Brothers Steinhart

What Brothers Steinhart does

Gebr. Steinhart Wachswarenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, trading as Brothers Steinhart, is a third-generation, family-owned German manufacturer of candles and specialty wax products headquartered in Krumbach, Swabia, since its founding in 1924. The company produces pillar candles, taper candles, tea lights, floating candles, scented candles, motif candles, religious and ceremonial candles (baptism, wedding, Easter), outdoor torches, and technical/dental waxes for the European retail trade, garden centers, florists, corporate customers, and end consumers. Its primary customer segment is the retail trade, complemented by direct factory outlet sales at the Krumbach site and twice-yearly special sale events.

The company's manufacturing platform rests on four in-house production methods — pressing, casting, drawing (up to 8 cm diameter), and dipping — supported by expertise across four wax chemistries: paraffin (petroleum-derived), stearin (plant-based palm oil), beeswax, and rapeseed oil. Production is split between the Krumbach headquarters (technical production, R&D, quality assurance, administration) and a manufacturing facility in Piotrkow, Poland (opened 1998, ~150 employees) that handles manual finishing and embellishment, with a dedicated logistics warehouse in Niederraunau. An in-house development team produces annual seasonal trend collections, including the 2026 Christmas/Winter and Spring/Easter/Summer Kollektionen with four named trend lines (Joyful Smile, Summertime, Citronella, Outdoor Summer), supported by an in-house library of over 150 decorative craft elements and a "Kerzenratgeber" educational catalog.

Revenue is generated primarily through B2B hardware sales via a regional field sales force covering all German states plus dedicated export agents for Austria, France, Spain, Italy, and Belgium, channel-specific specialists for garden centers and floristry, and corporate customization services. Distribution is reinforced by a 9,500 sqm joint B2B showroom in Brühl bei Köln (opened 2021, with 11 partner companies) and the Krumbach B2B showroom, while consumer-side revenue comes from factory outlet retail and seasonal Sonderverkauf events. The firm holds the RAL Gütezeichen quality mark, is an RSPO member targeting 100% certified palm oil, and participates in the Christmas Trend Group (CTG), ECMA, and the Bavarian Candle Makers Guild. Corporate parent Euro Kerze GmbH serves as the personally liable general partner, and ownership rests with the Steinhart family (Peter Steinhart jointly with children Stephanie and Philipp).

Name

Brothers Steinhart

Legal name

Gebr. Steinhart Wachswarenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://steinhart.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brothers Steinhart is a third-generation, family-owned German candle and specialty wax manufacturer founded in 1924, producing pillar, taper, tea light, motif, scented, and ceremonial candles plus technical and dental waxes for European retailers, garden centers, florists, corporate clients, and consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Candle Manufacturing

akta.pro primary industry

Air Care & Home Fragrance (Air Fresheners, Candles, Plug-ins, Diffusers) (CRADAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scented Candles & Wax Melts (Home Fragrance) (CRAJAEAD), Candles, Home Fragrance & Diffusers Retail (CRAIACAC)

Keywords

• Candle manufacturing
• Decorative wax products
• Religious ceremonial candles
• Technical industrial waxes
• Seasonal candle collections

Headquarters

HQ city

Krumbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Candle and Wax Product Sales: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling candles and wax products across diverse categories including pillar candles, taper candles, tea lights, scented candles, motif candles, Christmas candles, outdoor torches, religious candles, and technical waxes. Products sold through retail trade, direct factory sales, and B2B channels.
2. Factory Direct Sales: Direct retail sales to consumers at the Krumbach factory outlet. Offers full product range including special occasion candles (baptism, communion, wedding, funeral) and religious wax products.
3. Special Sale Events: Seasonal clearance and special sale events held at company premises, offering discontinued and excess inventory at discounted prices.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gebr. Steinhart manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of candles and wax products, including pillar candles, taper candles, tea lights, floating candles, scented candles, motif/decorative candles, candelabra/church candles, seasonal Advent/Christmas candles, and religious/ceremonial candles (baptism, wedding, Mary, Easter). The company also produces technical industrial waxes and dental waxes as specialty lines. Production uses four methods (pressing, casting, drawing, dipping) across multiple wax materials (paraffin, stearin, beeswax, rapeseed oil) and operates both B2B distribution through field sales representatives and a direct factory outlet for consumers.

