tea extracts from Finlays Solutions with a fully transparent supply chain traceable from bush to cup, supporting the health benefits of tea as the world's second most consumed beverage.

Quantifiable outcome

• Deliver stocked products within one week
• +1 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Finlays SolutionsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Finlays Solutions is a worldwide leading B2B supplier of tea, coffee, and extract ingredients with operations across four continents and a fully transparent, vertically integrated supply chain. Innotaste has been their distribution partner in several European countries since 2025.
• CondimentumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Condimentum, based in Norfolk, UK, produces traditional English mustard ingredients from a BRC AA-accredited 2,500 sqm facility with 7,000+ metric tons annual capacity. They are the only European facility capable of producing double superfine mustard flour. Innotaste started distributing their products in selected European countries outside the UK in 2024.
• Alpha GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Alpha Group of Companies, founded 1976 in the Netherlands, is a leading supplier of dairy and non-dairy food products including Direct Compressible Pharmaceutical Lactose and high-protein ALPHA-HighPro range. ISO 22000:2018 certified and SKAL-certified for organic products. Cooperation with Innotaste began in summer 2023.
• SpicemastersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Spicemasters, a Dutch company specializing in herbs and spices for the food industry, has partnered with Innotaste as their distribution partner since summer 2021. The company is IFS Broker certified and their processing facility Mouw Maalderij is IFS Food certified, with both entities halal and kosher certified.
• GRANEAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020GRANEA Sp. z o.o., founded 2020 in Warsaw, Poland, produces high-quality plant-based textured proteins using extrusion technology. Products are Non-GMO, allergen-free, and EU-origin. Innotaste distributes their plant protein products in served European markets.
• Divi's Laboratories Europe AGmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Divi's Laboratories Europe AG, based in Switzerland, supplies synthetic and natural carotenoids and specialty vitamins to food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and feed industries. All operations are certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, HACCP, FDA-inspected, and FSSC 22000. Innotaste has been their distribution partner since early 2017.
• Bel IndustriesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2016Bel Industries (part of Bel Group with 11,000 employees and €2.8 billion turnover) manufactures functional milk protein blends under the Nollibel® brand. Innotaste has been their distribution partner in selected markets since 2016, serving ice cream, beverage, bakery, chocolate, and dairy applications.
• AkzoNobel/NouryoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2014AkzoNobel/Nouryon's Functional Ingredients division produces special food ingredients including salt specialties, cellulose products, Ferrazone iron complex, and Calcium Dinatrium EDTA (Solvitar). Innotaste has been distributing these products since the beginning of 2014, serving food, food supplement, and pharmaceutical customers.
• BENEOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2013BENEO, a 100% subsidiary of Südzucker Group formed by Orafti, Palatinit, and Remy in 2007, has been working with Innotaste as their exclusive distributor in Germany since the beginning of 2013. BENEO offers functional ingredients from chicory root, sugar beet, and rice, supporting sugar/fat replacement, fiber enrichment, and digestive health claims.
• LallemandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2008Lallemand, a Canadian company with approximately 2,200 employees in 30+ countries, specializes in yeast and bacteria. Their Lal' Food division provides functional food ingredients including clinically documented probiotic strains. Innotaste has partnered with Lallemand since 2008 for food ingredient distribution.
• dsm-firmenichcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2005dsm-firmenich (formerly Firmenich), the world's largest privately-owned flavor and fragrance company, has partnered with Innotaste as their distributor in several European countries since 2005. Innotaste distributes dsm-firmenich's flavor solutions, known for innovation in sugar and salt reduction, to food and beverage manufacturers in their served markets.
• CoralimminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoralim is a Spanish company with over 40 years of experience in developing and manufacturing food colors. They offer a new range of coloring foods based on juice concentrates and extracts from vegetables and fruits, compliant with EU guidelines. Innotaste distributes their color solutions in food and beverage applications.
• Stearinerie DuboisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStearinerie Dubois, founded 1820 in France, is an ISO9001:2000 certified company and one of the worldwide leaders in technical auxiliaries for food production, including PAN OILS release agents and DUB SE sugar esters. Innotaste serves as their exclusive and high-quality representative in Germany.
• GRAP'SUDminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGRAP'SUD is a union of cooperative distilleries specializing in grape-based products for the food industry. They offer natural fruit sugars, antioxidants, and phenolic compounds with eco-designed production from French wine regions. Innotaste distributes their Nutritis product range.
• EPOminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEPO, an independent company founded 1933 in Milan, produces high-quality botanical extracts in dry, soft, fluid, glycolic, and tincture forms for food, pharmaceuticals, and feed. GMP-certified pharmaceutical department, ISO 9001:2015, Kosher, and Organic certified. EPO was the first company in Europe to launch DNA-certified extracts.
• Nielsen-Massey VanillasminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNielsen-Massey Vanillas, a US family company founded 1907 and still operated by the third generation, produces premium vanilla extracts and products from Madagascar, Mexico, Tahiti, and Uganda using their proprietary cold extraction process. Innotaste distributes their vanilla range including organic options in European markets.
• Stevia NaturaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStevia Natura, founded 2006 and Europe's Stevia pioneer, operates the first European Stevia extraction facility in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Produces Stevial® brand extracts using water-based extraction without chemical solvents. Innotaste provides technical and formulation support along with regulatory guidance for all application areas.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Caldic: Caldic is a privately held Dutch specialty ingredients distributor with operations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, distributing ingredients for food, personal care, and pharma customers. Like Innotaste it focuses on specialty principals rather than commodity chemicals and provides formulation and regulatory support as part of its distribution offering.
• Barentz: Barentz is a Dutch-headquartered specialty food and pharmaceutical ingredients distributor serving >70 countries. It operates a comparable multi-principal, value-add distribution model with technical sales reps and application support, and represents some of the same global ingredient manufacturers (e.g., BENEO-class functional ingredients) as Innotaste, making it the closest like-for-like European peer.
• DöhlerGroup: Döhler is a German-headquartered producer and integrator of natural ingredients, flavors, and beverage compounds for the food and beverage industry. While more vertically integrated than Innotaste, it operates in the same European food-ingredient supply niche and competes for many of the same food and beverage manufacturer customers.
• Nordmann (formerly Nordmann, Rassmann) / KRONOS group: Nordmann is a German specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor (part of the KRONOS group) with a long-standing focus on flavors, fragrances, food additives, and personal-care ingredients for European manufacturers. Its German footprint and specialty-food orientation make it one of the most directly comparable home-market distributors to Innotaste.

