What JELU-WERK J. Ehrler does

JELU-WERK J. Ehrler GmbH & Co. KG is a family-owned German manufacturer of natural plant-fibre products, founded in 1908 and headquartered in Rosenberg (Sulzbach-Rosenberg), Bavaria, where it operates an eight-hectare production and storage site. Across four generations of Ehrler-family ownership — most recently transitioning management to Jonas Stirner in January 2026 — the company has specialised in the purely mechanical processing of cellulose, lignocellulose, and wood fibres from wheat, oat, bamboo, and wood raw materials, with no chemical additives. Its product portfolio is organised under four families: JELUCEL (food-grade cellulose and plant fibres including bamboo, wheat, and oat grades; classified as E 460ii), JELUVET (lignocellulose for animal feed and bedding), JELUXYL (functional wood fibres for technical industries), and JELUPLAST (wood plastic composite bioplastic), supplemented by COSY-branded animal bedding and private-label cat litter.

The company sells exclusively B2B to enterprise and mid-market customers across three primary verticals: food manufacturers (texturising, fat replacement, humectancy, oleogelation, anti-caking, and dietary-fibre enrichment), animal feed and pet industry (crude-fibre supplements, mycotoxin-free feed materials, and bedding), and technical industry (building chemicals, filter aids, plastics, composites, and coatings). It monetises through one-time product sales priced by grade, volume, and specification; pricing is not publicly disclosed and the company explicitly does not supply private individuals. Distribution combines direct B2B sales from the German site with regional channel partners in Spain, Poland, France, China, India, Malaysia, and South Korea, supported by dedicated sales management (Jens Schienke, General Manager Sales; Markus Hesse, Sales Manager) and active participation at more than 13 international trade fairs including Food Ingredients Europe, Eurotier, FIGAN, FIC, and Eurocoat.

Commercial credibility rests on a stack of sector-relevant certifications (FSSC 22000, GMP+ FSA, PEFC/04-31-0736, ISO 9001 with HACCP, German QS), commissioned third-party research (including studies at Hannover Veterinary Medicine), and documented performance metrics such as 95.5% cellulose purity, 70% crude-fibre content in lignocellulose dry matter, and over 500% water-binding capacity without gel formation. The customer base spans multinationals (Cargill, LUCO TOYS, Langmatz GmbH) and mid-market distributors, with named enterprise relationships concentrated in feed additives, bioplastic toys, and infrastructure WPC. The firm is privately held, with no external funding rounds, no subsidiaries, and no public revenue disclosure.

Name

JELU-WERK J. Ehrler

Legal name

JELU-WERK J. Ehrler GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://jelu-werk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Short description

JELU-WERK J. Ehrler is a family-owned German manufacturer (founded 1908, Rosenberg) that produces cellulose, lignocellulose, plant fibres, and wood-plastic composites through purely mechanical processing, supplying B2B customers worldwide in food, animal feed, and technical industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cellulose & Plant Fibre Ingredients

NAICS

Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills (31311)

SIC

Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820)

akta.pro primary industry

Nanocellulose & Cellulose Derivatives (CNC/CNF, MCC, ethers/esters) (IMAMALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cellulose Derivatives (CMC, MCC, HPMC/MC; Cellulosic Thickeners) (AFAJABAH), Wood-based Biocomposites & Natural Fiber Composites (WPC, bio-reinforced plastics) (IMAMALAF), Bio-based Materials & Fibers (e.g., cellulose derivatives, lignin-based materials, nanocellulose) (EUAAAIAD)

Keywords

• Cellulose manufacturing
• Plant fibre products
• Food functional additives
• Animal feed ingredients
• Wood plastic composites

Headquarters

HQ city

Sulzbach-rosenberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Natural Fibre Products (B2B): Sale of cellulose, lignocellulose, plant fibres, and wood fibres as functional additives and raw materials to food manufacturers, animal feed companies, and technical industry companies. Revenue generated from product sales with pricing based on product grade, volume, and specifications.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

JELU-WERK manufactures functional cellulose, lignocellulose, plant fibres (wheat, oat, bamboo) and wood fibres from renewable raw materials using purely mechanical processing without chemical additives. Its products serve three segments: food manufacturers (cellulose and dietary fibre concentrates as texturisers, fat replacers, humectants, oleogelators), animal feed and pet industries (lignocellulose feed supplements, cat litter and animal bedding), and technical industries (functional cellulose and wood fibres for building chemicals, filter aids, plastics, wood plastic composites).

