Gerstenberg Verlag
Gerstenberg Verlag is a family-owned German publisher based in Hildesheim producing children's books (anchored by Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt and Berner's Wimmelbücher), adult cookbooks and illustrated non-fiction, distributed via its own web shop and German bookstore wholesale.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1792
- HeadquartersHildesheim, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Gerstenberg Verlag does
Gerstenberg Verlag is a family-owned German publishing house headquartered in Hildesheim that produces children's books and adult non-fiction, organized around two core programs. The Kinderbuch program encompasses board books, picture books, children's and young adult literature, children's non-fiction, audiobooks, and e-books, anchored by German-language rights to globally iconic properties including Eric Carle's Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) and Rotraut Susanne Berner's Wimmelbücher/Wimmlingen series, plus the sub-brands Raupe Nimmersatt & Co. and the themed Wimmlingen town series. The Erwachsenenbuch program publishes illustrated adult non-fiction under the KochLust cookbook imprint and the GartenKunst garden imprint, with a Papeterie & Geschenke stationery-and-gift line completing the catalog. The publisher's own e-commerce web shop, education channels (dedicated Kita and Schule portals with curriculum-aligned Unterrichtsmaterial and Lesekiste lending services), and book-fair presence at Frankfurt and Bologna constitute the go-to-market surface.
Commercially, Gerstenberg generates revenue primarily through direct-to-consumer book and stationery sales via its web shop operated through distribution partner Germinal Medienhandlung GmbH in Fernwald, plus wholesale relationships with German bookstores and a foreign-rights licensing arm that monetizes international editions. Pricing is unit-based across the catalog, ranging from approximately €9-14 for board books to €38-42 for specialty cookbooks. Customer segments span consumer families, kindergartens and schools (Klassen 1-13), the German book retail trade, and foreign publishers acquiring translation rights, with the Caterpillar and Wimmelbücher properties acting as the primary recurring-revenue anchors. The publisher maintains B2C engagement through an active blog, podcast, newsletter, and author/school reading events.
The business is a privately held GmbH & Co. KG with no institutional investors, a headcount of 11-50, and no disclosed revenue or funding events. Recent years have brought continued award recognition including a Bologna Prize 2026 shortlisting, Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis 2026 nominations, and the Antiquaria-Preis 2026 honor for Berner, alongside an active product launch cadence extending flagship IPs into new formats (boxed sets, flap books, Eid Mubarak edition) and broadening the adult cookbook catalog through celebrity-chef partnerships.
Gerstenberg Verlag firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gerstenberg Verlag
- Legal name
- Gerstenberg Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
- Website
- https://gerstenberg-verlag.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1792
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gerstenberg Verlag is a family-owned German publisher based in Hildesheim producing children's books (anchored by Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt and Berner's Wimmelbücher), adult cookbooks and illustrated non-fiction, distributed via its own web shop and German bookstore wholesale.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gerstenberg Verlag industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (51313), Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Picture Book Publishing (MPAJAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Children’s Subscription & Book Club Publishing (MPAJAFAO), Children’s Nonfiction Educational (Science, History, Nature) (EDAGAIAC), Humor, Gift & Specialty Format Books (Journals, Coloring, etc.) (MPAJAAAN), Art, Photography & Illustrated Books Publishing (MPAJAAAF)
Keywords
Where Gerstenberg Verlag is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hildesheim
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gerstenberg Verlag business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Sale of published books including children's books, young adult literature, adult non-fiction, and stationery products through the company's web shop and retail distribution.
- Wholesale/Distribution: Products are sold through Germinal Medienhandlung GmbH which handles distribution in their own name and on their own account.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual book pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Gerstenberg Verlag product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gerstenberg Verlag publishes and sells children's books (board books, picture books, children's and young adult literature, children's non-fiction), adult illustrated non-fiction (cookbooks under the KochLust imprint and gardening/nature titles under GartenKunst), plus a stationery and gift product line. Flagship brands include Eric Carle's Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) and Rotraut Susanne Berner's Wimmelb\u00fccher/Wimmlingen discovery picture book series. Titles are sold through an own-brand web shop, wholesale distribution via Germinal Medienhandlung, and traditional book trade retailers, with foreign rights licensed internationally.
