raiffeisen waren-zentrale rhein-main ag (rwz)

What raiffeisen waren-zentrale rhein-main ag (rwz) does

Raiffeisen Waren-Zentrale Rhein-Main AG (RWZ), founded in 1899 in Cologne and converted from a cooperative (eG) to a stock corporation (AG) on 25 July 2023, is one of the oldest and largest agricultural trading houses in Germany, operating across agricultural commodity trading, agricultural inputs and machinery distribution, energy products, and rural retail. The group operates approximately 180 locations across Germany, France, Austria, and Benelux, supported by 2,346 employees (FY2025) and a portfolio of core subsidiaries including KLUG (wine cellar supplies), Hauptsaaten (seeds), Weuthen-Gruppe (potatoes), LIMERA (horticulture JV), Orchard Cloud (digital viticulture), and Raiffeisen AgriTrading (joint marketing platform with RW Kassel).

The business is structured around four reporting segments: Agrarhandel (wholesale and retail trading of grain, oilseeds, and potatoes, plus farm inputs including seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection), Agrartechnik (agricultural machinery — now consolidated from 1 May 2026 into the Raiffeisen Technik joint venture with RW Kassel, encompassing 100+ locations and ~€1.2 billion revenue), Energie (heating oil, diesel, gasoline — carved out from 1 April 2026 into Raiffeisen Energie Köln GmbH), and Einzelhandel (Raiffeisen-Märkte home and garden retail). Underlying capabilities include the Meckenheim seed processing facility (€20 million cumulative investment since 2008, including a 2026 second production line), grain logistics infrastructure (Worms water location, Miehlen silos, Worms 30,000-tonne JV silo), and digital agriculture products (MyDataPlant, CropRadar with AI-based yield forecasting, FOX farm management, AARI Forest for digital forestry) accessed through the Kleffmann Digital investment. Revenue is generated primarily through transactional commodity trading and hardware/inputs sales on quote-based pricing, with an emerging data-monetisation stream through KlimaPartner Landwirtschaft carbon certificates (34% CO2 reduction achieved per tonne in the first season on 8,200 hectares of winter wheat).

FY2025 revenue was approximately €2.6 billion (down from €2.9 billion in 2024 and €3.0 billion in 2023) with EBIT of €10.6 million and EBT of €1.2 million; the equity ratio improved to 22%. Management (CEO Christoph Kempkes, CFO Michael Göthner) is executing a multi-year restructuring programme that includes the Raiffeisen Technik JV, the energy carve-out, the AB Texel bulk-logistics outsourcing (September 2026), the divestment of Autohaus Raiffeisen Eifel-Mosel-Saar to CAR Avenue (effective 1 January 2025), and full ownership of Orchard Cloud GmbH and Rheingauer Winzerbedarf — reflecting a shift from a federated cooperative to a more focused, capital-disciplined holding.

Name

raiffeisen waren-zentrale rhein-main ag (rwz)

Legal name

Raiffeisen Waren-Zentrale Rhein-Main AG

Website

https://rwz.ag

Company type

Public

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Short description

RWZ is a Cologne-based, 1899-founded German agricultural trading group operating ~180 locations across Germany, France, Austria, and Benelux, serving farmers, winegrowers, horticulturists, and forest owners with commodities, inputs, agritech, energy, and rural retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Trading Services

NAICS

Grain and Field Bean Merchant Wholesalers (42451), Farm and Garden Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (42382), Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers (4245), Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers (444), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (11321)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523), Forestry (800), Wholesale-Lumber & Other Construction Materials (5030)

akta.pro primary industry

Agronomy Advisory & Field Services (Retailer-Affiliated) (AFABAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Farm Supply Retail (Independent Dealers) (AFABAJAA), Precision/Variable-Rate Agronomy & Rx Development (AFACABAG), Soil Health & Regenerative Agronomy Consulting (AFACABAA)

Keywords

• Agricultural commodity trading
• Farm input supply
• Agricultural machinery distribution
• Mineral oil wholesale
• Rural retail markets

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Agricultural Commodity Trading: Trading of agricultural commodities including grain, oilseeds, potatoes as both wholesaler aggregating purchasing/selling volumes and retailer supplying farming operations.
2. Agricultural Technology Sales & Service: Sale and service of agricultural machinery including tractors through AGCO partnership (Fendt, Massey Ferguson, Valtra, Case IH, Steyr). Major joint venture Raiffeisen Technik generates approximately 1.2 billion EUR revenue.
3. Energy Products: Sales of heating oil, diesel, gasoline through Raiffeisen Energie Köln GmbH subsidiary including logistics with tank trucks and station/storage infrastructure.
4. Agricultural Inputs: Sale of seeds, fertilizers, crop protection products, and operating materials to agricultural operations.
5. Retail (Raiffeisen-Märkte): Retail operations including home and garden centers, building materials, and fuel sales to end consumers.
6. Seed Processing Services: Seed conditioning, processing, and conditioning services at Meckenheim seed center serving agricultural and trading customers.
7. Carbon Farming (KlimaPartner Landwirtschaft): CO2 certification and marketing of climate-optimized agricultural products; sale of CO2 certificates through voluntary carbon market.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RWZ is an agricultural trading and services company that bundles purchasing and sales volumes of agricultural commodities (grain, oilseeds, potatoes) as a wholesaler and supplies farmers, winegrowers, horticulturists, and forest owners with seeds, fertilizers, crop protection products, agricultural machinery, energy products, and rural retail offerings through approximately 180 locations across Germany, France, Austria, and Benelux. The company also offers seed processing services at its Meckenheim center and digital farming tools including precision agriculture and forest management solutions.

