British market leader takes over Wheaty manufacturer TOPAS
Acquisition strengthens position in the European market for plant-based meat alternatives
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TOPAS GmbH, manufacturer of the organic brand Wheaty, will be acquired by the British company The Tofoo Co Ltd. in February 2026. The Tofoo Co is the market leader for plant-based foods in the UK and, like TOPAS, has been pursuing a consistently vegan and sustainable approach for many years.
The Tofoo Co founders David Knibbs and Lydia Smith share the same vision as Klaus Gaiser and Sanni Ikola-Gaiser: to inspire people with plant-based products. Since 1993, TOPAS and its Wheaty brand have been among the pioneers of the first generation of food producers in Germany and Europe to specialize in the production of innovative organic vegan meat alternatives.
Over the past 10 years, The Tofoo Co has grown from a small local hero to the market leader for tofu in the UK, with a market share of over 50% and numerous awards for its innovative products. Since 2024, growth investor Comitis Capital has been on board to support The Tofoo Co's growth trajectory.
As part of the takeover, Sebastian von Eltz becomes Managing Director of TOPAS GmbH. Sebastian von Eltz is no stranger to the organic sector, having already worked for several organic food companies and is deeply rooted in the organic DNA. Together with the existing team, Wheaty's position in the organic food and food retail sector is to be further strengthened and expanded.
The current managing directors Klaus Gaiser and Miikka Gaiser will continue to play a key role in the company. Pioneer Klaus Gaiser will devote himself entirely to product development, while Miikka Gaiser will return to production and organization.
For more than three decades, Wheaty has stood for artisan seitan products, independent recipes and a consistently plant-based focus. This line will continue unchanged under the new ownership structure. TOPAS will remain an independently operating company with a clear identity, its own range and proven product philosophy.
The takeover by The Tofoo Co creates new structural and strategic opportunities for the further development of TOPAS with the Wheaty brand. The aim is to combine TOPAS' many years of expertise in the production of high-quality organic meat alternatives with the international experience and market expertise of The Tofoo Co - without breaking with its own roots.
"In view of our advanced age, it was a matter close to our hearts not only to 'pass the company into good hands', but above all to know that the future of the company and thus the future of the employees is secured in the best possible way. We are certain that we have made the right choice with Tofoo Co. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our loyal customers, business partners and employees, without whose trust and commitment TOPAS and Wheaty would not have been able to write this success story." - TOPAS founders Sanni Ikola-Gaiser and Klaus Gaiser.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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