What Obst vom Bodensee does

Obst vom Bodensee Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH is a privately held German B2B fruit marketing company founded in 1996 and headquartered in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. The company acts as the centralized sales and marketing channel for over 600 affiliated fruit growers and 8 packing houses across the Lake Constance region, supplying Germany's food retail sector (Lebensmitteleinzelhandel) with conventional and organic apples, pears, berries, and stone fruit, supplemented by overseas produce during summer months to maintain 365-day availability. The company is jointly owned by three cooperative shareholders: Württembergische Obstgenossenschaft Raiffeisen (WOG), VEBO-Frucht Verkaufsgemeinschaft GmbH, and VOG Ingelheim, and positions itself as "Partner des Handels" with a dedicated key-account-manager sales force serving named enterprise customers including EDEKA, Kaufland, and REWE Group. Its product portfolio spans mainstream apple and pear varieties, an organic line (~10% of volume) certified under Bioland, Naturland, Demeter, and EU-Bio, and a club-variety range (SweeTango, Kanzi, Cameo, Rockit, Magicstar, Kissabel, etc.) sold under exclusive retailer agreements. The business also includes packaging and project management services delivered through an internal packaging team.

The company's commercial model is a transaction-fee-style B2B distribution operation layered on top of the cooperative producer base, with a quality and sustainability proposition anchored by an extensive certification stack (IFS Broker, QS-GAP, QSB, QZBW, GQ-Bayern, Regionalfenster, and Bio Suisse) and recognized externally by the 2019 European Bee Award for the PRO PLANET Apple Project with REWE Group and Bodensee-Stiftung. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is self-financed with no external funding rounds, and no AI/ML or digital-platform capabilities are evident in the source data. Operations are regionally concentrated around Lake Constance, with international development efforts limited to trade-fair participation (Asia Fruit Logistica) rather than commercial expansion.

Name

Obst vom Bodensee

Legal name

OBST VOM BODENSEE Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH

Website

https://obst-vom-bodensee.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Obst vom Bodensee is a German B2B fruit marketing company founded in 1996 that consolidates 600+ Lake Constance producers and 8 packing houses to supply German food retailers (EDEKA, Kaufland, REWE) with conventional and organic apples, pears, berries, and club-variety fruit year-round.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh Produce Distribution & Marketing

NAICS

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Fresh-Cut & Value-Added Produce (Washed, Peeled, Sliced, Packaged) (AFAKAFAA)

Keywords

• Fresh produce marketing
• Fruit distribution services
• Organic apple sourcing
• Club apple varieties
• B2B food retail supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Friedrichshafen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fresh Produce Sales: Obst vom Bodensee generates revenue through the sale of fresh fruit (apples, pears, berries, stone fruit) to food retailers. The company markets both conventional and organic produce, operating year-round (365 days) with seasonal supplements from overseas partners during summer months. Product range includes standard varieties, club varieties, and organic lines.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Obst vom Bodensee is a B2B fruit marketing and distribution company that sells fresh conventional and organic apples, pears, berries, and stone fruit — including exclusive club varieties — to German and European food retailers. Operating as a cooperative sales company (Vertriebsgesellschaft) owned by three fruit organizations, it consolidates supply from 600+ affiliated producers and 8 packing houses to deliver year-round (365-day) fresh produce under comprehensive food-safety, organic, and regional quality certifications. It also coordinates packaging services for retail partners.

Product overview

Obst vom Bodensee operates as a cooperative fruit marketing company offering a comprehensive portfolio of conventional and organic apples, pears, berries, and stone fruit. The product range consists of conventional apples (Delbarestivale, Gala, Elstar, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Boskoop, Fuji, Pinova), organic apples (Santana, Elstar, Topaz, Gala, Galant, Pinova, Braeburn, Jonagold, Red Jonaprince, Natyra), club varieties (SweeTango, Kanzi, Cameo, Fräulein, Rockit, Magicstar, Kissabel, Evelina, Greenstar, Xenia), conventional pears (Alexander Lucas, Conference, Williams Christ, Xenia, Alessia, Aphrodite), organic pears (Xenia, Migo), and seasonal berries/stone fruit (strawberries, currants, gooseberries, blackberries, sweet cherries, plums, mirabelles, plus organic versions). The company has been active in organic production since 1999 and markets products from over 600 producers through 8 packing houses, providing 365-day availability with overseas supplements during summer months.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conventional Apples (Äpfel) Conventional apple varieties including Delbarestivale, Gala, Elstar, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Boskoop, Fuji, and Pinova, grown in the Lake Constance region and sold to food retail customers.
• Organic Apples (Bio Äpfel) Organic apple varieties including Santana, Elstar, Topaz, Gala, Galant, Pinova, Braeburn, Jonagold, Red Jonaprince, and Natyra, produced under EU organic regulations without synthetic pesticides.
• Club Apple and Pear Varieties (Clubsorten) Exclusive licensed premium apple and pear varieties including SweeTango, Kanzi, Cameo, Fräulein, Rockit, Magicstar, Kissabel, Evelina, Greenstar, and Xenia, with specific flavor profiles and characteristics.
• Conventional Pears (Birnen) Conventional pear varieties including Alexander Lucas, Conference, Williams Christ, Xenia, Alessia, and Aphrodite, known for firm flesh and sweet flavor, sold to food retail customers.
• Organic Pears (Bio Birnen) Organic pear varieties including Xenia and Migo, produced according to EU organic regulations with natural pesticides only.
• Berries and Stone Fruit (Beeren und Steinobst) Seasonal berries and stone fruit including strawberries, currants, gooseberries, blackberries, sweet cherries, plums, mirabelles, plus organic varieties, available during summer months and from overseas partners in the off-season.