Product overview

Raiffeisen Waren-Zentrale Rhein-Main AG (RWZ) is a diversified agricultural trading and services group operating as a holding company with multiple subsidiaries and joint ventures. The company operates through four core divisions: Agricultural Trading (Agrarhandel) for commodity trading and farm supplies, Agricultural Technology (Agrartechnik) now combined in the Raiffeisen Technik joint venture, Energy (Energie) now consolidated into Raiffeisen Energie Köln GmbH, and Retail (Einzelhandel) for home and garden markets. The product portfolio is complemented by specialized subsidiaries including KLUG (winery supplies), Hauptsaaten (seeds), LIMERA (horticulture services), Vineyard Cloud (digital viticulture), and Weuthen-Gruppe (potatoes). Digital offerings include Kleffmann Digital products (MyDataPlant, CropRadar, FOX farm management), AARI Forest digital forest management, and the KlimaPartner Landwirtschaft and KlimaHumus sustainability initiatives. RWZ operates approximately 180 locations and generated 2.6 billion euros in revenue in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Raiffeisen Technik: Joint venture agricultural technology company formed by combining the agritech operations of Raiffeisen Waren GmbH (RW) and RWZ. One of Europe's leading agricultural machinery dealers, with around 1.2 billion EUR revenue, approximately 1,800 employees, and over 100 locations in Germany, France, Denmark, and Poland.
• Raiffeisen AgriTrading
• RWZ-Saatgutzentrum Meckenheim
• KlimaPartner Landwirtschaft