Product overview
Gerstenberg Verlag is a family-owned children's book publisher from Hildesheim, Germany, that has become one of the most recognized children's publishers through Eric Carle's 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' (Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt) and Rotraut Susanne Berner's Wimmelbuch (discovery picture book) series. The publishing program consists of two core divisions: Children's Books (Kinderbuch) encompassing board books, picture books, children's and young adult literature, children's non-fiction, audiobooks, and E-books; and Adult Books (Erwachsenenbuch) featuring the KochLust cookbook sub-brand and GartenKunst garden titles. The Raupe Nimmersatt & Co. line and Wimmlingen seasonal Wimmelbuch series represent the publisher's flagship licensed and original IP. An additional Papeterie & Geschenke (stationery and gifts) line includes notebooks, storage items, greeting cards, and table accessories. The publisher operates an e-commerce web shop in partnership with Germinal Medienhandlung GmbH for direct sales. Educational support services for schools and kindergartens include teaching materials, language development resources, and activity kits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- KochLust: A sub-brand for the adult cooking and culinary book program featuring illustrated cookbooks and food literature.
- GartenKunst
- Wimmlingen
Products and services
- Children's Books (Kinderbuch) Core publishing program covering board books (Pappbilderb\u00fccher), picture books (Bilderb\u00fccher), children's literature, young adult books, children's non-fiction, audiobooks, and e-books. Includes flagship titles Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) and Rotraut Susanne Berner's Wimmelb\u00fccher, marketed to families, schools, kindergartens, and the book trade.
- Raupe Nimmersatt & Co. Line Licensed Eric Carle branded product line featuring The Very Hungry Caterpillar character across board books, Klipp-Klapp flap books, activity books, Christmas adventskalender, themed boxed sets (e.g., Meine bunte Bibliothek, Meine Weihnachtsbibliothek, Meine B\u00fccherbox), and seasonal/Eid Mubarak editions. Targeted at children ages 3 and up and sold internationally through foreign rights licensing.
- Wimmlingen / Wimmelbuch Series Rotraut Susanne Berner's Wimmelbuch (discovery picture book) series set in the fictional town of Wimmlingen, featuring seasonal variations (Fr\u00fchling, Sommer, Herbst, Winter) and themed titles plus puzzle products and merchandise. Targeted at children and families; internationally recognized flagship IP of the publisher.
- KochLust Cookbook Program Adult cookbook sub-brand with illustrated culinary titles featuring international cuisine (Italian, French, Spanish, Swedish) and specialty topics including pizza, gin & tonic, rum, and cocktails. Recent titles feature celebrity chefs and food journalists and have received industry award recognition (Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Deutscher Kochbuchpreis Silver 2025).
- GartenKunst Garden Publishing Garden and botanical-themed publishing line featuring illustrated books on garden design, plant care, and garden aesthetics. Targeted at adult readers interested in gardening and nature.
- Papeterie & Geschenke (Stationery & Gifts) Stationery and gift product line including Fein Notieren (fine stationery/notebooks), Gut aufbewahren (storage items), Herzliche Gr\u00fc\u00dfe (greeting cards), Sch\u00f6ner schenken (gift wrapping), and Sch\u00f6ner Tisch (table settings). Sourced alongside books via the own-brand web shop and trade distribution.
- Unterrichtsmaterial (Educational Materials Service) Educational material service for schools (grades 1-4 and 5-13) and kindergartens, offering literature-pedagogical materials, language development resources, themed activity kits supporting literacy and early childhood education, plus the Lesekiste reading-basket engagement program.
- Foreign Rights Licensing Service International rights licensing service offering publishers worldwide catalogs, sample translations, and dedicated video materials for sub-rights deals on Gerstenberg titles (children's, cookbook, garden, and lifestyle).
