Naturkost Erfurt GmbH

What Naturkost Erfurt GmbH does

Naturkost Erfurt GmbH is a privately held regional organic and natural-food wholesale distributor headquartered in Erfurt, Thuringia, with a second logistics hub in Schkeuditz (Saxony). The company supplies more than 12,000 ecological articles — including approximately 2,000 fresh products — six days per week to organic retailers, farm shops, organic box delivery services, gastronomy (cafés, hotels, catering, restaurants, street food), communal catering, school fruit programs, and unpacked/zero-waste stores across Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Northern Bavaria. Its assortment is differentiated by seven exclusive own-brand sub-brands: Die Feine Linie (dairy), Heisszeit (frozen pizza), Lenz Naturpflege (natural cosmetics), Sivisio (Spanish organic produce), Biotropic (dried fruits and nuts), VON (regional premium), and Goldgläschen (deposit-jar goods). The company's technology stack is limited to a proprietary B2B e-commerce ordering platform, NKE-Shop (nkerfurtshop.de), and integration with PC Gärtner retail shop systems using Biovista-based category management.

The business model is regional B2B wholesale distribution with a sales-led go-to-market executed through field sales representatives and an inside-sales customer advisory team. Revenue is generated from product sales at quote-based wholesale pricing, with tiered pricing structures offered to delivery services and volume-based differentiation across customer segments. Customer acquisition is gated by a contact form requiring business-type selection. The company is a member of BNN (Bundesverband Naturkost Naturwaren), the Die Regionalen cooperative of regional organic wholesalers, and KorBio, and holds organic certifications under Bioland, Demeter, and the EU Bio Certificate (DE-ÖKO-039). It is led by Managing Director Thomas Hölscher, supported by heads of field sales, sales, warehouse, and logistics, with a documented headcount of approximately 75 employees across logistics, warehouse, purchasing, sales, IT, and accounting.

Name

Naturkost Erfurt GmbH

Legal name

Naturkost Erfurt GmbH

Website

https://naturkost-erfurt.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Naturkost Erfurt GmbH is a regional German organic and natural-food wholesaler operating two logistics hubs from Erfurt and Schkeuditz, supplying 12,000+ articles to organic retailers, farm shops, delivery services, gastronomy, and communal catering across four central German states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Food Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers (4244), Packaged Frozen Food Merchant Wholesalers (42442), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural, Organic & Health Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organic & Natural Packaged Grocery Wholesale (AFAIAJAB), Organic & Natural Foodservice & Restaurant Supply Wholesale (AFAIAJAJ), Organic Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Wholesale (AFAIAJAF)

Keywords

• Organic wholesale distribution
• Natural foods supply
• Regional bio-grocer
• Fresh produce delivery
• Organic retail supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Erfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale distribution of organic/natural food products (over 12,000 articles including ~2,000 fresh products) to organic retailers, farm shops, delivery services, gastronomy, and communal catering. Revenue generated through product sales with tiered pricing for different customer segments.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Naturkost Erfurt GmbH is a regional wholesale distributor of organic/natural food products operating as a full-range bio-grocer with over 12,000 articles (including approximately 2,000 fresh products). The company supplies organic retailers, farm shops, delivery services, gastronomy, communal catering, and unpacked/zero-waste stores in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Northern Bavaria via two modern logistics centers in Erfurt and Schkeuditz, delivering six days per week. It complements its assortment with seven exclusive own-brand sub-brands spanning dairy, frozen pizza, natural cosmetics, Spanish produce, dried fruits/nuts, regional premium goods, and deposit-jar products.

Product overview

Naturkost Erfurt GmbH is a regional organic wholesale distributor operating as a single unified offering — a full-range bio wholesale service — supported by a proprietary online ordering platform (NKE-Shop). The portfolio is anchored by over 12,000 ecological articles (including ~2,000 fresh products) across retail, gastronomy, delivery services, and communal catering. Seven own-brand sub-brands extend the portfolio: Die Feine Linie (dairy), Heisszeit (frozen pizza), Lenz Naturpflege (natural cosmetics), Sivisio (Spanish organic produce), Biotropic (dried fruits and nuts globally), VON (regional premium produce), and Goldgläschen (deposit-jar products). The offering is delivered via two modern logistics hubs (Erfurt and Schkeuditz) across Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and northern Bavaria, six days a week.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Die Feine Linie: Exclusive brand for dairy products - a cooperative project by traditional German dairies offering an exclusive private label brand in the dairy sector.
• Heisszeit
• Lenz Naturpflege
• Sivisio
• Biotropic
• VON
• Goldgläschen