Product overview

JELU-WERK J. Ehrler is a manufacturer of natural fibre products for three main sectors: Food (cellulose and dietary fibre concentrates), Pets and Livestock (lignocellulose and animal bedding), and Technical Industry (functional cellulose and wood fibres). The product portfolio includes the JELUCEL brand family (PF cellulose, BF bamboo fibre, WF wheat fibre, OF oat fibre, and crude fibre grades), JELUVET lignocellulose, JELUXYL functional wood fibres, COSYCAT/COSYPET/COSYFLOCK/JELUDRY animal bedding products, and JELUPLAST bioplastic composites. The company operates as a medium-sized, family-run business in Rosenberg, Germany, supplying customers worldwide in food industry, technical industry, and animal husbandry sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JELUCEL: Product brand for cellulose, plant fibres (bamboo, wheat, oat fibres) used in food, animal feed and technical applications
• JELUVET
• JELUXYL
• JELUPLAST
• COSYCAT
• COSYPET
• COSYFLOCK
• JELUDRY

Products and services

• JELUCEL PF Cellulose

Quantifiable outcome

• JELUVET lignocellulose has over 500% water-binding capacity compared to sugar beet pulp at 370%, without gel formation
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• La Provencale SAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 April 2024Long-standing Western European partner for Eurocoat 2024 in Paris. Existing contacts maintained and new customer projects initiated with Western European markets clearly in the foreground.
• JobachemcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 March 2024Chinese sales partner for Food Ingredients China (FIC) exhibitions. JELU exhibited together with Jobachem at FIC 2024 in Shanghai, making many interesting contacts and holding discussions at a well-attended stand. Growing demand for JELU products documented in this market.
• Barentz Campi Y JovecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 March 2019Spanish sales partner representing JELU-WERK at FIGAN 2019 international trade fair for animal production in Zaragoza. Trade visitors could learn about JELUVET lignocellulose and JELUCEL crude fibre for animal feed applications.
• CFI WorldcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 February 2019Polish distribution partner for building chemicals sector. Hosted a customer event in Sierpc, Poland from 20-21 February 2019 with over 50 customer representatives. CFI World announced plans to erect its own development and research lab for the building chemicals sector. JELU-WERK presented functional celluloses (JELUCEL) and wood fibres (JELUXYL) for building chemical applications.
• LUCO TOYSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2018Dutch toy company using JELUPLAST bioplastic for interlocking building blocks (LUCO BRICKS). After one year of joint development, LUCO TOYS launched a new generation of toy bricks made from JELUPLAST wood plastic composite. Product is eco-friendly, dimensionally stable, and resistant to breakage. Serial production planned after injection moulding tool adaptation.
• CATOLETcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 May 2018German partner for organic litter and bedding products. Joint exhibition at Interzoo 2018 in Nuremberg with dietary fibres (JELUCEL, JELUVET) and organic litter products (COSYCAT, COSYPET). Strong alignment on sustainability trend in pet supplies market.
• GladroncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 April 2018Asian sales partner and feed manufacturer based in Malaysia. Had its own exhibition stand at Livestock Asia 2018 showcasing JELU's natural lignocellulose JELUVET. Positioned as feed supplement supplier for pigs, poultry, horses and rabbits in the Asian market.
• CargillminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2014JELU-WERK presented at the Pig Symposium in Poland — an annual event hosted by Cargill, a multinational feed supplier. Event financed by JELU-WERK and Biomin, both manufacturers of natural feed additives. About 250 of the largest Polish pig breeders attended.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cargill: Global agricultural and feed/food ingredient multinational that already engages JELU as a co-presenter at the Pig Symposium. Competes broadly across animal nutrition and food ingredients with cellulose/fiber adjacencies, while simultaneously being a potential customer and partner.
• Ingredion: Major publicly-listed ingredient company producing specialty starches, plant-based proteins, and dietary fibers including cellulose derivatives for food and beverage manufacturers. Broader portfolio and substantially larger sales force than JELU.
• DSM-Firmenich: Global nutrition, health, and ingredients multinational with animal-nutrition and food-ingredient portfolios that include functional fibers and feed additives. Broad incumbent competing in JELU's animal-feed and food-ingredient end markets at significantly larger scale.
• Roquette: Global starch- and polyol-based ingredient multinational with a meaningful cellulose and plant-protein portfolio for food, nutrition, and pharma. Broad incumbent with overlapping cellulose additive offerings but significantly wider product breadth and global infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Fiberstar: US-based producer of plant-based (citrus, oat, apple) dietary fibers and cellulose-based texturizers for food and pet food. Directly comparable mid-sized peer operating in food and animal-feed functional fiber ingredients.
• International Fiber Corporation: US manufacturer of cellulose fibers and functional cellulose additives serving food, beverage, industrial, and personal-care applications. Direct competitor in the same cellulose-powder/fiber additive category with overlapping customer use cases.
• Borregaard: Norwegian specialty biorefinery producing lignin biopolymers and specialty cellulose from wood. Comparable in producing functional cellulose and lignin-based materials for industrial and feed applications, though at substantially larger and publicly-listed scale.
• Weidmann Group: Swiss-headquartered specialist in cellulose-based materials for technical applications including electrical insulation, filtration, and composites. Comparable in processing natural fibers into high-purity technical products for industrial customers.
• JRS Rettenmaier & Söhne: German Mittelstand manufacturer of cellulose fibers and functional cellulose additives for food, pharmaceutical, and technical applications. Most directly comparable peer — same geographic base, overlapping product families (powdered cellulose, dietary fibers, functional celluloses), and similar B2B industrial customer base.
• Interfiber: Polish producer of cellulose fibers for technical applications including building chemicals, plastics, filtration, and composites. Comparable niche player in functional cellulose for the technical industry segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 JELU-WERK J. Ehrler