What K.-W. Pfannenschmidt does

K.-W. Pfannenschmidt GmbH is a privately held, family-managed B2B supplier of natural raw materials headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, and operating continuously since its founding in 1949. The company's portfolio centers on plant extracts, natural vitamins, plant-based minerals, amino acids, algae, and specialty branded ingredients such as the Nattophil fermented soybean extract, organized into a catalog of more than 700 SKUs across 14 categories. Output is sold exclusively to industrial manufacturers, with a stated base of over 600 customers producing dietary supplements, food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and baby food across Europe, EMEA, and North America.

The company's underlying technical and quality platform rests on per-batch laboratory testing (in-house and external) to manage seasonal and harvest-driven variability, combined with a broad certification portfolio that includes EU-GMP, FSSC 22000, BIO (organic), NOP, Kosher, Halal, Ecovadis, and FDA registration. There is no proprietary manufacturing capability disclosed; Pfannenschmidt acts as a sourcing, quality-curation, and distribution intermediary rather than a primary extractor or producer of the botanical raw materials in its catalog.

The business model is direct B2B raw-material sales with individually negotiated pricing handled through consultation rather than public list prices. Customer acquisition relies on a multilingual website with downloadable certificates and product information, recurring presence at industry trade shows (Vitafoods, CPHI), and project-specific consultation. The company is managed by two managing directors, Dr. T. Pfannenschmidt and Dr. P. Kreutzmann, with a headcount of 11–50 and no disclosed external investment or parent-company ownership.

Name

K.-W. Pfannenschmidt

Legal name

K.-W. Pfannenschmidt GmbH

Website

https://pfannenschmidt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

K.-W. Pfannenschmidt GmbH is a Hamburg-based B2B supplier of plant extracts, natural vitamins, and minerals founded in 1949, serving 600+ industrial manufacturers of dietary supplements, food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and baby food across Europe and North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Raw Materials Distribution

NAICS

Other Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers (424590)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic & Natural Foods Import/Export & Global Trading (AFAIAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Natural & Organic Foods Distribution (CRAOABAH)

Keywords

• Plant extracts
• Natural raw materials
• Botanical ingredients
• Natural vitamins
• Supplement ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Raw Material Sales to Industrial Customers: K.-W. Pfannenschmidt operates as a B2B supplier selling high-quality natural raw materials (plant extracts, natural vitamins, plant-based minerals) to industrial manufacturers. Their 600+ industrial customers use these materials to produce dietary supplements, food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and baby food. Revenue is generated through product sales with individual consultation and quick, competent service emphasized.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

K.-W. Pfannenschmidt GmbH supplies natural raw materials — primarily plant extracts, natural vitamins, plant-based minerals, amino acids, excipients, and specialty branded ingredients such as the Nattophil fermented soybean extract — to industrial manufacturers producing dietary supplements, food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and baby food. The company distributes a catalog of more than 700 products across 14 categories, with every batch tested in-house or externally to monitor seasonal and harvest-related variability, and offers individual project-based consultation alongside its product portfolio.

Product overview

K.-W. Pfannenschmidt operates as a B2B raw materials supplier rather than a technology product company. Their offering is a catalog of over 700 natural raw materials organized into 14 product categories: Algae & Corals, Amino Acids & Proteins, API, Organic, Carotinoids/Fatty acids & Lipids, Enzymes, Extracts & Powder, Excipients, Marine & Animal Origin, Minerals, Specials/Brands & Exclusive Products, Sweeteners, and Vitamins. The portfolio centers on plant extracts (such as Artischocken Blätter Extrakt, Griffonia Simplicifolia Extrakt, Hafer Beta Glucan, Amla Extract, Green Tea Extract, Aloe Vera), natural vitamins (Acerola Extract/Powder with Vitamin C), amino acids (L-Methionin, L-Lysin), and branded specialty products like Nattophil Fermented Soybean Extract. These materials serve industrial customers manufacturing dietary supplements, food products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and baby food. The company differentiates through quality certifications (GMP, FSSC, BIO) and in-house or external batch testing for seasonal variations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pfannenschmidt: Primary commercial brand name used by K.-W. Pfannenschmidt GmbH for their raw materials business.
• Nattophil

