Rathgeb Bio - eng.

What Rathgeb Bio - eng. does

Rathgeb BioLog AG is a Swiss organic vegetable farming company headquartered in Unterstammheim, Canton Zurich, operating under Bio-Suisse 'Knospe' certification continuously since 1994. The company cultivates more than 60 varieties of organic produce — including fresh field vegetables, year-round greenhouse vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants), storage vegetables with carrots as the flagship product (30 million units produced annually), organic potatoes (40+ years of cultivation experience), and processing vegetables — across four operating sites in Northern and Eastern Switzerland: Unterstammheim (HQ, greenhouses, packing, storage), Ellikon an der Thur (greenhouse, joint with Kellermann Gemüsekulturen), Basadingen (arable land with a new 5,000 m³ irrigation reservoir), and Tägerwilen (greenhouse with wood heating that also supplies Biotta AG).

The technical stack combines biological pest control (predatory mites, hoverflies, bumblebee pollination), mechanical and laser weed control, complete cold-chain logistics with vegetable-specific temperature regimes (tomatoes above 16°C, leaf lettuce near freezing), reed-filter wastewater treatment for carrot wash water, and renewable energy infrastructure including a 7,200 m² photovoltaic array generating 1.3 GWh annually and wood heating systems saving an estimated 2,800 tons of CO₂ per year. Production follows the full process — sowing, cultivation, harvesting, washing, packing, and temperature-controlled transport — with the Personalhaus Rietweg staff facility (completed February 2018, Minergie-certified) accommodating up to 50 seasonal workers.

Revenue is generated primarily through wholesale supply to major Swiss retailers, anchored by a 25+ year partnership with Coop under the Naturaplan label, supplemented by sales to food processors (Schöni Swissfresh AG for sauerkraut cabbage, 20+ years; pea and potato processors), direct-to-consumer channels (Gemüse-Abo subscription, Grüzemarkt Winterthur market stand), and surplus donations to Caritas. Distribution is exclusively domestic (Switzerland). The company is privately held by the Rathgeb family, with Christian Rathgeb serving as Owner/Managing Director; a 2023 strategic partnership with Kellermann Gemüsekulturen and ongoing greenhouse expansion at Ellikon an der Thur (operational 2025) signal continued capacity growth.

Name

Rathgeb Bio - eng.

Legal name

Rathgeb BioLog AG

Website

https://rathgeb.bio

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rathgeb BioLog AG is a family-owned Swiss organic vegetable producer (Bio-Suisse certified since 1994) cultivating 60+ vegetable varieties across Northern Switzerland and supplying primarily Coop, alongside food processors and direct-to-consumer subscriptions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic vegetable farming

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (11121), Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover (111419)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Greenhouse Vegetable Production (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leafy Greens) (AFAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solanaceous Vegetable Farming (Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant) (AFAGADAE), Brassica & Cole Crop Farming (Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts) (AFAGADAB)

Keywords

• Organic vegetable farming
• Fresh produce supply
• Bio-Suisse certified agriculture
• Organic potato cultivation
• Greenhouse vegetable production

Headquarters

HQ city

Unterstammheim

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fresh Vegetable Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling over 60 varieties of fresh organic vegetables directly to retailers, particularly Coop, and through market stands to end consumers. Fresh vegetables are harvested to order when possible and delivered same day.
2. Potato Sales: Significant revenue from potato cultivation and sales, including early potatoes, storage potatoes, and processing potatoes for various culinary uses.
3. Processing Vegetables: Supply of vegetables for further processing, including Einschneidekabis for sauerkraut production (Schöni Swissfresh AG), peas for freezing/canning, and potatoes for processed products like rösti.
4. Vegetable Subscription (Gemüse-Abo): Direct-to-consumer subscription model providing regular deliveries of seasonal organic vegetables to end customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rathgeb Bio grows and supplies over 60 varieties of organic vegetables and potatoes in Switzerland under Bio-Suisse certification held since 1994. Operations cover the full value chain from sowing, greenhouse and field cultivation, harvesting, cold-chain storage, washing, and packing through to delivery to Swiss retailers (notably Coop under the Naturaplan label), food processors (e.g., Schöni Swissfresh AG for sauerkraut cabbage), and direct consumers via a vegetable subscription box (Gemüse-Abo) and market stands.

Product overview

Rathgeb Bio is an organic farming operation in Unterstammheim, Switzerland, specializing in the cultivation of over 60 varieties of organic vegetables and potatoes. The company operates under Bio-Suisse certification since 1994, offering a comprehensive portfolio that includes fresh field vegetables (salads, cauliflower, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, fennel, zucchini), year-round greenhouse vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants), storage vegetables (carrots as the flagship product, onions, beets, celeriac, sweet potatoes), and organic potatoes. Additionally, they provide processing vegetables for sauerkraut, frozen vegetables, and convenience products. The company also offers a vegetable subscription service and publishes a seasonal calendar to help consumers access fresh, local organic produce. Operations span from sowing and planting through harvesting, storage, washing, packaging, and direct sales, with a focus on sustainable practices including solar energy production, biodiversity projects, and biological pest control.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Organic Bio Vegetables (Biogemüse) Over 60 varieties of organic vegetables grown in Switzerland according to Bio-Suisse guidelines, including fresh field vegetables, greenhouse vegetables, storage vegetables, and processing vegetables for retail and industrial customers.
• Fresh Vegetables (Frischgemüse) Field-grown fresh vegetables including cauliflower, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, fennel, green and colorful leaf lettuces, and zucchini, harvested daily for optimal freshness.
• Greenhouse Vegetables (Gewächshausgemüse) Year-round greenhouse vegetables including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and eggplants grown in natural soil in unheated greenhouses during winter.
• Storage Vegetables (Lagergemüse) Storage vegetables with extended shelf life including carrots (most important product, 30 million annually), onions, beets (Randen), celeriac, and sweet potatoes.
• Organic Potatoes (Biokartoffeln) Organic potatoes for fresh consumption and processing, including early potatoes, storage potatoes, and processing varieties for different culinary uses.
• Processing Vegetables (Verarbeitungsgemüse) Vegetables processed for various applications including sauerkraut cabbage (Einschneidekabis), peas for freezing/canning, and potatoes for rösti or mashed potato products, supplied to processors such as Schöni Swissfresh AG.
• Vegetable Subscription (Gemüse-Abo)