Products and services

• Die Feine Linie Exclusive private label dairy brand developed as a cooperative project among traditional German dairies, offering the specialty bio-trade an exclusive dairy assortment.
• Heisszeit Own-brand Italian-style organic frozen pizza with crispy-thin dough, natural tomato sauce, and mozzarella, sold without unnecessary outer packaging.
• Lenz Naturpflege Own-brand vegan COSMOS ORGANIC certified natural cosmetics line using wild herbs and plants, designed as an uncomplicated care series for the whole family.
• Sivisio Own-brand organic fruit and vegetable line sourced from Spanish farmers certified under strict ecovalia standards, ensuring bio-social production and fair working conditions.
• Biotropic Own-brand international range of dried fruits, nuts, and fruit conserves sourced from organic farming partners who handle further processing of their own produce, supporting global producer livelihoods.
• VON Own-brand regional premium product line highlighting individual producers with modern product design that signals regional origin and supports regional-competence positioning.
• Goldgläschen Own-brand organic quality products packaged in 250 g or 500 g yogurt deposit jars, partly from regional producers; jars cleaned and filled by Stiftung Finneck in Sömmerda. Range covers nuts, seeds, legumes, dried fruits, and small sweets.
• NKE-Shop Proprietary online ordering platform that enables existing wholesale customers in the bio trade, farm shops, delivery services, and gastronomy sectors to browse the full range of over 12,000 organic articles and place orders.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BNN e.V. (Bundesverband Naturkost Naturwaren)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolitical and economic interest representation of the organic/natural food industry. Naturkost Erfurt is an active member participating in industry advocacy and networking.
• Die Regionalen GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationwide network of regional organic/natural food wholesalers. Naturkost Erfurt participates as a regional partner in this cooperative network.
• KorBio GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation in purchasing and logistics for efficient goods flows among organic wholesalers.
• Bildungsnetzwerk Naturkost GmbH (BINAKO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational program for the organic/natural food industry, providing training and professional development resources.
• Naturkost Elkershausen GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic wholesale partner serving Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hessen, and Ostwestfalen-Lippe.
• Naturkost Schramm Import/Export GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImport partner for fresh organic produce, supplementing domestic supply.
• Ökokiste e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterest representation for organic box subscription services in Germany. Naturkost Erfurt is a member.
• Brudertier Initiative (BID)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneer since 2015 in ethical brother animal upbringing. Supports ethical livestock farming in organic agriculture. Naturkost Erfurt supports this initiative.
• Ökologische Tierzucht (ÖTZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreeding initiative where no male young animals need to die. Founded by Bioland and Demeter farming associations. Naturkost Erfurt supports this ethical breeding initiative.
• GrenzenlosBiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign showcasing international partner farms and production transparency, particularly for winter fruit supply when regional options are limited.
• ÖkostattEgominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMovement for sustainable shopping. Many organic shops, manufacturers, and producers are part of this movement demonstrating that shopping at organic stores is lived sustainability.
• LABOR NO MORE! (Ökosaatgutinitiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeed sovereignty initiative supporting farmers to grow open-pollinated seed varieties and ensuring market for harvest even when appearance falls outside commercial standards.
• DemeterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiodynamic farming association. Partner network for organic/demeter product sourcing.
• BiolandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic farming association. Partner network for organic product sourcing.
• NaturlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic farming association. Partner network for organic product sourcing.
• GäaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic farming association. Partner network for organic product sourcing.
• Thüringer Ökoherz e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella organization of the Thuringian organic industry. Regional network for organic sector development.
• Ernährungsnetzwerke Dresden und LeipzigminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitizen engagement for food system transformation. Regional food councils participating in sustainable food initiatives.
• AK-Mehrweg e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation promoting reusable packaging systems and waste reduction in the organic industry.
• Ökotrend Projekt und Marketing GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform for innovative projects in the Thuringian food industry.
• BiotropicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organic produce partner supplying dried fruits, nuts, and fruit preserves. Naturkost Erfurt distributes their products as an exclusive brand.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Dennree GmbH: Germany's largest organic food wholesaler, headquartered in Forchheim, Bavaria. Directly comparable business model — full-range bio wholesale to organic retail, gastronomy, and catering — but operates at national scale across Germany, Austria, and other markets, making it a much larger incumbent in the same category as Naturkost Erfurt.
• Alnatura Produktions- und Handels GmbH: Major German organic retail brand and chain with its own wholesale supply operations. Comparable in operating across the German organic value chain, but functions primarily as a retailer with proprietary organic brand portfolio rather than as a pure B2B wholesaler.

Direct peers

• Naturkost Elkershausen GmbH: Regional organic wholesaler based in southern Lower Saxony, serving Hessen, Bremen, Ostwestfalen-Lippe, and Lower Saxony. Listed as a partner of Naturkost Erfurt, indicating direct operational comparability — same full-range bio wholesale model in an adjacent German region.
• Weiling GmbH: Regional organic wholesaler based in Coesfeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, serving organic retail, gastronomy, and catering in western Germany. Closest direct comparable to Naturkost Erfurt — same full-range bio wholesale model, similar scale, similar service proposition, but operating in a different geographic region.
• Grell Naturkost GmbH & Co. KG: Organic wholesaler based in Lower Saxony serving north-western Germany, member of the Die Regionalen cooperative. Same business model and customer segments as Naturkost Erfurt — organic retail, gastronomy, and natural-foods retail supply.
• Bodan Großhandel für Naturkost GmbH: Regional organic wholesaler based in the Lake Constance (Bodensee) area, member of the Die Regionalen network alongside Naturkost Erfurt. Same full-range bio distribution model serving organic retail and gastronomy in southern Germany.
• Terra Naturkost Handels GmbH: Regional organic wholesaler serving northern Germany, also member of the Die Regionalen network. Directly comparable model — full-range bio distribution to organic retail and gastronomy — but covering a different German region.

Others

• Ökokiste e.V. German industry association for organic box subscription delivery services. Naturkost Erfurt is a member and serves Ökokiste-style delivery services as a B2B customer. Comparable ecosystem participant linking organic wholesalers to subscription-based home delivery.
• Biotropic GmbH: International organic producer/importer of tropical fruits, nuts, and dried fruits, with whom Naturkost Erfurt operates an exclusive distribution brand (Biotropic). Comparable as an organic supply-chain participant in the German market; upstream rather than directly competing.

Regional players

• Naturkost Schramm Import/Export GmbH: Specialized organic importer and wholesaler of fresh produce, listed as an import partner supplying Naturkost Erfurt with fresh organic product. Comparable in being an organic-specialized wholesaler in Germany, but more focused on international sourcing than full-line distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/naturkosterfurt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/naturkost-erfurt-gmbh

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 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 Naturkost Erfurt GmbH