Cefetra / Cefetra Feed Service

What Cefetra / Cefetra Feed Service does

Cefetra is a Rotterdam-headquartered private agricultural commodity trader founded in 1899 (originally as Central Bureau in Enschede) that supplies 60+ agricultural ingredients across grains, oilseeds, proteins, co-products, minerals, additives, and oils & fats to the European compound feed, aqua feed, pet food, and biogas/energy industries. Operating as one of Europe's largest independent agricultural ingredient intermediaries with 8+ million metric tons of annual throughput and a workforce of approximately 120 employees, the company intermediates between global producers and European customers, handling customs, quality assurance, and end-to-end multi-modal logistics (ocean freight, inland waterways, rail, trucking) across packaging formats including bulk, big bags, small bags, IBCs, and liquid storage.

The firm's platform architecture centres on the Cefetra Portal and Cefetra Feed Service Portal (webportal.cefetra.com) for trading-partner access to ordering and logistics management, with market intelligence delivered through Ceras Analytics for agricultural-commodity forecasting. A distinguishing technical asset is the proprietary Certified Responsible Soya (CRS) standard, developed and managed by Cefetra for sustainable soybean cultivation in South America, which is recognized by QS-Soy plus until 31 December 2026 and backed by Life Cycle Assessment services and satellite-verified deforestation-free supply chains. GMP+ Feed Safety Assurance certification has been held continuously since the early 1990s, and Cefetra acts as a gatekeeper within the GMP+ chain.

Commercially, the company earns revenue primarily through transaction margins on commodity trades, supplemented by sustainability-certification and traceability premiums (CRS, RTRS, ProTerra, EU Organic, MSC), logistics and supply-chain service fees, and revenue from 18+ wholly-owned operating subsidiaries spanning the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, the UK, Italy, Spain, and the UAE. Go-to-market is enterprise field-sales led, with dedicated product-category traders (grains, oilsseeds, proteins, oils & fats) serving as named points of contact for both suppliers and customers, and direct B2B portal access for mid-market accounts. After 13 years as part of BayWa, the company was sold to a consortium of investors in February 2026, returning to standalone private ownership.

Name

Cefetra / Cefetra Feed Service

Legal name

Cefetra BV

Website

https://cefetra-rotterdam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cefetra is a Rotterdam-based private agricultural commodity trader, founded 1899, supplying 60+ grains, oilseeds, proteins, and feed additives across 8+ million MT annually to European compound feed, aqua feed, pet food, and biogas producers via an integrated multi-modal logistics network and GMP+/CRS-certified supply chains.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Agricultural Ingredient Trading: Cefetra generates revenue by sourcing and supplying agricultural raw materials (grains, oilseeds, proteins, co-products, minerals, additives, oils and fats) to the animal nutrition and energy industries across Europe. The company acts as an intermediary between global suppliers and European customers, handling logistics, quality control, and customs. Revenue is earned through margins on commodity transactions.
2. Sustainability Certification Services: Through its proprietary Certified Responsible Soya (CRS) standard and related sustainability certifications, Cefetra provides verified sustainable sourcing solutions. Certified and traceable products command premium pricing and provide an additional revenue stream alongside commodity sales.
3. Logistics and Supply Chain Services: Cefetra provides end-to-end logistics services including ocean freights, inland waterways, rail, and truck transport, as well as bulk deliveries, big bags, small bags, IBCs, and liquid storage. As one of Europe's largest independent logistics service providers for feed ingredients, the company manages customs, quality controls, and supply chain optimisation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cefetra is one of Europe's largest independent suppliers of agricultural raw materials, trading more than 60 different products across grains, oilseeds, proteins, co-products, minerals, additives, and oils & fats to compound feed producers, aqua feed producers, pet food manufacturers, and the energy/biogas sector. The company combines sourcing, quality assurance, end-to-end multi-modal logistics across Europe, and sustainability certification services under the proprietary Certified Responsible Soya (CRS) standard.