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 million carrots leave the facility annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kellermann GemüsekulturencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Partnership established in April 2023 between Rathgeb Bio and Kellermann Gemüsekulturen to jointly develop sustainable vegetable production in Switzerland. The collaboration combines complementary expertise in organic farming and vegetable processing, with plans to expand greenhouse facilities at Ellikon an der Thur using sustainable energy from 2025.
• Biotta AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring organic juice manufacturer with whom Rathgeb shares a wood heating system at the Tägerwilen greenhouse location. The joint energy project demonstrates sustainable resource sharing between the two Bio-pioneer companies.
• Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership focused on beneficial organism promotion projects, specifically studying ways to enhance natural pest control through nectar plants that attract predatory insects like hoverflies and lacewings.
• Bio-SuissecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella organization for Swiss organic farming that grants the 'Knospe' (Bud) certification. Rathgeb has been certified since 1994, with Bio-Suisse providing standards that exceed national and European regulations.
• Energieagentur der Wirtschaft (EnAW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy agency partnership since 2003 focused on sustainability initiatives, helping Rathgeb minimize energy consumption particularly in greenhouse operations.
• Schöni Swissfresh AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing customer relationship spanning over 20 years for biological Einschneidekabis (sauerkraut cabbage) production. Rathgeb is one of the farmers supplying cabbage for Schöni's Swissfresh sauerkraut products.
• Strickhof (Agricultural College)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural education institution providing student internships and hosting diploma projects at Rathgeb, including studies on irrigation management, regenerative agriculture, and nutrient management.
• Bewässerungs-Genossenschaft Basadingen und UmgebungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrrigation cooperative partnership for constructing and managing the 5,000 m³ water storage reservoir at Schlattegg to optimize crop irrigation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• L'Ortolanda: Italian organic greenhouse vegetable producer (tomatoes, peppers) supplying European retailers. Comparable in greenhouse organic vegetable specialization, but based in Italy with European rather than Swiss distribution focus.
• Weiling GmbH: Largest German organic wholesaler distributing certified organic produce to ~1,400 specialist retailers. Comparable organic-producer-to-retail value chain model to Rathgeb's Coop/Bio-Suisse flow, but operating in Germany at substantially larger scale.
• Growers United: Dutch cooperative of greenhouse vegetable growers producing organic and conventional tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. Comparable in greenhouse vegetable production and cooperative producer model, but operates in the Netherlands at significantly larger scale.
• Naturkost Erzeugergemeinschaft (NEG): German organic producer cooperative that aggregates and markets organic fruit and vegetables from member farms to German retail. Operates a similar farm-to-retail organic supply model to Rathgeb, but focused on the German market.

Broad incumbents

• fenaco Genossenschaft: Switzerland's largest agribusiness cooperative, controlling LANDI retail, Volg, UFA, and Agrar. Operates across crop inputs, grain trading, retail, and food processing — comparable as a Swiss agricultural value chain incumbent but far broader than Rathgeb's specialized organic vegetable focus.
• Dennree GmbH: Germany's largest organic wholesaler (parent of Denn's Biomarkt) sourcing organic produce across categories for distribution to specialist retailers. Comparable organic-producer-to-retail aggregator model, but with a much broader organic assortment and German footprint.
• Migros Industrie (M-Bio / M-Provenance): Migros's industrial arm produces and sources its M-Bio organic private-label range, including fresh produce. Comparable as a major Swiss organic retailer/producer but operates at national scale across many product categories, not specialized vegetables.

Emerging players

• Biotta AG: Swiss organic juice manufacturer based near Tägerwilen that actually receives thermal energy from Rathgeb's biomass heating system. Comparable as a Swiss Bio-Suisse certified food producer with shared sustainability infrastructure and overlapping organic sourcing philosophy.

Direct peers

• Biogros: Luxembourg-based organic wholesaler sourcing directly from organic producers for distribution to specialty retailers. Comparable organic producer-to-retail supply chain model to Rathgeb, though operating at smaller scale and focused on the Luxembourg/Belgian market.
• Biofarm Genossenschaft: Swiss cooperative of organic producers marketing Bio-Suisse certified vegetables, fruits, and grains through Swiss retail and specialty channels. Highly comparable in organic certification, Swiss retail distribution model, and producer-cooperative ethos.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rathgebbio

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Rathgeb Bio - eng.