The first time I flew to Europe to audit a contract manufacturer, I assumed the hardest part would be the jet lag. It wasn't. It was sitting across from a plant director in the Netherlands who politely informed me that the lead time I'd been quoted by his sales office was "aspirational" and that the actual onboarding window was closer to nine months. Welcome to European food co-manufacturing, where the infrastructure is world-class, the bureaucracy is Olympic-grade, and the phrase "we can discuss" means you should have started this conversation six months ago.
If you've spent your career sourcing domestically, Europe will recalibrate your assumptions. Private label isn't a secondary revenue stream here—it is the revenue stream for half the industry. In markets like Germany and the UK, store brands command 35–45% of grocery sales, and the companies that produce them operate at a scale and sophistication that would surprise most American operators. The flip side: many of these manufacturers are family-owned, fourth-generation businesses that don't advertise their co-manufacturing capabilities because they don't need to. Their lines are full. Getting capacity often means knowing who to call, not browsing a directory.
This guide is my attempt to map that landscape. It covers 55+ European food contract manufacturers across every major region and category—from the frozen-food titans that keep Aldi's freezer aisles stocked to the boutique Scandinavian ready-meal producers you've never heard of. I've organized it by geography first, because in Europe, logistics and regulatory environments vary so dramatically between regions that a "one-size-fits-all" approach is how you end up with a container of product stuck in customs at Rotterdam for three weeks.
A note on scope: I've included companies that actively engage in contract manufacturing, co-packing, or significant private-label production for third parties. I've excluded pure branded players who only manufacture for themselves, and I've flagged companies where the co-manufacturing arm is secondary to their main business. This isn't a list of every food company in Europe. It's a shortlist of the ones that can actually make your product.
Pan-European Giants
These are the continental heavyweights—companies operating across multiple European markets with the scale, certifications, and logistics infrastructure to serve as primary manufacturing partners for major retailers and branded clients alike. Working with them means accessing enormous capacity, but it also means navigating complex organizational structures. I learned early that at companies this size, your relationship with the commercial team matters far less than your relationship with the plant scheduler. The commercial team says yes; the plant scheduler determines when.
- Revenue
- ~€3.5B (2024)
- Employees
- ~13,000
- Facilities
- 17 production sites across Europe
- Capabilities
- Frozen fish, vegetables, ready meals, poultry, plant-based; IQF processing, steam cuisine, breading/battering lines
BRC AAIFS Higher LevelMSC Chain of CustodyASC
Europe's largest frozen food company and owner of the continent's most recognizable freezer brands: Birds Eye (UK/Ireland), Iglo (DACH/Benelux), Findus (Nordics/France/Iberia), and Ledo (Adriatic). Operates both branded and private-label production from the same facilities. While primarily a branded operator, their scale in frozen processing—particularly fish, vegetables, and steam meals—makes them a significant private-label supplier to European retailers. Acquired by Nomad Holdings (founded by Martin Franklin and Noam Gottesman) in 2015.
- Revenue
- €4.1B (2023)
- Employees
- ~14,000
- Facilities
- 55+ production sites in Europe and North America
- Capabilities
- Juices, soft drinks, water, plant-based beverages, sports drinks, energy drinks; aseptic, hot-fill, cold-fill, carbonated, PET/can/glass/carton
BRCIFSFSSC 22000OrganicKosherHalal
The world's largest independent bottler. Produces 11.7 billion liters per year—enough to fill roughly 4,700 Olympic swimming pools—for retailers and branded clients across Europe and North America. If you've bought a private-label juice or soft drink from a European supermarket, there's a meaningful chance Refresco made it. Owned by PAI Partners and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation. Their scale in beverage co-manufacturing is essentially unmatched in Europe; the nearest competitor operates at a fraction of the volume.
- Revenue
- €3.3–3.4B (2024)
- Employees
- ~11,000–12,000
- Facilities
- 40 locations in 7 countries (Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Poland, Denmark)
- Capabilities
- Poultry slaughter and processing, fresh/frozen chicken products, ready meals, salads, meal components, alternative proteins; private label and branded
BRCIFSSBTi Validated
Europe's fourth-largest poultry processor (462.8M broilers slaughtered in 2023) and an aggressive acquirer—four acquisitions in 2024 alone, including HKScan Denmark, Algas SP (Poland), and two Spanish operations. Has evolved beyond pure poultry into fresh meals, salads, and alternative proteins under the banner "Think Fresh. Act Fresh. Make Fresh." Owned by Germany's EW Group, Dutch feed company De Heus, and management. Their rapid consolidation across Europe makes them increasingly relevant as a multi-country co-manufacturing partner for poultry and convenience categories.