Product overview

Cefetra and Cefetra Feed Service operate as a unified agricultural commodities trading and supply chain management company, supplying over 60 different agricultural products across eight product categories (Additives, Co-products, Grains, Minerals, Oilseeds, Oils & Fats, Other Commodities, and Proteins) to the animal nutrition and energy industries. The portfolio includes core products like Corn, Barley, Alfalfa, Corn DDGS, Corn Gluten Feed, Beet/Cane Molasses, Citrus Pulp, Calcium Carbonate, Arginine, Barley Protein, and Barley Bran. The company complements its physical product trading with customer portals (Cefetra Portal and Cefetra Feed Service Portal), logistics services spanning all transport modes across Europe, sustainability solutions including CRS certification and Life Cycle Assessments, and GMP+-certified quality assurance. Markets served include aqua feed, compound feed, pet food, and energy/biogas production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ceras Analytics: Analytics brand within Cefetra Group.
• Certified Responsible Soya (CRS)
• Crop Marketing Groups
• Ecosystem Services
• Sembralia

Products and services

• Corn (Maize) Cereal grain providing concentrated energy (70-80% starch), moderate protein, fiber, B vitamins, and minerals for use in compound feed, aqua feed, pet food, and energy applications across Europe.
• Barley Cereal grain providing energy (60-70% starch), protein, fiber, B vitamins, and minerals (magnesium, phosphorus, potassium) for animal feeds.
• Alfalfa Perennial legume forage used as hay, pellets, or meal, providing protein (15-20%), fiber, vitamins A, D, E, K, and minerals for animal nutrition.
• Corn DDGS (Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles) By-product of corn ethanol production providing protein (25-35%), fiber, B vitamins, and minerals for compound feed.
• Corn Gluten Feed By-product of corn wet milling (18-22% protein, 8% fiber) for balanced nutrition in livestock diets and compound feed.
• Beet Molasses By-product of sugar beet processing; high-energy syrup (47% min sugar) used to increase palatability and provide readily available energy in livestock diets.
• Cane Molasses By-product of sugarcane processing; energy-dense syrup rich in sucrose, glucose, fructose with essential minerals for livestock and poultry.
• Citrus Pulp By-product from citrus fruit processing, rich in dietary fiber (15-25%) including cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin for digestive health in animals.
• Calcium Carbonate Feed-grade mineral supplement (CaCO3) providing concentrated calcium for bone health, muscle function, nerve function, and blood clotting in animals.
• Arginine Essential amino acid for animal nutrition, supporting protein synthesis, immune function, and cardiovascular health in aquatic species, pets, and livestock.
• Barley Protein Concentrated protein fraction from barley (40-50% protein content) providing essential amino acids for growth, muscle development, and immune support in aqua, pet food, and compound feed.
• Barley Bran By-product from barley milling, rich in dietary fiber (10-15% cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin) supporting digestive health in animals.
• Logistics Services End-to-end supply chain management including ocean freights, inland waterways, rail, trucks, bulk deliveries, big bags, small bags, IBCs, and liquid storage solutions across Europe.
• Sustainability Services Sustainability solutions including Certified Responsible Soya (CRS), Life Cycle Assessments, deforestation-free supply chains, and carbon-reduced commodities through Cefetra Ecosystem Services.
• Quality Assurance Services Feed safety and quality management including GMP+ FSA certification, rigorous product testing, supplier audits, and early warning & recall systems.
• Cefetra Portal Online customer portal for trading, order management, and supply chain coordination for Cefetra B.V. customers.
• Cefetra Feed Service Portal Dedicated online portal for Cefetra Feed Service B.V. customers to manage trading activities and orders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 730 tons CO2 emissions saved in 2022 through HVO fuel partnership with Zijderlaan, with approximately 230,000 litres of HVO used annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ZijderlaancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Cefetra and logistics service provider Zijderlaan partner on sustainable transport using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a fossil-free fuel. In 2022, the partnership achieved 730 tons of CO2 savings through approximately 230,000 litres of HVO used for Cefetra's Dutch trucking shipments. The collaboration aims to drive 25% of total volumes on HVO by 2025. Zijderlaan earned the 2nd Lean & Green Star Award for these efforts.
• Certified Responsible Soya (CRS) Partners (South American Farmers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCefetra partners with South American farmers for its CRS (Certified Responsible Soya) certification programme. In 2023, 155 farms were certified under the programme. The company visits producers in different countries and co-hosts events with partners to expand the sustainability programme.
• NL CaresminorOthersCefetra partners with NL Cares for Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, including bingo evenings with elderly, creative evenings with people with disabilities, technology-themed evenings for children, and gardening activities at a food garden in Rotterdam.
• Volunteer Shop RotterdamminorOthersCefetra collaborates with Volunteer Shop Rotterdam on CSR initiatives, including delivering gift packages to lonely elderly during Christmas.
• Cefetra Group Companies (Tracomex, Riveka, BioCore)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCefetra, Cefetra Feed Service, Tracomex, Riveka and BioCore jointly organised a customer event in Diksmuide focusing on EUDR legislation and commodity market trends, demonstrating cross-group collaboration for customer engagement.
• De MolenaarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCefetra colleagues (Ted Swinkels, Karst Vellinga, Robert Ploeg) were interviewed by De Molenaar, a trade publication, on how the animal nutrition industry is changing and how Cefetra helps customers navigate these developments.
• B&R Beurs Erasmus Investment SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCefetra hosted an Inhouse Event during the Investment Week of B&R Beurs Erasmus Investment Society, with top speakers presenting on trading activities and agricultural commodities to student investors.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Agrifirm: Dutch agricultural cooperative serving compound feed, animal nutrition, and crop farming markets in Northwestern Europe. Highly comparable to Cefetra in customer base, geographic focus, and ingredient sourcing model.
• Amaggi: Brazilian soy producer and trader with significant European distribution and sustainability programmes. Comparable as a soy-origin supplier linking South American farmers to European feed markets, overlapping with Cefetra's CRS-certified supply chain.

