Hmezad Export Import
Hmezad Export Import is a Slovenian hop trading and consulting company founded in 1952, serving approximately 100 Slovenian hop growers with agricultural inputs and selling processed hop products (pellets, CO2 extracts, bales) to breweries worldwide from its Žalec headquarters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1952
- HeadquartersZalec, Slovenia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Hmezad Export Import does
Hmezad Export Import (legal name: HMEZAD exim d.o.o.) is a Slovenian hop trading and consulting company founded in 1952 as a cooperative of hop growers and now operating as a privately held limited liability company headquartered in Žalec, Slovenia. The company sits at the center of the Slovenian hop value chain in the Lower Savinja Valley, which accounts for approximately 75% of Slovenia's national hop production, and Slovenia itself ranks fifth globally in hop production. Hmezad operates a two-sided business model: on the supply side, it serves approximately 100 agricultural holdings with comprehensive inputs and advisory services, and on the demand side, it processes and sells hop products to breweries worldwide, with 95% of Slovenian hops exported.
The company's core product portfolio consists of four hop product forms — traditional whole leaf hops in 60 kg bales and 5 kg VACPAC vacuum-sealed packages, Type 90 hop pellets (T90), concentrated Type 45 pellets (T45) produced via cryogenic lupulin separation at -20°C, and supercritical CO2 hop extracts with alpha acid concentrations of 25–65%. These are produced from 14 protected Slovenian hop varieties under the Štajerska brand, holding the ZGO geographical indication. Supporting technology includes strict temperature-controlled pelletizing, CO2-flushed aluminum packaging for oxidation prevention, and documented traceability from field to brewery. The agricultural supply business complements hop sales with plant protection products, mineral and foliar fertilizers, hop farming machinery from brands including Wolf, Reith, Wallner, and Myers, vehicle seats, and trellis construction materials including biodegradable BioTHOP twine.
Hmezad generates revenue through three primary streams: direct B2B sales of processed hop products to brewing companies globally, sale of agricultural inputs and machinery to Slovenian hop growers, and professional consulting on fertilization, crop protection, and MRL compliance. Distribution combines a direct field sales force with the HopsiShop.com e-commerce platform for retail sales. Pricing is negotiated bilaterally based on quantity, variety, and customer requirements and is not publicly disclosed. Strategic partnerships with the Institute of Hop Growing and Brewing of Slovenia (IHPS), multiple equipment OEMs, and EU-funded programs (LIFE BioTHOP, PRP, SPIRIT Slovenia) underpin the company's R&D and internationalization initiatives.
Hmezad Export Import firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hmezad Export Import
- Legal name
- HMEZAD exim d.o.o.
- Website
- https://hmezad.si
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1952
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hmezad Export Import is a Slovenian hop trading and consulting company founded in 1952, serving approximately 100 Slovenian hop growers with agricultural inputs and selling processed hop products (pellets, CO2 extracts, bales) to breweries worldwide from its Žalec headquarters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hmezad Export Import industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hop Products and Agricultural Supplies
- NAICS
- Spice and Extract Manufacturing (311942)
- SIC
- Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hop Farming (AFAGAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Natural Extracts & Botanical Concentrates for Beverages (herbal, spice, aromatic extracts) (AFAFAGAJ)
Keywords
Where Hmezad Export Import is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zalec
- HQ country
- Slovenia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hmezad Export Import business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hop Product Sales: Sale of processed hop products including hop bales, hop pellets (T90, T45), CO2 extracts, and whole leaf hops. Products are sold to breweries worldwide with complete traceability and quality documentation.
- Agricultural Supplies: Supply of plant protection products, fertilizers, machinery, and equipment for hop cultivation. Includes sprays, mineral fertilizers, foliar fertilizers, machinery parts, and hop-specific materials.
- Crop Protection Consulting: Professional consulting on fertilization, crop protection, and spraying procedures. Services include fertilization planning based on soil chemical analysis, plant protection recommendations, and compliance with various MRL policies and world market requirements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Hmezad Export Import product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hmezad Export Import is a Slovenian company that processes and supplies hop products — including whole hops in bales, Type 90 pellets, concentrated pellets (T45), and CO2 hop extracts — to breweries worldwide. The company also distributes agricultural inputs (plant protection products, fertilizers, hop farming machinery, BioTHOP twines, and equipment) and offers consulting services to hop growers in Slovenia and abroad.
Product overview
Hmezad Export Import is a hop trading and consulting company established in 1952, specializing in Slovenian hop products and hop farming supplies. The core product portfolio consists of four main hop product forms: traditional hops in bales (VACPAC 5kg vacuum-sealed), Type 90 hop pellets (T90), concentrated pellets (T45), and CO2 hop extracts. These are complemented by 14 Slovenian hop varieties across three categories—noble aroma hops (Golding Celeia, Aurora, Bobek, Savinjski Golding), flavor hops (Wolf, Dragon, Cardinal, Kolibri, Fox), and bitter hops (Hallertau Magnum, Dana)—all produced in the Štajerska region with protected geographical indication. Supporting the hop farming community, the company offers a comprehensive range of agricultural products including plant protection products, mineral and foliar fertilizers, hop farming machinery (Wolf, Reith, Wallner brands), Grammer seats for agricultural vehicles, and construction materials for hop trellis systems including biodegradable BioTHOP twine. An e-commerce platform (HopsiShop.com) handles direct sales of hops, malt, and yeast.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hops in Bales (Hmelj v balah) Whole hop cones compressed into bales, supplied to breweries for direct brewing use or further processing. Targets brewing industry customers worldwide.
