Elbegarten GmbH

What Elbegarten GmbH does

Elbegarten GmbH is a family-owned wholesale distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables based in Glückstadt and Hamburg, Germany, serving commercial customers across Northern Germany and Denmark. The company was re-established in 2013 when the siblings Silke, Kai, and Jörn Hauschildt separated the business from a prior Konzern structure, returning it to independent family ownership. Its operational lineage traces to the 1966 founding of Reimer Hauschildt and a 1999 Producer Organization that bundled roughly 100 regional North German growers. The company operates with approximately 110 employees across two wholly-owned subsidiaries — Elbe Transport & Logistik GmbH (logistics) and Elbe Business Service GmbH & Co. KG (shared services) — both formed in 2013.

The core offering is daily B2B wholesale delivery of fresh produce, with a portfolio of more than 450 SKUs covering stone fruit, berries, citrus, exotics, brassicas, salads, herbs, mushrooms, potatoes, legumes, and specialty items such as edible flowers and cress. Pricing is set at the daily market rate valid on the day of delivery, with no fixed public contracts disclosed. Operations are anchored by 6,300 sqm of warehouse and cold-storage capacity at the Glückstadt headquarters and a Hamburg Großmarkt sales point, supported by an in-house transport fleet and external carriers. Distribution is direct to customers in the food and hospitality industry — wholesalers, retailers, caterers, weekly market vendors, ship outfitters, and food retail chains — via a 12-person sales/purchasing team and a four-person operations team offering 24-hour availability.

The technology stack is non-proprietary and limited to standard logistics and inventory management systems; no AI/ML, APIs, or platform integrations are described. Quality credentials include IFS Food certification (valid until August 2025) and EU organic certification (valid until January 2026). Sustainability investments include photovoltaic installations at both locations, generating 750,000 kWh annually and covering approximately 25% of electricity needs. Marketing and customer acquisition are conducted via direct field sales, the company website, and light social media presence on Facebook and Instagram, with no consumer-facing campaigns.

Name

Elbegarten GmbH

Legal name

Elbegarten GmbH

Website

https://elbegarten.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Elbegarten GmbH is a family-owned wholesale distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables serving B2B food and hospitality customers across Northern Germany and Denmark. It operates from Glückstadt and Hamburg with approximately 110 employees and 450+ SKUs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh Produce Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (42448), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Fresh Produce Wholesale (Fruit & Vegetables) (AFAIABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fresh Produce Distribution (CRAOABAB), Foodservice / HORECA Produce Wholesale (AFAIACAI), Import / Export Produce Wholesale (Cross-Border Trading) (AFAIACAH)

Keywords

• Fresh produce wholesale
• Fruit vegetable distribution
• B2B food distribution
• Wholesale grocery supply
• Produce logistics services

Headquarters

HQ city

Glückstadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fresh Produce Wholesale: The company generates revenue through the wholesale distribution of fruits and vegetables to commercial customers. Products are sourced from certified regional and European partners depending on seasonality, and supplied to customers in northern Germany and Denmark. Revenue is derived from product sales with pricing based on daily market rates at time of delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Elbegarten GmbH is a B2B wholesale distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables, supplying commercial customers in the food and hospitality industry across northern Germany and Denmark. The company sources produce from certified regional and European producers as well as 15 import countries, and delivers a portfolio of 450+ products to wholesalers, retailers, caterers, weekly-market vendors, ship outfitters, and food retail chains on a daily basis.