- Revenue
- ~€2B (2024)
- Employees
- ~16,000
- Facilities
- 40+ bakeries across Europe (plus North America)
- Capabilities
- Frozen bakery: croissants, Danish pastries, artisan breads, brioche, donuts, sweet baked goods; par-baked, thaw-and-serve, bake-off formats
BRCIFSOrganicKosher
One of the world's largest frozen bakery companies, supplying QSR chains (McDonald's is a major client), retailers, and foodservice operators across Europe. The company went through a turbulent restructuring period (2018–2021) that included a hostile takeover battle and significant debt reduction, but has stabilized under Elliott Management's ownership. Their European operations span Switzerland, Germany, France, Ireland, UK, and beyond. If you need frozen bakery at continental scale with QSR-grade consistency, Aryzta is one of the few that can deliver.
- Revenue
- €8.1B (2024 group)
- Employees
- ~22,000
- Facilities
- 100+ manufacturing sites globally
- Capabilities
- Taste & nutrition ingredients, functional systems, co-manufacturing of beverages, snacks, dairy, prepared foods
BRCFSSC 22000ISO 9001KosherHalalOrganic
Important qualifier: Kerry is primarily a taste and nutrition ingredients company, not a traditional contract manufacturer. Their core business is selling ingredient systems, flavors, and functional solutions to food brands. However, they do maintain a co-manufacturing arm—particularly in dairy and prepared foods—and their Applied Health & Nutrition division produces finished products for brands. Include them on your longlist if you need integrated formulation-to-production capability, but don't approach them expecting a straightforward co-packing relationship. They sold their consumer foods division (meats, meals) to Pilgrim's Pride in 2021.
- Revenue
- €1.8B (2023)
- Employees
- ~4,600
- Facilities
- 14 production sites across Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, UK, US
- Capabilities
- Frozen bakery (croissants, pastries, breads, patisserie), margarines and culinary fats; private label and branded
BRCIFSRSPOOrganic
Family-owned since 1899, Vandemoortele operates two divisions: Bakery Products (frozen) and Margarines/Culinary Oils & Fats. Their frozen bakery division is one of Europe's largest, producing private-label and branded pastries, croissants, and breads for retail and foodservice across the continent. The margarines division supplies both retail private label and industrial B2B customers. A quiet powerhouse—not flashy, but deeply embedded in the European bakery supply chain.
- Revenue
- €1.1–1.2B
- Employees
- ~6,000
- Facilities
- 30+ bakeries in 15+ countries, sales in 60+ countries
- Capabilities
- Frozen/fresh bread, Danish pastry, French pastry, croissants, burger buns, par-baked products; retail, foodservice, QSR
BRCIFSSBTi ValidatedOrganic
Europe's second-largest bakery group. Brands include Schulstad, Vaasan, Hatting, Korvbrödsbagarn, and Pastridor. Their ownership structure—a cooperative of 18,000 Swedish farmers—gives them unusual long-term stability compared to PE-owned competitors. Recently invested €90M in a new Bucharest plant that serves as their Central and Eastern European hub, signaling a strategic push beyond their Nordic/Western European heartland. Strong in both retail private label and QSR supply (burger buns, sandwich breads). SBTi-validated target of 50% emissions reduction by 2030.
- Revenue
- ~€400M
- Employees
- ~2,500
- Facilities
- 12 sites in 7 countries (UK, Germany, Benelux, France, Italy, Iberia)
- Capabilities
- Frozen bakery: donuts, muffins, cakes, cookies, pastries; private label + licensed brands (Cadbury, Oreo, Milka, Daim via Mondelez); Disney licensing
BRCIFS
Spun out of CSM Bakery Solutions in 2021 (Rhône Capital ownership). Positioned as a specialist in sweet bakery—donuts, muffins, cakes—with a unique licensing play: they hold manufacturing licenses for Cadbury, Oreo, Milka, and Daim branded bakery products via agreements with Mondelez. Also produces Disney-licensed items. Their own brands include American Bakery, Goldfrost, and Concadoro. Opened a Warsaw office in 2022 for CEE expansion. Matthew Acheson appointed CEO January 2025.
