Food group Nestle <CH0038863350> is taking over a majority stake in Hamburg-based spice trader Ankerkraut. It has taken over the shares of the previous investors - EMZ Partners, Freigeist Capital and Knälmann Ventures - as well as parts of the management shares and thus becomes the majority owner of Ankerkraut GmbH, Ankerkraut announced on Wednesday. The companies did not disclose figures.
According to the information, Ankerkraut will continue as an independent company with an independent brand, the founders Anne and Stefan Lemcke will remain on board as shareholders and brand ambassadors. The same applies to the managing directors Timo Haas and Alexander Schwoch, who continue to run the company operationally as shareholders.
Ankerkraut GmbH from the south of Hamburg was founded in 2013 by Anne and Stefan Lemcke as a start-up. The company now employs more than 230 people and generates sales in the mid-double-digit million range.
Ankerkraut became known primarily through its appearance on the TV show "Die Höhle der Löwen" (The Lion's Den) in 2016. According to its own information, Ankerkraut now sells more than 500 spices and spice blends, sauces, teas and accessories online, in grocery stores and in its own stores in Hamburg, Berlin, Bochum and Cologne./klm/DP/eas (dpa)