Product overview

Gebr. Steinhart is a traditional family-owned candle manufacturer founded in 1924, producing a comprehensive portfolio of candles and wax products. The company operates a multi-tier product architecture consisting of core candle products (Stumpenkerzen, Spitzkerzen, Teelichte, Duftkerzen, Schwimmkerzen, Leuchterkerzen, Motivkerzen), specialty waxes (Technische Wachse, Zahnwachse), religious/ceremonial candles (Taufkerzen, Hochzeitskerzen, Marien- und Osterkerzen), and seasonal collections (Christmas, Easter, Spring/Summer). The product range is organized around four key wax materials: Paraffin, Stearin, Bienenwachs (beeswax), and Rapsöl (rapeseed oil). The company also participates in the Christmas Trend Group (CTG), a collaborative initiative with five partner companies for coordinated Christmas/winter trends. Production takes place through four manufacturing methods: pressing, dipping, pulling/drawing, and casting. The company operates factory outlet sales and participates in seasonal special sales events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nature: Product line featuring rapeseed oil as raw material for wax production
• Citronella
• Joyful Smile
• Summertime
• Outdoor Summer

Products and services

• Stumpenkerzen (Pillar Candles) Cylindrical pillar candles in various sizes, colors, and finishes including frost finish (Raureifstumpen).
• Spitzkerzen (Taper Candles) Elongated conical taper candles produced through the dipping method, fully dyed through.
• Leuchterkerzen (Candelabra / Church Candles) Candles designed for candelabras and church settings.
• Schwimmkerzen (Floating Candles) Specially designed candles that float in water, packaged in bags with clips for outdoor use.
• Teelichte (Tea Lights) Small candles produced via pressing method, available in glasses or PET packaging.
• Duftkerzen (Scented / Fragrant Candles) Candles infused with fragrances, including citrus-scented Citronella line for indoor and outdoor use.
• Motivkerzen (Decorative / Motif Candles) Candles with decorative motifs for seasonal occasions including Easter and Christmas themes.
• Technische Wachse (Technical Waxes) Industrial-grade waxes for technical applications beyond candle-making, available as a downloadable catalog.
• Zahnwachse (Dental Waxes) Wax products for dental applications.
• Adventskerzen, Pyramidenkerzen & Baumkerzen (Advent / Pyramid / Tree Candles) Seasonal Christmas candles including Advent candles, pyramid-shaped candles (also available as DIY craft kits), and Christmas tree candles produced through the pulling/drawing method.
• Taufkerzen, Hochzeitskerzen & Marien-/Osterkerzen (Baptism, Wedding, Mary & Easter Candles) Decorative and religious wax products for ceremonies including baptism, wedding, Marian devotion, and Easter.
• Kerzen Outlet / Fabrikverkauf (Factory Outlet Sales) Factory outlet store at the Krumbach production facility offering the full candle range directly to end consumers, plus twice-yearly Sonderverkauf (special sale) events with discounted discontinued/excess inventory.
• Joyful Smile Collection (Spring/Easter Trend Line) Spring/Easter seasonal collection with delicate rose and salmon tones, light yellow, fresh lime green, floral motifs, and playful bunny designs.
• Summertime Collection (Summer Trend Line) Summer trend collection featuring sunny colors, maritime accents, vibrant reds/yellows/navy blue, crackling candles in glasses, and modern coral tones.
• Citronella Collection (Fragrance Candle Line) Indoor and outdoor fragrance candle line with pleasant citrus scent, available in various designs and fresh summer colors.
• Outdoor Summer Collection Outdoor summer candle line featuring colorful torches with strong outdoor wicks, modern stone and cement pots and bowls for garden parties.
• Nature Collection (Sustainable Rapeseed Oil Candles) Sustainable candle line using domestic rapeseed as an alternative renewable raw material for wax production; awarded the Special Interest Sustainability Award in 2021.
• Christmas Trend Group (CTG) Collaborative Collection Collaborative trend initiative with five partner companies creating coordinated Christmas/winter product lines and trend presentations for the retail market.