United Kingdom & Ireland
The UK is arguably the most developed contract manufacturing market in Europe. The combination of powerful grocery retailers (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Aldi UK, Lidl UK), a deeply entrenched private-label culture, and the post-Brexit regulatory separation from the EU has created a concentrated ecosystem of specialists. Many of these companies were built to serve UK retail private label—it's not a sideline; it's the entire business model. The challenge for international brands looking to access UK co-manufacturing is that capacity is genuinely tight. These facilities run hot, and the best ones have long-term supply agreements with the major grocers that leave limited room for new clients.
- Revenue
- £1.9B (FY2024)
- Employees
- ~13,600
- Facilities
- 16 manufacturing sites across UK
- Capabilities
- Chilled convenience: sandwiches, salads, sushi, ready meals, soups, sauces, quiche, desserts, mineral water, snacking
BRC AASEDEX
The UK's largest manufacturer of convenience food and the world's largest sandwich maker. Produces approximately 750 million sandwiches per year. Their client list is a who's-who of UK retail: Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Co-op, Asda, and virtually every major convenience chain. Essentially the backbone of the UK's chilled food-to-go supply chain. If you need chilled convenience products manufactured at scale in the UK, Greencore is the first call—but getting line time requires serious volume commitments.
- Revenue
- £2.1B (2023)
- Employees
- ~18,000 (UK), ~19,000 globally
- Facilities
- 23 factories in UK, plus operations in US and China
- Capabilities
- Fresh prepared foods: salads, dips, desserts, fresh meals, pizzas, bread & morning goods, stir-fry, soups
BRCSEDEX
The UK's leading fresh prepared foods manufacturer and Greencore's primary competitor in the chilled aisle. Founded by the Icelandic Gudmundsson brothers in 1986, now listed on the London Stock Exchange. Bakkavor's relationship with UK retailers is so embedded that they effectively function as an extension of the grocers' own supply chains—co-developing products from concept through production. Particularly strong in dips, salads, and desserts. Taken private by the founding family in a £1.4B deal in 2024 after years of public listing.
- Revenue
- ~£3B
- Employees
- ~16,000
- Facilities
- Multiple poultry processing and prepared foods plants across UK, plus European operations
- Capabilities
- Poultry processing, chilled ready meals, pizza, pies, bakery products; private label and food-to-go
BRCRed Tractor
One of the UK's largest food manufacturers, founded and owned by Ranjit Singh Boparan ("the chicken king"). Processes roughly a third of all poultry consumed in the UK. Their operations span from raw poultry processing through to chilled ready meals and bakery. A significant private-label supplier to all major UK retailers. Has faced media scrutiny over working conditions and food safety (a 2017 Guardian/ITV investigation was particularly damaging), but remains a dominant force in UK protein processing by sheer scale.
- Revenue
- ~£1.2B
- Employees
- ~9,000
- Facilities
- Multiple UK sites including Melton Mowbray, Cornwall, Leicester
- Capabilities
- Chilled: pork pies, sausage rolls, sandwiches, pasties, ready meals, salads; ambient: Ginsters, Dickinson & Morris
BRC AASALSA
Family-owned since 1896. Owns some of the most recognizable brands in British convenience food—Ginsters pasties, Dickinson & Morris pork pies, Soreen malt loaf—while simultaneously operating as a major private-label manufacturer for UK supermarkets. Their Melton Mowbray operations are deeply tied to the region's Protected Geographical Indication for pork pies. A quintessentially British operation: heritage brands, private-label scale, and a family governance structure that prioritizes long-term relationships over quarterly returns.
- Revenue
- ~£2.5B (FY2024)
- Employees
- ~14,000
- Facilities
- 18+ UK production facilities
- Capabilities
- Fresh pork, poultry, convenience (sausages, bacon, cooked meats), continental foods, pastry, pet food
BRC AARed TractorRSPCA Assured
FTSE 250 listed and one of the UK's premier food producers. Started as a pig farming cooperative in 1974 and has grown into a multi-protein, multi-format powerhouse through disciplined acquisition. Their "Second Nature" sustainability programme and high animal welfare standards (RSPCA Assured across multiple lines) have made them a preferred supplier for premium private-label tiers at UK supermarkets. Particularly strong in fresh pork, cooked meats, and sausages.
