Landwirtschaftsverlag Hessen GmbH

What Landwirtschaftsverlag Hessen GmbH does

Landwirtschaftsverlag Hessen GmbH is a privately held German specialty publishing company headquartered in Friedrichsdorf (Taunusstr. 151), with operations dating back to the 1947 launch of the agricultural weekly 'Hessenbauer' by the Hessischer Bauernverband and formally incorporated as 'Der Hessenbauer GmbH' in 1951. The company is led by managing directors (Geschäftsführer) Josef Benner and Björn Schöbel, and holds a majority stake in Mainz-based subsidiary Fachverlag Dr. Fraund GmbH, acquired in 1987.

The core product portfolio comprises four trade publications spanning three vertical niches: LW Hessen Rheinland-Pfalz (the flagship agricultural weekly reaching nearly all farming operations in Hessen, Rheinhessen, and the Pfalz), das deutsche weinmagazin (a bi-weekly national wine trade journal holding the highest overregional circulation in German viticulture publishing), Wein+Markt (a monthly B2B magazine for wine trade decision-makers), and PFERDESPORT Journal (a monthly equestrian sport and breeding title serving as official organ for associations in Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, and Luxembourg). Each title has a companion website, and the group operates the Landmedia mail-order bookshop selling specialist books and non-book merchandise across wine, agriculture, and horses.

The business model is sales-led and built on subscription-based print distribution, single-copy newsstand sales, and transactional bookshop revenue, supplemented by association-driven bulk distribution. Marketing relies on the publications themselves plus a Facebook page and the publication websites. Technology is traditional publishing infrastructure layered with standard web analytics (Matomo) and OpenStreetMap for geographic data; there is no disclosed API, mobile app, or AI capability. Geographic focus is Hessen, Rheinhessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, and the Pfalz, with national reach via the wine titles.

Name

Landwirtschaftsverlag Hessen GmbH

Legal name

Landwirtschaftsverlag Hessen GmbH

Website

https://lv-hessen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Privately held German specialty trade publisher (founded 1951, headquartered in Friedrichsdorf) operating four magazines plus the Landmedia bookshop across agriculture, viticulture/wine trade, and equestrian sport verticals, serving farmers, winemakers, and breeders in Hessen, Rheinhessen, Pfalz and beyond.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Friedrichsdorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions and Sales: Revenue from specialized trade magazine subscriptions and single-copy sales of publications including LW Hessen, das deutsche weinmagazin, Wein+Markt, and PFERDESPORT Journal
2. Book Publishing: Sales of specialized books for winemakers, horse enthusiasts, and farmers through the Landmedia bookshop
3. Non-Book Products: Sale of various non-book products related to the specialized niches of wine, agriculture, and horses

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Landwirtschaftsverlag Hessen GmbH is a specialized trade publishing house that produces professional magazines and books for the agricultural, viticulture, and equestrian sports sectors in Germany. Its portfolio includes LW Hessen – Rheinland-Pfalz, das deutsche weinmagazin, Wein+Markt, and PFERDESPORT Journal, complemented by the Landmedia mail-order bookshop. The company also operates the subsidiary Fachverlag Dr. Fraund GmbH in Mainz, expanding its reach into horse breeding, equestrian sports, viticulture, and wine trade publishing.

Product overview

Landwirtschaftsverlag Hessen GmbH is a specialized publishing house operating multiple magazine titles across three core subject areas: agriculture (LW Hessen - Rheinland-Pfalz), wine (das deutsche weinmagazin and Wein+Markt), and equestrian sports (Pferdesport Journal). The company also operates the subsidiary Fachverlag Dr. Fraund GmbH in Mainz, which publishes several of these titles. The portfolio includes digital offerings alongside print products, plus the Landmedia book retail service. The publishing group has a presence in regional markets (Hessen, Rheinhessen, Pfalz) and national markets in Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Landmedia: Mail-order bookseller specializing in wine, agriculture, and horses

Products and services

• LW Hessen - Rheinland-Pfalz (Landwirtschaftliches Wochenblatt) Flagship weekly agricultural newspaper combining the LW Hessenbauer and LW Der Landbote regional editions. It is the primary information medium for agriculture and the agricultural industry in Hessen, Rheinhessen, and the Pfalz region, reaching nearly 100% of agricultural businesses in these areas.
• das deutsche weinmagazin Independent bi-weekly trade journal for viticulture and cellar management. It serves as the highest-circulation national trade journal for wine production and winery economics in Germany, covering self-marketers, cooperatives, wine and sparkling wine cellars, and wine trading companies.
• Wein+Markt Monthly economic magazine targeting decision-makers in wine trade, import, distribution, and marketing. It provides wine industry professionals with background knowledge for purchasing, assortment management, marketing, and distribution decisions.
• Pferdesport Journal Monthly specialized magazine for equestrian sports and horse breeding, serving competitive and recreational riders, breeders, and horse enthusiasts. It features tournament reports, club news, expert articles on law, health, and training, plus competition results and event calendars.
• Landmedia Mail-order book retailer operated by the publishing group, specializing in wine, agriculture, and horses. In addition to the group's own specialist books, it offers all books available in Germany and numerous non-book items in these subject areas.
• Fachbücher (Specialist Books) Specialist books for winemakers, horse enthusiasts, and farmers, rounding out the publishing group's portfolio alongside their magazines and digital offerings.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Fachverlag Dr. Fraund GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1987Landwirtschaftsverlag Hessen acquired majority shareholding (as principal shareholder) of Fachverlag Dr. Fraund GmbH in Mainz in 1987. This partnership expanded the publishing portfolio into horse breeding, equestrian sports, viticulture and wine trade. The subsidiary operates from Mainz and publishes PFERDESPORT Journal, das deutsche weinmagazin, and Wein+Markt.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Meininger Verlag: German publishing house specializing in wine industry publications including Der Deutsche Weinbau and Weinwirtschaft. Direct competitor in the wine trade publishing segment of the portfolio.
• topagrar: Major German agricultural trade magazine covering farming, livestock, and crop production. Closely comparable in editorial focus, business model, and target audience of professional farmers, with national reach.
• Reiter Revue International: Major German equestrian sport magazine covering riding, breeding, and horse care. Direct competitor in the equestrian trade publishing segment of the portfolio, with similar B2B subscription model.
• Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag (dlv): Largest German agricultural publishing house, operating trade magazines, books, and digital products for farmers and the agricultural industry. Directly comparable in the B2B agricultural trade publishing model and editorial focus.
• Eugen Ulmer Verlag: German publisher specializing in agricultural, horticultural, and nature books and magazines. Comparable in agricultural trade publishing with national reach and a sizable book portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Vogel Communications Group: German B2B media company operating trade magazines, digital platforms, and events across automotive, IT, and industrial sectors. Comparable in B2B trade publishing business model at greater scale and vertical breadth.
• dfv (Deutscher Fachverlag): Major German B2B media company publishing trade magazines across multiple industries including food, agriculture, and textiles. Broader portfolio than Landwirtschaftsverlag Hessen but overlapping in agricultural trade publishing.
• Haymarket Media: International specialist media company publishing trade magazines and B2B content across multiple verticals. Comparable in operating model for niche B2B trade publications and association-led distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LandwirtschaftsverlagHessen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/landwirtschaftsverlag-hessen-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Landwirtschaftsverlag Hessen GmbH