Products and services

• Nattophil Fermented Soybean Extract (min. 20,000 FU/g) Branded fermented soybean extract produced with Bacillus subtilis var. Natto, providing 20,000-28,000 FU/g nattokinase activity for cardiovascular support applications. Targeted at industrial manufacturers of dietary supplements.
• Artichoke Leaf Extract (min. 5% Cynarin) Water-extracted artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) leaf extract standardized to a minimum 5% cynarin content. Sold to industrial customers for use in dietary supplements and functional foods.
• Griffonia Simplicifolia Extract (25-30% 5-HTP, water-extracted) Water-extracted Griffonia simplicifolia seed extract standardized to 25-30% 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), positioned for non-novel food applications per EU regulations. Targeted at supplement manufacturers.
• Oat Beta Glucan (min. 70%) Oat beta-glucan with minimum 70% β-1,3/1,4 glucans, water-extracted from dried oat bran, free from carriers. Supports EU health claims for cholesterol and blood sugar maintenance in beverages and food applications.
• Amla Extract (min. 25% Polyphenols, granulated) Amla (Indian gooseberry) extract water-extracted from fresh fruit, containing minimum 25% polyphenols including 10% hydrolysable gallotannins/ellagitannins and 9% ellagic acid. Supplied as a granulated powder for nutraceutical manufacturers.
• Organic Acerola Extract (min. 17% Vitamin C) Organic-certified Acerola extract water-extracted from fresh Malpighia glabra fruit, standardized to minimum 17% natural Vitamin C, water-soluble, supplied to nutraceutical and beverage manufacturers.
• Acerola Powder SC 25% (standardized Vitamin C) Standardized Acerola powder with minimum 25% Vitamin C content, positioned as a natural alternative to pure synthetic Vitamin C. Targeted at food, beverage, and supplement manufacturers.
• L-Methionine EP (synthetic) Synthetic L-Methionine amino acid meeting European Pharmacopoeia (EP) specifications, supplied for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers.
• Organic Green Tea Extract (min. 25% Polyphenols) Organic-certified, cold-water-soluble green tea extract from non-fermented Camellia sinensis leaves, standardized to minimum 25% polyphenols. Supplied for organic food and supplement formulations.
• Aloe Vera Powder 200:1 (pure, IASC, carrier-free) Aloe vera powder at 200:1 concentration with minimum 8% acemannan, freeze-dried from leaf inner gel, IASC-certified and carrier-free. Supplied for cosmetic, food, and supplement applications.
• Guar Gum Flour (E 412, FCC, min. 5000 mPas, 200 mesh) Guar gum flour meeting food chemical code E 412 and FCC specifications, with minimum viscosity of 5000 mPas and 200 mesh fineness. Used as a thickening and stabilizing excipient by food and supplement manufacturers.
• Agaricus Blazei Extract (min. 45% Polysaccharides) Mushroom extract water-extracted from dried Agaricus blazei fruiting body, standardized to minimum 45% polysaccharides, carrier-free at an indicative 10:1 ratio. Supplied for nutraceutical applications.
• Organic Acai Fruit Powder (freeze-dried) Organic-certified açaí (Euterpe oleracea) fruit powder, freeze-dried to preserve taste and nutrients. Used as a natural ingredient in organic beverages and functional foods.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Indena: Italian supplier of plant-derived active ingredients for the pharmaceutical, health-food, and cosmetics industries. Comparable as a specialized botanical extract supplier with GMP-grade quality and a focus on documented, standardized extracts for industrial customers.
• Martin Bauer Group: One of the world's largest suppliers of botanical raw materials, tea extracts, and plant-based ingredients for the food, beverage, and nutraceutical industries. Directly comparable to Pfannenschmidt in product category (plant extracts), customer base (industrial manufacturers), and European heritage.
• Finzelberg: Germany-based specialist in high-quality botanical extracts and phytopharmaceutical raw materials serving pharma, nutraceutical, and food manufacturers. Closely comparable in geography, regulated-industry focus, and B2B plant extract portfolio.
• BTSA: European manufacturer and supplier of natural antioxidants, vitamin E derivatives (tocopherols, tocotrienols), and plant-based lipid ingredients for nutraceutical, food, and cosmetics markets. Comparable as a European specialty natural ingredients supplier serving industrial customers in regulated end-markets.
• Pharmachem: US-based supplier of raw materials and ingredients to the dietary supplement, food, and personal care industries with botanical extracts and vitamins. Comparable in ingredient categories supplied and B2B industrial customer model.
• Euromed: Spanish producer of standardized botanical extracts for the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and food sectors. Comparable in extract portfolio, industrial B2B go-to-market, and emphasis on quality standardization and certifications.

Broad incumbents

• Döhler: German-headquartered global supplier of natural ingredients, flavors, and ingredient systems for the food, beverage, and nutrition industries. Comparable in German origin, natural raw materials focus, and industrial B2B customer base, though much broader in scope than Pfannenschmidt's specialized extract offering.
• Naturex (Givaudan): Now part of Givaudan, Naturex is a global leader in natural specialty ingredients including botanical extracts, fruit and vegetable powders, and phytochemicals. Overlaps with Pfannenschmidt's plant extracts portfolio but operates at much larger scale and across flavors and broader food ingredients.
• Frutarom (now IFF): Acquired by International Flavors & Fragrances, Frutarom supplied flavors and natural specialty ingredients including botanical extracts. Comparable as a natural-ingredients supplier to industrial food, supplement, and pharma customers, though much larger and broader in portfolio.

Emerging players

• Nektium Pharma: Spanish company specializing in proprietary botanical extracts for nutraceutical and functional food applications. Comparable in standardized extract focus and B2B nutraceutical customer base, but differentiated by stronger proprietary/IP positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/k--w-pfannenschmidt-gmbh

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 K.-W. Pfannenschmidt