Product overview

Elbegarten GmbH is a family-owned wholesale company supplying fresh fruit and vegetables to food industry and gastronomy customers across Northern Germany and Denmark. The company markets over 450 products sourced from regional and European origins as well as import countries. The product portfolio comprises a comprehensive range of produce categories including: stone fruit (Steinobst), core fruit (Kernobst), berries (Beerenfrüchte), citrus fruits (Zitrusfrüchte), exotic fruits (Exoten), brassica vegetables (Kohlgemüse), fruit vegetables (Fruchtgemüse), table potatoes (Speisekartoffeln), melons (Melonen), nuts & dried fruits (Nüsse & Trockenfrüchte), baby salads (Babysalate), salads (Salate), specialties (Spezialitäten), herbs (Kräuter), pumpkins (Kürbisse), mushrooms (Pilze), cress (Kresse), sprouts (Sprossen), legumes (Hülsenfrüchte), stem vegetables (Stängelgemüse), root-tuber vegetables (Wurzel-Knollengemüse), and allium vegetables (Zwiebelgewächse). The company provides services including 24-hour availability, direct delivery from producers, custom packaging, flexible ordering times, short-term delivery, and customer-specific planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stone Fruit (Steinobst) Wholesale supply of stone fruit including apricots, nectarines, peaches, and plums, sourced from certified regional and European partners and supplied to commercial customers in northern Germany and Denmark.
• Core Fruit (Kernobst) Wholesale supply of core fruit including apples, pears, dates, grenadilla, maracuja, and grapes for commercial buyers in food wholesale, retail, and foodservice.
• Berries (Beerenfrüchte) Wholesale supply of berries including blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, red currants, and kiwi for commercial customers.
• Citrus Fruits (Zitrusfrüchte) Wholesale supply of citrus including grapefruit, limes, oranges, lemons, Amalfi lemons, and clementines to commercial customers.
• Exotic Fruits (Exoten) Wholesale supply of exotic fruits including pineapple, avocados, bananas, carambole, chayote, fresh figs, pomegranate, persimmon, kumquat, mango, mangosteen, papaya, passion fruit, physalis, red/white pitahaya, and fingermail for commercial buyers.
• Brassica Vegetables (Kohlgemüse) Wholesale supply of brassica vegetables including artichokes, cauliflower, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, red cabbage, pointed cabbage, white cabbage, and savoy cabbage.
• Fruit Vegetables (Fruchtgemüse) Wholesale supply of fruit vegetables including eggplants, peppers, peperoni, tomatoes (multiple varieties), zucchini, cucumbers, chili, jalapeno, okra, and corn.
• Table Potatoes (Speisekartoffeln) Wholesale supply of table potatoes including drilling potatoes, grill potatoes, and varieties such as Annabelle, Belana, Galatina, Gunda, Laura, blue potatoes, and sweet potatoes.
• Melons (Melonen) Wholesale supply of melon varieties including cantaloupe, Galia, honeydew, and watermelon for commercial customers.
• Nuts and Dried Fruits (Nüsse & Trockenfrüchte) Wholesale supply of nuts and dried fruits including peanuts, chestnuts, dried dates, hazelnuts, and meal figs for commercial customers.
• Baby Salads (Babysalate) Wholesale supply of baby salad varieties including baby arugula, baby spinach, bull's blood, red chard, red Mizuna, salad mix, and wild herb salad for foodservice and retail buyers.
• Salads (Salate) Wholesale supply of salad varieties including Belgian endive, bok choy, lamb's lettuce, arugula, spinach, oak leaf, escarole, frisée, head lettuce, dandelion, Lollo Bionda/Rosso, mini romaine, mixed salad, radicchio, romaine, and Trivisano.
• Specialties (Spezialitäten) Wholesale supply of specialty products including mix blossoms and edible flowers for premium foodservice and retail customers.
• Fresh Herbs (Kräuter) Wholesale supply of fresh herbs including agretti, basil, savory, borage, watercress, curry herb, dill, tarragon, green sauce herbs, chervil, coriander, lavender, lemongrass, lovage, bay leaf, marjoram, lemon balm, mint, oregano, parsley, pimpernel, rosemary, sage, salicornia, sorrel, chives, sea asparagus, thyme, woodruff, and lemon verbena.
• Pumpkins (Kürbisse) Wholesale supply of pumpkin varieties including butternut and Hokkaido for commercial customers.
• Mushrooms (Pilze) Wholesale supply of mushroom varieties including oyster mushrooms, beech mushrooms, button mushrooms, pink mushrooms, specialty mushroom assortments, king oyster mushrooms, lemon oyster mushrooms, portobello, giant mushrooms, and shiitake.
• Cress (Kresse) Wholesale supply of cress varieties including affilla cress, daikon cress, pea cress, garlic cress, garden cress, red/mix cress with lid, sakura mix, salicornia cress, red/mix shiso, and tahoon cress for commercial customers.
• Sprouts (Sprossen) Wholesale supply of sprout varieties including alfalfa sprouts, spruce sprouts, Mung bean sprouts, leek sprouts, radish sprouts, beetroot sprouts, loose soy, and vita sprout mixture.
• Legumes (Hülsenfrüchte) Wholesale supply of legumes including peas, green beans, large beans, Kenya beans, snap beans, and sugar snap peas.
• Stem Vegetables (Stängelgemüse) Wholesale supply of stem vegetables including asparagus (green/white, Thai, wild), BIMI asparagus-broccoli, rhubarb, stalk celery, fennel, chard, and soup vegetables.
• Root and Tuber Vegetables (Wurzel-Knollengemüse) Wholesale supply of root and tuber vegetables including beets, navets, radishes, rainbow radishes, celery, ginger, carrots, butter beans, ice poles, turnips, topinambur, horseradish, parsnips, and parsley roots.
• Allium Vegetables (Zwiebelgewächse) Wholesale supply of allium vegetables including wild garlic, shallots, garlic, onions, spring onions, and leek.
• Daily B2B Wholesale Distribution and Delivery Service 24/7 ordering and direct delivery (frei Bordsteinkante) of fresh produce to commercial customers across northern Germany and Denmark, using own refrigerated fleet supplemented by external transport partners, with customized packaging, customer-specific cultivation/quantity/assortment planning, and short-term supply capability.