Quantifiable outcome

• RAL Gütezeichen certification ensures regular quality testing of raw materials, wicks, and all ingredients

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Christmas Trend Group (CTG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTG is a strategic partnership of five companies creating joint Christmas trend concepts and marketing. The group develops and presents coordinated Christmas product and experience worlds, helping members create positive Christmas business outcomes together. Website: christmas-trend-group.de
• Showroom Center BrühlminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoint showroom with 11 companies in decorative living accessories at a 9,500 sqm facility near Cologne. Represents a shared distribution/marketing platform for commercial customers.
• Euro Kerze GmbHcoreOthersPersonally liable partner company (Komplementär-GmbH) in the corporate structure of Gebr. Steinhart GmbH & Co. KG. Registered in Memmingen (HRB 4211).
• European Candle Association (ECMA)minorOthersIndustry association membership providing industry standards, networking, and representation for European candle manufacturers.
• Bavarian Candle Makers GuildminorOthersRegional trade guild membership for wax casters providing industry representation and professional standards.
• RAL Gütegemeinschaft QualitätssicherungssystemcoreOthersQuality assurance association providing the RAL Gütezeichen certification for candles, ensuring compliance with quality standards for raw materials, wicks, and ingredients.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Yankee Candle (Newell Brands): Iconic US premium scented candle brand now owned by Newell Brands, distributed across Europe through retail chains. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the home fragrance category with much larger marketing and distribution scale than Steinhart.
• SC Johnson (Glade / Air Wick home fragrance): Global FMCG conglomerate whose Glade and Air Wick brands compete in home fragrance and air care. Overlaps with Steinhart in the broader air care / home fragrance category as a much larger diversified incumbent.

Direct peers

• Liljegrens Sverige AB: Swedish heritage candle maker founded in 1893 producing household and decorative candles for Nordic and European retail. Comparable as a long-established European family candle manufacturer with a similar product and retail-trade go-to-market.
• Bolsius: One of Europe's largest industrial candle manufacturers, producing pillar, taper, tea light and household candles across multiple European countries. Directly comparable as a mass-to-mid-market European candle maker with overlapping DACH retail and export distribution.
• Schmitz Kerzen: German family-owned candle manufacturer with a wide candle portfolio and own-brand retail presence. Directly comparable on product mix, family ownership structure, and DACH trade customer base.
• Vollmar Kerzen: German candle manufacturer producing a comparable range of pillar, taper, scented and specialty candles. Closest domestic head-to-head competitor with similar product breadth, channel mix, and DACH retail customer base.
• PartyLite: Global direct-sales candle and home fragrance brand with a multi-country consultant network. Comparable on candle/home fragrance category and multi-market reach, though distributed through party-plan rather than trade channels.
• Bridgewater Candle Company: US-based heritage candle and home fragrance brand sold through gift and specialty retail channels. Comparable as a long-established specialty candle maker targeting gift and seasonal-occasion buyers.
• Esteban Paris: French heritage home fragrance and candle brand sold through European specialty retail. Comparable as a mid-sized European scented candle and home fragrance specialist with overlapping premium retail customers.

Others

• Asahi (AEV Africa / Sasol Wax): Industrial paraffin and specialty wax producer serving candle manufacturers and other industrial users. Comparable as an upstream/input supplier relevant to Steinhart's paraffin and technical wax sourcing strategy.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/steinhartkerzen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/steinhart-gebr.-wachswarenfabrik-gmbh-&-co.-kg/about

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Brothers Steinhart