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Württembergische Obstgenossenschaft Raiffeisen eG (WOG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three founding shareholders of Obst vom Bodensee. Represents the cooperative fruit growing interests of the Württemberg region. Combined with VEBO-Frucht, WOG established OvB in 1996 to consolidate marketing efforts for the changing retail landscape.
• VEBO-Frucht Verkaufsgemeinschaft GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three founding shareholders of Obst vom Bodensee. Founded in 1996 together with WLZ (now BayWa AG) to establish a unified marketing presence for Lake Constance fruit producers.
• VOG IngelheimcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird founding shareholder partner mentioned as part of the 'starke Vereinigung' (strong union) with WOG and VEBO-Frucht. BUNDELT specific experiences of member organizations into shared expertise.
• REWE GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor retail partner in the PRO PLANET Apple Project at Lake Constance. The collaboration focuses on bee protection, biodiversity, and sustainable fruit production. Project awarded European Bee Award 2019.
• Bodensee-StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental foundation and project partner in the PRO PLANET Apple Project. Collaborates on biodiversity initiatives including bee protection, wild insect habitats, and flowering area establishment across the Lake Constance region.
• Kreisimkerverein Tettnang-FriedrichshafenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal beekeepers association and project partner in the PRO PLANET Apple Project. Supports bee protection initiatives and pollinator conservation in the fruit growing region.
• QS-PrüfsystemcoreOthersQuality assurance system certification body. Producers certified under QS-GAP scheme; packing stations certified under IFS and QS standards. Ensures comprehensive food safety compliance.
• IFS BrokercoreOthersInternational Featured Standards certification for brokers. Obst vom Bodensee holds IFS Broker certification ensuring consistent high quality, legal compliance, and food safety standards.
• BiolandcoreOthersGermany's largest organic farming association. All bio producers are affiliated with Bioland, Naturland, or Demeter. Bioland farming follows seven principles including circular economy, soil fertility, biodiversity, and sustainable resource management.
• DemetercoreOthersGermany's oldest organic farming association (since 1924). Biodynamic farming principles based on living circular economy. Highest standards for sustainable resource use and landscape stewardship.
• NaturlandcoreOthersOrganic farming association committed to holistic sustainable economics. Develops guidelines for organic production systems with independent verification and consistent application of Naturland standards.
• QZBW Qualitätszeichen Baden-WürttembergminorOthersBaden-Württemberg state quality seal for products meeting specific product requirements beyond legal standards. Enables consumers to identify high-quality products with traceable regional origin.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Greenyard: Belgian-listed European leader in fresh, frozen, and prepared fruit and vegetables. Comparable core business of fresh-produce marketing to European retail, but operates at meaningfully larger scale.
• BayWa AG: Large Munich-based agribusiness and one of the original founders (via WLZ) of Obst vom Bodensee. Active across produce marketing, agricultural inputs, and energy — comparable in fruit-marketing segment but operates a much broader portfolio.
• Dole plc: Global fresh-produce marketer with European apple and pear programs. Comparable in fresh-produce trading to retail, but at vastly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• VI.P Bio: Vinschgau producer cooperative in South Tyrol marketing apples (including organic and club varieties) to European retail. Comparable cooperative structure and club-variety strategy targeting German and EU food retailers.
• Landgard eG: Germany's largest marketing cooperative for fresh produce and flowers, serving German food retail. Comparable B2B cooperative-marketing model linking thousands of producers to retail customers.
• VOG Ingelheim: Consortium of South Tyrolean fruit cooperatives marketing apples and pears across Europe. Directly comparable as a cooperative-driven producer-marketer serving major European retail chains, and notably also a shareholder of Obst vom Bodensee.
• OGM Obstgroßmarkt Mittelbaden eG: German cooperative fruit-marketing company in the Upper Rhine region serving major German food retailers. Closely comparable cooperative model, product mix (apples/pears), and B2B retail distribution focus.
• Elbe-Obst Erzeugerorganisation: German producer organization (Altes Land region) marketing apples and other fruit to food retail. Comparable producer-marketing cooperative model serving the same German LEH customer base.

Regional players

• Frutura Obst & Gemüse Handelsgesellschaft: Austrian fruit and vegetable marketing company serving DACH-region retail. Comparable producer-to-retail cooperative-style model with focus on apples and berries.

Others

• Bioland Markt: Wholesale distributor for certified organic produce from Bioland producers. Comparable in organic-produce value chain and supplier coordination, though focused on B2B organic distribution rather than B2B marketing of branded fresh produce.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/obst-vom-bodensee-vertriebsgesellschaft-mbh
• Facebookfacebook.com/obstvombodensee

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles31 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 Obst vom Bodensee