Broad incumbents

• Univar Solutions: Univar Solutions is a North-American-headquartered global specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor with European food-ingredient operations. It is a broad incumbent that competes for specialty food principals and customers in Europe, differentiated from Innotaste mainly by its North American base and broader portfolio.
• Azelis Group: Azelis is a Belgian-headquartered, listed global specialty ingredients distributor with a strong food and health portfolio. As a broader incumbent in the European specialty food distribution space, it represents overlapping principals and competes for the same mid-sized European manufacturer customers as Innotaste.
• Brenntag SE: Brenntag is the world's largest chemical and ingredients distributor (German-headquartered, DAX-listed), with a growing specialty food and nutrition vertical. While far larger and broader than Innotaste, it competes for the same European manufacturer customers and represents several overlapping suppliers.
• IMCD N.V. IMCD is a large Dutch-listed global specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor with a substantial food and nutrition vertical serving 60+ countries. It is a broad incumbent that competes with Innotaste for many of the same specialty food principals (it represents some of the same suppliers globally) while operating at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• Mühlenchemie / Sterner (Sterner Ingredients): Mühlenchemie is a German specialist in flour treatment and functional cereal ingredients, while adjacent regional players like SternerIngredients operate as small specialty distributors for the European food and beverage sector. These firms overlap with Innotaste in the functional-ingredient mid-market but operate at smaller scale.
• Terbium Labs / Hänsel Processing: Hänsel Processing is a smaller German specialty food ingredients processor and supplier focused on natural extracts and functional ingredients. It overlaps with Innotaste's botanical extracts and nutraceutical segments but is more producer-oriented and smaller in distribution reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 innotaste