Merzenich packaging

What Merzenich packaging does

Merzenich Verpackung GmbH is a third-generation, family-owned German packaging manufacturer headquartered in Krefeld, operating as a private GmbH with no external institutional investors. The company designs, prints, and supplies paper and film packaging — gusseted bags, format papers, cake and pastry cartons, to-go containers, snack packaging, labels, wrapping papers, and carrier bags — using flexographic printing and proprietary material coatings. Its two flagship innovations are Aroma*PLUS*, an active-membrane coated paper bag that extends bread freshness to 3–4 days while reducing PE film usage by up to 70%, and Aroma*PUR*, a 100% paper bag recyclable in waste paper streams with a 2–3 day freshness window. Product launches in 2024 added the HotCup reusable cup (heat-resistant to 130°C) and the Aktionsbox promotional pastry display.

The company serves artisanal food businesses across at least six German verticals: bakeries (primary), confectionery and chocolatiers, butcher shops, ice cream cafés, industry and trade, and food retail. It goes to market through an enterprise field-sales motion with phone-based consultation (main line +49 2151 934 0 600) and direct delivery to customer warehouses, preferring distribution through the BÄKO (bakers' cooperative) and wholesale channels. Pricing is quote-based and customized per product specification, quantity, printing requirement, and material choice. Revenue is generated from one-time product sales and from a smaller "marketing and design services" stream that provides full-service concepts from graphic design through production and storage. The company is led by four members of the Merzenich family (Wolfgang, Ralf, Marius, Sebastian) and holds ISEGA, PTS, and LmbG food-safety certifications on its raw materials.

Name

Merzenich packaging

Legal name

Merzenich Verpackung GmbH

Website

https://merzenich-verpackung.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Merzenich Verpackung GmbH is a third-generation, family-owned German manufacturer of custom-printed paper and film packaging serving artisanal bakeries, confectioneries, butcher shops, ice cream cafés, and food retailers, with proprietary freshness-extending Aroma*PLUS* and Aroma*PUR* technologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Paperboard Container Manufacturing (32221), Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing (322220), Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111), Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing (322212)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags (2673), Papers & Allied Products (2600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMALACAJ

Paper-Based Foodservice Packaging (Cups, Lids, Trays, Takeout Containers)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Packaging & Containers/Paper & Paperboard Packaging (Cartons, Corrugated, Folding Boxboard)

SECONDARYIMALACAI

Specialty Paper Packaging (Gift Boxes, Luxury Cartons, Composite Paper Cans)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Packaging & Containers/Paper & Paperboard Packaging (Cartons, Corrugated, Folding Boxboard)

SECONDARYIMAMAHAC

Paper Bags & Sacks (retail, industrial, multiwall)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Paper & Forest Products/Converted Paper Products (Corrugated, Bags, Labels, Stationery)

Keywords

• Paper packaging manufacturing
• Bakery packaging solutions
• Food packaging materials
• Custom printed packaging
• Sustainable packaging products

Headquarters

HQ city

Krefeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Packaging Products: Manufacture and sale of custom-printed paper and film packaging materials including side-fold bags, format papers, cake/torte boxes, to-go containers, bags, wrapping papers, and serving products. One-time product sales with custom branding capabilities.
2. Marketing and Design Services: Full-service marketing concepts from design to production and storage, providing holistic concepts for brand positioning and market presence enhancement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Merzenich Verpackung manufactures custom-printed paper and film packaging for artisanal food businesses, producing gusseted bags, format papers, cake and pastry boxes, to-go containers, snack packaging, wrapping papers, labels, carrier bags, and serving products. The company operates its own production facilities in Krefeld using flexographic printing to deliver fully individualized packaging, supported by proprietary freshness-preservation technologies (Aroma*PLUS* and Aroma*PUR*) and ISEGA/PTS-certified food-safe raw materials.

Product overview

Merzenich Verpackung is a German family-owned packaging manufacturer (now in its 3rd generation) specializing in paper and film packaging solutions for the food industry. Their product portfolio is organized by industry segments (bakeries, confectioneries, butchers, ice cream parlors, industry & trade, food retail) and includes core packaging products such as gusseted bags (Seitenfaltenbeutel), specialty bags with active membranes (AROMA*PLUS*, AROMA*PUR*), to-go and snack packaging, format papers, cake and pastry boxes, and serving accessories. Key innovative products include the AROMA*PLUS* bags that save 70% PE film through active membrane technology, the HotCup reusable beverage cup with heat-resistant ribbed rim, and the Aktionsbox promotional display for small pastries. The company also produces exclusive packaging (wooden boxes, tin cans), labels, wrapping papers, and carrier bags. Products are customizable with individual printing and are certified for food safety compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AromaPLUS: A specialty bag with active membrane coating that keeps products fresher longer and saves up to 70% of PE foil compared to traditional plastic bags.
• AromaPUR
• HotCup

Products and services

• Seitenfaltenbeutel (Gusseted Bags)

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% PE film savings with AromaPlus compared to traditional film bags
• +4 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sealed Air: Global packaging company known for food packaging films and protective packaging. Comparable in food packaging film offerings (e.g., bread bags, fresh produce films) but serves large industrial CPG customers rather than artisanal bakeries.
• Mondi: Global paper and packaging group producing corrugated, kraft paper, and flexible packaging for consumer goods and food industries. Overlaps with Merzenich in paper-based food packaging but operates at much larger industrial scale and across many geographies.
• Sappi Europe: European paper and packaging manufacturer producing speciality papers, containerboard, and sustainable packaging solutions. Comparable to Merzenich in its paper-based packaging focus and emphasis on sustainability, though at significantly greater scale.
• Smurfit Kappa: One of the largest global paper-based packaging companies, producing corrugated, containerboard, and Bag-in-Box packaging for food and beverage. Comparable in food-contact paper packaging but operates at industrial scale across Europe and the Americas.
• Bischof + Klein: German family-owned manufacturer of flexible packaging and technical films, including food-contact packaging and paper/film laminates. Comparable to Merzenich as a German Mittelstand flexible packaging producer, though with broader industrial and chemical-adjacent applications.
• Constantia Flexibles: One of the world's largest flexible packaging manufacturers, headquartered in Austria, serving food and pharma customers globally with films, laminates, and printed packaging — comparable to Merzenich in food packaging but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.

Regional players

• Walki Group: Finnish-based manufacturer of sustainable packaging solutions including paper-based and laminated packaging for food and consumer goods. Closely comparable to Merzenich in its focus on paper-based sustainable packaging for food customers across Northern Europe.
• Wepoba Wellpappenfabrik: German producer of corrugated and paperboard packaging solutions for food and industrial customers. Overlaps with Merzenich in paperboard-based food packaging, especially corrugated boxes and trays, primarily serving the German market.

Direct peers

• Schur Pack: Danish-German packaging manufacturer specializing in custom-printed flexible packaging, cartons, and gift packaging for food and consumer goods. Closely comparable in product range (printed bags, cartons, custom packaging) and customer base (artisanal food, retail).
• Karl Knauer: German family-owned packaging manufacturer specializing in high-quality folding cartons, gift packaging, and premium paper packaging for food and consumer brands. Closely comparable to Merzenich in custom-printed premium paper packaging for artisanal food customers (confectionery, bakery, premium retail).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 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 Merzenich packaging