Broad incumbents

• BayWa AG: Former parent of Cefetra for 13 years until February 2026. BayWa remains a major German agricultural trading, inputs, and services group with overlapping European feed and grain trading operations, making it a directly comparable incumbent post-divestiture.
• ADM (Archer Daniels Midland): Global agricultural processor and trader with major animal nutrition and oilseed crushing operations. Competes with Cefetra across European grain origination, soy meal, and specialty feed ingredient supply.
• Louis Dreyfus Company: Global merchant of grains, oilseeds, and feed ingredients with European trading operations originating from the same commodity hubs (Rotterdam). Comparable business model in European feed-ingredient distribution.
• Bunge: Global agribusiness and oilseed processor with strong European presence and Viterra merger pending. Directly comparable in oilseed meal supply to European feed and aqua feed manufacturers.
• COFCO International: Global agricultural trader (including Nidera) with European grain and oilseed origination. Competes with Cefetra in feed ingredient supply and supply chain verification services.
• Cargill: Largest privately held global agricultural commodity trader with deep animal nutrition and oilseed processing operations across Europe. Overlaps with Cefetra in compound feed ingredients, soy/meal distribution, and sustainability-verified sourcing.
• Viterra (formerly Glencore Agriculture): Global agricultural commodity merchant with significant European grain and oilseed origination and distribution. Directly competes with Cefetra in European feed-ingredient supply chains and originates from the same Rotterdam/European port ecosystem.

Emerging players

• ETG (Export Trading Group): Emerging global agricultural commodities trader with growing European presence in grains, oilseeds, and co-products. Increasing direct competition with Cefetra in European feed-ingredient trading and intra-Europe logistics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cefetra-b-v-cefetra-feedservice-b-v

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries21 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 Cefetra / Cefetra Feed Service