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Erzeugerorganisation (Producer Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Producer organization founded in 1999 bundling approximately 100 members in the northern German region. Important step for combining goods and standardizing the overall brand presentation. This partnership provides consistent sourcing from regional producers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Landgard eG: German producer cooperative for flowers and fresh produce, serving retail and foodservice customers across Germany. Landgard is the closest direct peer to Elbegarten as both aggregate regional producer volumes and supply fresh fruits and vegetables to German retail and HORECA customers with similar B2B wholesale economics.
• FrischeParadies GmbH: Premium fresh produce distributor serving top-end restaurants, hotels, and delicatessens in Germany. Comparable to Elbegarten in B2B fresh produce wholesale with strong focus on quality, certified sourcing, and field-fresh delivery to gastronomy customers.

Broad incumbents

• Fresh Del Monte Produce: Global producer, distributor, and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables with significant European distribution. Comparable in fresh produce wholesale activity and product portfolio breadth, but operates at global rather than regional scale.
• METRO AG: Germany-headquartered wholesale and food service distribution group with cash-and-carry operations serving HoReCa and small businesses across Europe. METRO's food service wholesale channel is a comparable buyer-and-competitor dynamic in the same Northern European foodservice market Elbegarten serves.
• BayWa AG: Munich-based group with significant agricultural wholesale and produce trading operations in Germany and globally. BayWa is a broader incumbent whose fresh produce segment overlaps directly with Elbegarten's sourcing and distribution activities.
• REWE Group: Major German food retail and wholesale group operating supermarkets, discount stores, and the REWE/Zentrale fresh produce procurement network. Comparable to Elbegarten as a large buyer and competitor in the German fresh produce wholesale channel.
• Greenyard NV: Belgian-headquartered European market leader in fresh, frozen, and prepared fruit and vegetables serving major European retailers. Greenyard operates at pan-European scale with B2B wholesale and supplier relationships similar in nature to Elbegarten's, though at materially larger scope.
• Total Produce / Dole plc: International fresh produce group formed through the merger of Total Produce and Dole, with extensive European sourcing and distribution operations. Comparable in product mix and B2B wholesale model, though at significantly larger scale and global reach.
• EDEKA Zentral-Handelsgesellschaft: Germany's largest food retail group with extensive fresh produce procurement operations and own wholesale arms supplying independent retailers. EDEKA sits both as a potential large customer of Elbegarten and as a vertically integrated wholesale competitor in the same German fresh produce market.

Regional players

• Süderburg & Dreyer GmbH: Hamburg-based regional fresh produce wholesaler operating from the same Hamburg Großmarkt ecosystem that hosts Elbegarten. Directly comparable as a competing regional B2B fresh produce distributor in the same Northern Germany market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ElbegartenGmbH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elbegarten-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Elbegarten GmbH