History

From a sugar processing plant to an international group of companies

Profiling and growth

2024
2024

With VOGEL'S Süsse-Werbe-Ideen GmbH & Co. KG, the Zertus Group is expanding its expertise in the Custom Sweets sector. VOGEL'S has specialised in sweet promotional products in customised packaging in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for over 30 years.

2023
2023

With a strategic realign­ment, the Zertus Group sets the course for further growth and new market oppor­tunities: In addition to the Functional Nutrition and Snacking & Chocolate market units, the segment for individualised sweet promotional products will be expanded into an independent Custom Sweets market unit and Healthy & Ethical will be inte­grated into the Gourmet market unit.

2022
2022

Well Plus Trade GmbH (WPT) has been expanding the Zertus Group's portfolio in the functional nutrition sector since September 2022. WPT offers protein sports nutrition, functional food and diet products as well as dietary supplements. With its Power System brand, WPT is the market leader for sports nutrition in Germany and Austria.

2021
2021

LPP Lotao Pack- und Produktions GmbH has been part of the Zertus Group since November 2021 and enriches the product range in the Healthy & Ethical market unit. Lotao stands for vegan, sustainable and high-quality organic products and makes forgotten culinary treasures accessible to gourmets in Europe.

 

The Sun Valley Nut Company joined the Zertus Group in November 2021 and strengthens the product range in the Snacking & Chocolate market unit. The nut experts from Bromborough, England, have more than 70 years of experience in sourcing and processing nuts and consistently create creative and high-quality snacks.

2020
2020

Zertus repositions itself and focuses its expertise on four areas: the market units Gourmet, Functional Nutrition, Healthy & Ethical and Snacking & Chocolate. The aim is to promote and further develop companies and brands with particular strengths in niches or growth segments.

Internationalisation

2019
2019

GAEA became the newest member of the Zertus Group in 2019 – there has been a strategic investment in the Greek company since 2015. Part of the Gourmet market unit, GAEA is an ambassador for a Greek/Mediterranean diet and stands for sustainability and quality.

2017
2017

Bio-Zentrale Naturprodukte GmbH, which produces, processes and markets products from controlled organic cultivation, joined the Zertus Group in 2017.

2012
2012

The acquisition of the listed Zetar Group in the UK in 2012 made Zertus a German-English corporate group at a single stroke. Together with its subsidiaries Kinnerton and Lir Chocolates, Zetar is the UK’s fourth-biggest chocolate manufacturer and the market leader for seasonal goods. Its company Humdinger is also a major supplier for nuts and dried fruit.

2005
2005

Zertus established another pillar in 2005 with the global player Dextro Energy. Dextro Energy has since become the world leader on the dextrose market and a renowned sport nutrition provider.

2002
2002

The tinned candy specialist Kalfany was acquired in 2002 and transformed into an export-oriented company by the subsequent acquisitions of Pulmoll, Echt Sylter Brisen and Süße Werbung.

Building the Zertus Group

2002
2002

Zuckerraffinerie Tangermünde Fr. Meyers Sohn GmbH was finally renamed Zertus GmbH in 2002.

1991
1991

Helmut Löser GmbH & Co. KG Waffelfabrik, a specialised producer of flat and moulded wafers, was acquired in 1991.  Löser GmbH & Co. KG was sold to AUGUST STORCK KG as at 1 January 2018. Theodor Kattus GmbH joined the Group in 1999, before being resold to DF World of Spices GmbH in 2006.

1984
1984

The following years were characterised by acquisitions and efforts to form a strong, viable group of companies.

Following the acquisition of Importhaus Wilms in 1984, this company was expanded to become the leading importer of fine foods and sweets.

New beginnings after the Second World War

80er
1980s

Since the 1980s, the company has transformed from being a producer to being a pure-play holding company that supports its subsidiaries in the marketing and distribution of their high-quality food and beverage products.

1949
1949

The company was rebuilt in Hamburg in 1949. Harking back to the old family tradition, it was named “Zuckerraffinerie Tangermünde Fr. Meyers Sohn GmbH”. In actual fact, however, it started out producing chocolate in Bremen. A short time later, the company secured an interest in Bremer Chocolade Hachez before buying it outright in 1987. The chocolate operations of Hachez and Feodora were sold to the grandson of Hachez’ founder in a management buy-out in the year 2000.

The early days

1945
1945

Soviet occupation forces expropriated the Meyer family in 1945. Its plants were largely dismantled.

1903
1903

In 1903, the company began using its sugar for itself: A canned fruit factory was founded and in 1910 the company began producing high-quality chocolate and pralines under the “Feodora” brand. After some of the plant was destroyed by a fire in 1923, a modern sugar cube factory was built on the same spot in 1925.

1900
1900

The sugar refinery was already processing 100,000 tonnes of unrefined sugar in 1900. The plant had warehouses, its own industrial port and a power station. There was also a factory hospital and other social facilities.

1865
1865

His sons Friedrich Theodor and Friedrich Hugo Meyer took over the company in 1865. They increased sales substantially and also began exporting to England and overseas from 1882.

1826
1826

Friedrich Theodor Meyer founded a small sugar processing plant in Tangermünde in 1826.