SOLANA Group

What SOLANA Group does

Solana Group is a privately held, family-owned German potato breeding and seed potato company headquartered in Hamburg, founded in 1905 (formally as Saatzucht von Kameke-Streckenthin) and currently led by fourth-generation managing partner Leo von Kameke. The company operates two independent breeding programs with proprietary genetic pools, supported by dedicated research teams and breeding stations in Germany (Windeby, Ranzin) and the Netherlands (Emmeloord), producing a portfolio of more than 40 registered potato varieties spanning table, French fry, chip, starch, baby, and organic segments, including heritage brands such as Granola (registered 1975, Germany's most-grown variety 1982–1994) and newer releases such as Edison (requiring up to 25% less nitrogen than standard French fry varieties).

The business is vertically integrated across the full value chain: research and breeding, contract multiplication on certified farms in healthy seed potato zones in northern Germany, processing and storage at facilities including the 15,000+ tonne center in Züssow and the 7,000 tonne Solana Logistica warehouse in Ukraine, and international distribution via wholly-owned subsidiaries in 11 countries (Germany, Netherlands, France, Poland, Romania, UK, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Latin America) supplemented by sales partners in 20+ additional markets. Customer segments include potato farmers and multipliers (primary), food processors (French fry, chip, starch, dehydrated), and organic farmers.

Solana generates revenue through the production and sale of high-quality seed potatoes to farmers and multipliers, licensing of proprietary varieties for multiplication and distribution, own agricultural production for food and starch markets, and professional storage and logistics services. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales with direct consulting on variety selection and cultivation through regional contact persons. The group is family-owned with no external institutional investors or public listing; legal entities include Solana GmbH, Solana Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, and Solana Research GmbH.

Name

SOLANA Group

Legal name

Solana Group (comprising Solana GmbH, Solana Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, and Solana Research GmbH)

Website

https://solana-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Solana Group is a family-owned German potato breeder and seed potato producer founded in 1905, operating two independent breeding programs and distributing 40+ proprietary varieties through 11 subsidiaries across Europe, Turkey, Ukraine, and Latin America to farmers, food processors, and organic growers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Seed Potato Production

NAICS

Potato Farming (111211)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Seed Production & Multiplication (Contract Growing, Foundation/Certified Seed) (AFABAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Seed Distribution & Wholesale (Channel Sales) (AFAGAIAM)

Keywords

• Seed potato production
• Potato breeding
• Agricultural genetics
• Vegetable seeds
• Crop cultivation

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Seed Potato Sales: Production and sale of high-quality seed potatoes (planting material) to farmers and multipliers across domestic and international markets.
2. Breeding and Licensing Royalties: Development of proprietary potato varieties with licensing arrangements for multiplication and distribution.
3. Agricultural Production: Own farming operations producing potatoes for food and starch markets.
4. Logistics and Storage Services: Professional storage and logistics services including Solana Logistica's 7,000 tonne warehouse in Ukraine.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SOLANA Group breeds and produces seed potatoes through two independent breeding programs, offering more than 40 potato varieties globally. The company operates the full value chain from research and breeding through production to logistics, supplying farmers, multipliers, food processors, and trading partners across more than 11 countries via a structure of regional subsidiaries.

Product overview

Solana Group is an international potato breeding and seed potato company operating across the entire value chain from research and breeding to marketing and international logistics. The company offers a portfolio of over 40 potato varieties (including 4 YOU, Almonda, Amanda, Baby Lou, Beethoven, Belmonda, Carlos, Caruso, Coco, Connect, Dior, Edison, Gaya, Granola, Jonas, Jubilat, Jule, King Russet, Labella, Lea, Lilly, Ludmilla, Merle, Miranda, Natalia, Odysseus, Opal, Papageno, Prada, Princess, Queen Anne, Red Lady, Reza, Smilla, Sunshine, Tamino, Tarzan, Toscana, Ultra, Verdi, and Wanda) covering table potatoes, French fries, crisps, starch production, baby potatoes, and organic segments. The product portfolio spans varieties for different maturity groups (very early to late), skin colors (red, yellow), flesh colors (white, cream, light yellow, deep yellow), and utilization purposes. The company also provides quality seed potatoes through its own breeding stations and certified farms, supported by services including quality management, expert variety advice, and international logistics organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Solana Holland: Breeds and distributes potato varieties worldwide, based in Emmeloord, Netherlands
• Solana Germany
• Solana France
• Solana Polska
• Solana Romania
• Solana Seeds UK

Products and services

• Seed Potatoes

Quantifiable outcome

• Edison variety requires up to 25% less nitrogen than standard french fry varieties
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SEED (Spain)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 November 2023Distribution partnership for Spanish market. SEED takes over distribution of selected Solana varieties including Red Lady, Prada, Queen Anne (table potatoes) and Edison (french fry variety). Tobias Mette, Managing Director of Solana Group, stated 'We see great potential in the Spanish market for our variety portfolio and are very pleased to have gained a strong local partner in SEED, which has many years of experience and numerous contacts.' SEED Managing Director José Alberto Araújo noted varieties Prada and Edison are characterized by fast and large tuber growth suitable for the region.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves19 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• KWS Potato B.V. Potato breeding subsidiary of KWS SAAT, one of Europe's largest seed companies. Directly comparable to Solana in proprietary variety development and international licensing; competes in the same processing and table variety segments with deeper corporate R&D resources.
• Caithness Potatoes Ltd. UK-based potato breeder and seed producer developing varieties for UK and export markets. Comparable to Solana as a competing breeder in the UK/Ireland market (where Solana Seeds UK operates) and across European processing and table segments.
• Agrico: Dutch cooperative of potato growers breeding, multiplying, and trading seed potatoes worldwide. Directly comparable to Solana in proprietary variety development (e.g., Asterix, Markies), international subsidiary network, and segment coverage across table, fries, and crisps varieties.
• Böhm-Nordkartoffel Agrarproduktion GmbH & Co. KG: German potato breeder and seed producer offering varieties for table, fries, crisps, and starch uses with international licensing. Directly comparable to Solana in breeding heritage, segment breadth, and European B2B customer base.
• HZPC: World's largest private seed potato breeder and trader, headquartered in the Netherlands. Directly comparable to Solana as a developer of proprietary potato varieties with global distribution and integrated multiplication; both compete for the same European and export grower customers across table, processing, and starch segments.
• Europlant Pflanzenzucht: German-based potato breeding and seed trading company with extensive variety portfolio and global sales. Closely comparable to Solana as a competing German/European-origin breeder serving the same table, processing, and starch end-markets with proprietary genetics.
• Danespo A/S: Danish potato breeding and seed company focused on table, processing, and starch varieties with international reach. Directly comparable to Solana in breeding program structure and European customer base; Solana's minority stake in Danish peer Scanax further links the two ecosystems.
• NORIKA Nordring-Kartoffelzucht- und Vermehrungs-GmbH: German potato breeder with a strong portfolio of table, processing, and starch varieties and international licensing. Direct peer to Solana in core breeding activity, end-market coverage, and European-led export model.
• IPM Potato Group: International potato variety developer and marketer with operations in the Netherlands and UK. Comparable to Solana in breeding-driven model, multi-country presence, and focus on licensed varieties for processors and fresh markets.
• Meijer Potato: Dutch potato breeding company developing and licensing varieties globally across table, French fry, and crisps segments. Comparable to Solana in proprietary breeding program structure, international licensing model, and focus on processing varieties.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solana-gmbh-co-kg
• Instagraminstagram.com/solanagroup_

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries14 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 SOLANA Group