- Type 90 Hop Pellets (Hmeljski peleti tip 90)
Quantifiable outcome
- Hop bales stable at 0-5°C storage temperature
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Hmezad Export Import
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Hmezad Export Import technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Hmezad Export Import partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Institute of Hop Growing and Brewing of Slovenia (Inštitut za hmeljarstvo in pivovarstvo Slovenije)coreHmezad maintains close cooperation with the Institute of Hop Growing and Brewing of Slovenia (IHPS), combining practical field experience with scientific knowledge. The institute provides expert advisory services and scientific support for hop cultivation, plant protection, and brewing applications. Hmezad participates in joint research programs with the institute including new hop cultivar breeding programs.
- WOLFcoreWOLF provides harvesting technology and dryers for hop processing. Hmezad offers WOLF equipment including WSZ 1000, WSZ 1000 SP COMBI, WHE-500, AN 70, SZ Bunch Picking Machine, Trocknungszubehoer, PowerHeater TCO2000E, PowerHeater, CONAQUA2, and Lupus PRO models.
- ReithcoreReith agricultural machinery brand has represented quality in agricultural and hop technology for over 60 years. Hmezad offers Reith products including hop presses, hop formers, string hanging towers, circular unloaders, and hop cultivators.
- MyerscoreMyers brand has 50-year tradition in agricultural machinery. Hmezad provides Myers sprayers for hop spraying with 2000L, 3000L, and 4000L reservoirs including 12.5/80 R18 wheels, electric valve and pressure control, clean water tank, cardan with double cross joint, turbo-drop nozzles, and 42 inch fan with 80/105,000 m3 airflow.
- EU Rural Development Programme (PRP)minorEU Rural Development Programme provides funding support for agricultural development projects including hop sector initiatives in Slovenia.
- SPIRIT SloveniaminorSPIRIT Slovenia public agency promotes entrepreneurship and internationalization of Slovenian companies.
- LIFE BioTHOP ProjectminorLIFE BioTHOP is a European Union co-financed project for biodegradable hop twines. The BioTHOP twine is made from polylactic acid (PLA) with biodegradability/compostability certification, developed in cooperation with the Institute of Hop Growing and Brewing of Slovenia.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Hmezad Export Import competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bayer Crop Science: Major agricultural inputs supplier including crop protection products that Hmezad distributes. Comparable as a counterparty in the ag-inputs value chain Hmezad participates in.
- Syngenta: Global agrochemical and seed company whose crop protection products flow through distributors like Hmezad. Relevant incumbent in the agricultural inputs segment Hmezad serves.
- Anheuser-Busch InBev (hop procurement arm): Largest global brewer with vertically integrated hop sourcing and processing capabilities. A relevant indirect peer given its scale of hop procurement and internal processing.
Direct peers
- Hopsteiner: Major international hop breeder, processor, and merchant supplying pellets and CO2 extracts to breweries worldwide. Closely matches Hmezad's product portfolio and global brewery GTM.
- Kalsec: Producer of natural hop extracts and botanical ingredients for the brewing and food industries. Directly comparable on the CO2 hop extract side of Hmezad's portfolio.
- BarthHaas: World's largest hop company, providing hop products, pellets, and extracts to global breweries. Directly comparable as a multi-format hop processor and trader with deep brewery relationships.
- Yakima Chief Hops: US-based 100% grower-owned hop supplier supplying pellets and extracts globally. Comparable as a cooperative-style hop trading and processing business serving breweries.
- John I. Haas: Hop breeding, processing, and innovation company producing hop extracts and varietal development. Comparable downstream in extracts and varietal IP.
- Charles Faram & Co: UK hop merchant supplying hops, pellets, and extracts to brewers. Comparable as a heritage hop trading house with strong varietal focus.
Others
- Skretting (Nutreco): Not a direct hop peer, but representative of large European agribusiness players with downstream agricultural supply chain roles. Included as a regional benchmark for the broader Slovenian/EU ag-services ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hmezad Export Import social profiles
Digital presenceHmezad Export Import financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hmezad Export Import leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Hmezad Export Import funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hmezad Export Import 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 Hmezad Export Import
What does Hmezad Export Import do?
Hmezad Export Import is a Slovenian company that processes and supplies hop products — including whole hops in bales, Type 90 pellets, concentrated pellets (T45), and CO2 hop extracts — to breweries worldwide. The company also distributes agricultural inputs (plant protection products, fertilizers, hop farming machinery, BioTHOP twines, and equipment) and offers consulting services to hop growers in Slovenia and abroad.
Is Hmezad Export Import a public or private company?
Hmezad Export Import is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hmezad Export Import founded?
Hmezad Export Import was founded in 1952. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hmezad Export Import based?
Hmezad Export Import is headquartered in Zalec, Slovenia, in the Europe region.
How does Hmezad Export Import make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hop Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are agricultural Supplies and crop Protection Consulting.
Who are Hmezad Export Import's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bayer Crop Science, Syngenta and Anheuser-Busch InBev (hop procurement arm). Direct peers are Hopsteiner, Kalsec, BarthHaas, Yakima Chief Hops, John I. Haas and Charles Faram & Co. Skretting (Nutreco) is listed as an others.
Does Hmezad Export Import have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hmezad Export Import.
What industry is Hmezad Export Import in?
Hmezad Export Import's product category is Hop Products and Agricultural Supplies. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAGAB, Hop Farming, with a secondary code of AFAFAGAJ, Natural Extracts & Botanical Concentrates for Beverages (herbal, spice, aromatic extracts). Its NAICS code is 311942 and its SIC code is 2833.