Quantifiable outcome

• 34% reduction in CO2 emissions per tonne of harvest yield achieved through KlimaPartner Landwirtschaft
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AB Texel Feed Deutschland GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2026Dutch logistics company AB Texel (part of Royal A-ware) takes over RWZ's bulk transport activities (grain and fertilizer transport). Fleet and affected employees transfer to AB Texel Feed Deutschland GmbH. Partnership allows RWZ to focus on core competencies while benefiting from AB Texel's logistics expertise and network density in Germany.
• Raiffeisen Technik GmbH (Joint Venture with Raiffeisen Waren GmbH Kassel)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Merger of RWZ's and RW Kassel's agricultural technology businesses into joint venture Raiffeisen Technik. Joint venture generates approximately 1.2 billion EUR revenue, employs about 1,800 people, operates 100+ locations in Germany, France, Denmark, and Poland. RW Kassel holds majority, RWZ is junior partner. Management: Friedrich Lux, Wolf-Wilhelm Rüter, Christian Wolff.
• Raiffeisen Energie Köln GmbHcoreOthers · 1 April 2026RWZ carved out energy activities into new 100% subsidiary Raiffeisen Energie Köln GmbH. New entity takes over classic mineral oil business with heating oil, diesel, gasoline including distribution, logistics with tank trucks, and station/storage infrastructure. Structure enables profitable growth, simplifies integration of future acquisitions, and opens alliance possibilities.
• Vineyard Cloud GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 November 2025RWZ acquired 100% of Vineyard Cloud GmbH shares through subsidiary Raiffeisen Ventures GmbH, becoming sole shareholder. Company provides digital solutions for viticulture.
• OCI Nitrogen (OCI Global subsidiary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2025Product partner for KlimaPartner Landwirtschaft supplying CO2-reduced fertilizers (Nutramon Novo, Dynamon Novo) with up to 60% lower production-related CO2 footprint than conventional fertilizers. Uses biogas instead of natural gas in Haber-Bosch process.
• CAR Avenue (European automotive group)minorOthers · 13 February 2025Sale of Autohaus Raiffeisen Eifel-Mosel-Saar GmbH (8 locations, 160 employees, 130 million EUR revenue) to CAR Avenue Germany GmbH. All locations preserved, all employees taken over. Effective January 1, 2025.
• Axpo (Swiss energy group)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2025Cooperation for solar park development in Germany. RWZ handles landowner outreach and contract negotiations; Axpo Solar Deutschland GmbH develops, builds, and operates solar parks. RWZ also takes equity stake as regional anchor partner. Creates sustainable revenue options for farmers through attractive lease terms.
• Raiffeisen AgriTrading (Joint Venture with RW Kassel)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2024Joint marketing platform for agricultural commodities between RWZ and RW Kassel. Also operates 30,000-ton silo in Worms harbor through joint venture with Bindewald & Gutting-Mühlengruppe.
• KLUG Fachgroßhandel für Kellereibedarf GmbH (Rheingauer Winzerbedarf partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2024KLUG (RWZ subsidiary) took 50% stake in Rheingauer Winzerbedarf GmbH (subsidiary of Rheingauer Volksbank). Full transfer to KLUG planned for January 1, 2026. Bundles expertise for winemakers with improved logistics and product availability.
• AARI Forest GmbH (Joint Venture with AARI Metsä, Finland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 August 2024Joint venture for digital forest management in DACH region. AARI Forest provides algorithm-based tool for modeling long-term forest stand development. Several thousand hectares already managed including private owners in NRW and municipality in Saxony-Anhalt. RWZ provides trading and logistics expertise.
• LIMERA Gartenbauservice GmbH & Co. KG (Joint Venture with MERULIN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023JV in professional horticulture combining RWZ's Raiffeisen Gartenbau with MERULIN. Serves horticulture operations from Rhineland to Thuringia. Synergies in infrastructure and purchasing. Equal partnership with Dr. Helmut Linssen family and Mertens Holding as co-owners.
• Kleffmann Digital RS GmbHcoreTechnology or Integration · 19 October 2022RWZ and RW Kassel invested in Kleffmann Digital offering MyDataPlant (precision application mapping), CropRadar (satellite yield forecasting with AI), and FOX (farm management system). Integrates with RWZ's akoro trading platform for all-in-one solution.
• ZG Raiffeisen eG (Karlsruhe)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Purchasing alliance for fertilizers along the Rhine. ZG Raiffeisen bundles purchasing volumes through RWZ as coordinating wholesaler. Part of larger network including RW Kassel and Triferto/Agrifirm.
• KlimaPartner Landwirtschaft (Joint Venture with BASF SE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2022Joint carbon farming project establishing CO2 certification for emission reduction on agricultural operations. First season achieved 34% CO2 reduction per tonne harvest yield. Winter wheat cultivated on 8,200 hectares in 2024. Target is 30% CO2e reduction per tonne harvest yield.
• KlimaHumus GmbH (Joint Venture with Stiftung Lebensraum and First Climate AG)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2022JV for regenerative soil management promoting CO2 sequestration through humus formation. Sells CO2 certificates on voluntary market. RWZ provides equipment, inputs, and know-how through 'Boden gut machen' project.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ATR Landhandel GmbH & Co. KG: German agricultural commodity trader focused on grain, oilseeds, and farm inputs in Eastern and Northern Germany. Comparable to RWZ's wholesale trading and farm supply functions.
• BayWa AG: German agricultural conglomerate and former cooperative, similarly active in agricultural trading, machinery, energy, and building materials with global reach. BayWa is RWZ's closest comparable in terms of business mix, customer base, and DACH focus.
• AGRAVIS Raiffeisen AG: Major German agricultural cooperative operating in farm inputs, grain/oilseed trading, agricultural technology, and retail across Northern and Western Germany. Directly comparable on cooperative structure, product portfolio, and farmer customer base.
• Raiffeisen Waren GmbH (RW Kassel): Direct JV partner in Raiffeisen Technik and Raiffeisen AgriTrading with essentially identical business model in agricultural inputs, commodity trading, machinery, and energy. Operates primarily in Northern Germany.
• ZG Raiffeisen eG: Karlsruhe-based agricultural cooperative already allied with RWZ for fertilizer purchasing along the Rhine. Directly comparable on cooperative structure, farm input distribution, and commodity trading.
• HaGe Nord (Hanseatische Agrarhandelsgesellschaft mbH): Northern German agricultural trading company with farm supply, grain/oilseed handling, and retail activities. Directly comparable on commodity trading scale and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Viterra: Global agricultural commodity trader with significant European grain and oilseed origination operations. Overlaps with RWZ's commodity trading business at much larger scale and global footprint.
• Cargill: World's largest privately held agricultural commodity trader with global grain, oilseed, and farm input operations. Overlaps with RWZ's commodity trading and farm supply activities but at vastly larger international scale.
• Louis Dreyfus Company: Global agricultural commodity merchant with significant European grain and oilseed origination. Comparable to RWZ's commodity trading business but operates across multiple continents and value chain stages.

Others

• AGCO Corporation: Manufacturer of Fendt, Massey Ferguson, Valtra, and other agricultural machinery brands distributed through RWZ's Raiffeisen Technik JV. Strategic partner and supplier rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTCsIUQTTrciLQTOU5KNpgQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/RWZ.Rhein.Main.AG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/raiffeisen-waren-zentrale-rhein-main-eg-rwz-/mycompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/rwz.rhein.main.ag

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 raiffeisen waren-zentrale rhein-main ag (rwz)