Quantifiable outcome
- Eric Carle's books translated into 80 languages
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Gerstenberg Verlag
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Gerstenberg Verlag technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Gerstenberg Verlag partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Germinal Medienhandlung GmbHcoreGerminal Medienhandlung GmbH (Siemensstraße 16, 35465 Fernwald) serves as the primary distribution partner, handling sales, payment processing, and fulfillment in their own name and on their own account. All product orders from the web shop are transmitted to Germinal for processing.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Gerstenberg Verlag competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Walker Books: Independent UK children's publisher (Where's Wally?, Guess How Much I Love You). Comparable in family-owned scale, illustrated picture-book specialization, and international rights distribution through European book fairs.
- Usborne Publishing: UK-based children's book publisher with strong preschool, activity, and novelty formats. Comparable to Gerstenberg's board books, flap books, and educational/non-fiction titles, with overlapping age-segment focus.
- Penguin Random House Children's UK: Major global children's publisher (Julia Donaldson, Eric Hill's Spot). Competes for German-licensed picture-book rights and shelf space at major German retailers, though broader portfolio and global scale.
- Ravensburger AG: Large German family-owned media company spanning children's books, board games, and puzzles. Overlaps with Gerstenberg in picture books and pre-school IP, but operates at much larger scale across multiple product categories.
Regional players
- Gallimard Jeunesse: France's leading children's publisher (Astérix, Petit Prince). Comparable in prestigious illustrated children's list and bilingual rights trade with Germany, though serving primarily the French-language market.
Direct peers
- Thienemann Verlag: Stuttgart-based publisher of picture books, children's, and YA literature (e.g., Momo, Der Räuber Hotzenplotz). Competes with Gerstenberg in illustrated children's trade publishing and award-driven titles.
- Carlsen Verlag: Germany's leading children's and YA book publisher (e.g., Die Wilden Kerle, Tintin), publishing board books, picture books, comics, and YA. Directly competes with Gerstenberg in German children's trade publishing and Bologna/Frankfurt book-fair rights.
- Beltz Verlag: Weinheim-based publisher with strong programs in children's books, educational materials, and pedagogy. Overlaps with Gerstenberg's Unterrichtsmaterial and Kita/Schule channels.
- Verlag Friedrich Oetinger: Hamburg-based children's book publisher (Die Mumins, Jim Knopf). A direct competitor in German-language picture books and children's literature, overlapping in school and kindergarten channels.
- Coppenrath Verlag: Münster-based publisher known for high-quality illustrated children's books, activity books, advent calendars, and stationery. Closely mirrors Gerstenberg's product mix of picture books, gift formats, and Papeterie lines.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Gerstenberg Verlag social profiles
Digital presenceGerstenberg Verlag financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gerstenberg Verlag leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Gerstenberg Verlag funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gerstenberg Verlag 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 Gerstenberg Verlag
What does Gerstenberg Verlag do?
Gerstenberg Verlag publishes and sells children's books (board books, picture books, children's and young adult literature, children's non-fiction), adult illustrated non-fiction (cookbooks under the KochLust imprint and gardening/nature titles under GartenKunst), plus a stationery and gift product line. Flagship brands include Eric Carle's Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) and Rotraut Susanne Berner's Wimmelb\u00fccher/Wimmlingen discovery picture book series. Titles are sold through an own-brand web shop, wholesale distribution via Germinal Medienhandlung, and traditional book trade retailers, with foreign rights licensed internationally.
Is Gerstenberg Verlag a public or private company?
Gerstenberg Verlag is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Gerstenberg Verlag founded?
Gerstenberg Verlag was founded in 1792. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gerstenberg Verlag based?
Gerstenberg Verlag is headquartered in Hildesheim, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Gerstenberg Verlag make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale/Distribution.
Who are Gerstenberg Verlag's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Walker Books, Usborne Publishing, Penguin Random House Children's UK and Ravensburger AG. Gallimard Jeunesse is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Thienemann Verlag, Carlsen Verlag, Beltz Verlag, Verlag Friedrich Oetinger and Coppenrath Verlag.
Does Gerstenberg Verlag have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gerstenberg Verlag.
What industry is Gerstenberg Verlag in?
Gerstenberg Verlag's product category is Children's Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAFAA, Picture Book Publishing, with a secondary code of MPAJAFAO, Children’s Subscription & Book Club Publishing. Its NAICS code is 51313 and its SIC code is 2731.