- Revenue
- ~£1.9B
- Employees
- ~10,000
- Facilities
- 12 production sites across UK, Ireland, Netherlands, France
- Capabilities
- Poultry (fresh, added-value, coated), convenience foods, ready meals; breaded, marinated, grilled formats
BRCRed Tractor
One of Europe's leading poultry producers, now owned by Pilgrim's Pride (JBS subsidiary) after being acquired from Marfrig in 2017. Processes over 300 million birds per year across the UK, Ireland, and continental Europe. Strong in added-value poultry products—breaded, marinated, ready-to-cook—serving both retail private label and major QSR chains. Their Northern Ireland operations benefit from unique dual EU/UK market access post-Brexit via the Windsor Framework.
- Revenue
- ~£350M
- Employees
- ~2,000
- Facilities
- 3 UK sites (Wales, Warwickshire)
- Capabilities
- Chilled ready meals, sandwiches, wraps, food-to-go, prepared salads
BRC AA
No relation to the American Oscar Mayer brand (owned by Kraft Heinz). This is an independent UK chilled foods manufacturer that supplies private-label convenience products to UK retailers. Owned by Compleat Food Group since a 2023 consolidation that merged Oscar Mayer with Addo Food Group. Primarily focused on chilled meals, sandwiches, and food-to-go—the categories that drive lunchtime purchasing across UK convenience stores.
- Revenue
- ~£600M (combined)
- Employees
- ~5,000
- Facilities
- 8+ UK production sites
- Capabilities
- Pies, sausage rolls, pasties, ready meals, sandwiches, food-to-go, chilled convenience
BRC
Formed in 2023 through the merger of Oscar Mayer and Addo Food Group (which itself combined Pork Farms, Walls pastry, and other brands). Backed by LDC Private Equity. The consolidation created one of the UK's largest chilled and ambient convenience food manufacturers. Brands include Pork Farms, Wall's Pastry, and Squirrel Sisters. Their combined capacity in pies, pastry, and food-to-go makes them a significant private-label supplier across the UK convenience sector.
- Revenue
- ~£200M
- Employees
- ~1,500
- Facilities
- Multiple UK sites
- Capabilities
- Ambient and chilled: stuffing mixes, seasonings, coating systems, dried fruit, snacks, recipe mixes; private label and branded
BRC AAOrganic
A specialist in dry and ambient food manufacturing that has grown through acquisitions into a significant UK private-label player. Produces stuffing mixes, seasonings, dried fruit, and coating systems for major retailers. Their dry goods capabilities fill a niche that many chilled-focused UK co-manufacturers don't cover.
- Revenue
- ~£100M
- Employees
- ~350
- Facilities
- Single large facility, Preston, Lancashire
- Capabilities
- Dry blending, powder processing, spray drying; instant hot drinks, dessert mixes, protein powders, gravy, sauce mixes, sports nutrition
BRC AAOrganicKosherHalal
UK's leading dry-blend and powder specialist. If it comes in a sachet, stick pack, or jar and needs blending, Aimia likely has the capability. Produces hot chocolate, cappuccino mixes, dessert powders, protein supplements, and gravy/sauce mixes for retail private label and B2B clients. Their spray drying and agglomeration capabilities are relatively rare in the UK co-manufacturing landscape.
France
France presents a paradox for co-manufacturing sourcing: the country has one of Europe's most sophisticated food cultures and a massive food industry, yet dedicated independent contract manufacturers are surprisingly thin on the ground. Much of France's private-label production is handled either by branded manufacturers running dual-track lines (branded plus private label from the same plant) or by vertically integrated groups that treat co-manufacturing as a secondary function. The cultural emphasis on terroir and brand identity means that many French producers would rather sell their own label than someone else's. That said, the players that do operate in French co-manufacturing tend to be formidable.
- Revenue
- €7.5B trailing 12 months (as of Aug 2025)
- Employees
- ~25,000+
- Facilities
- 93 production sites across France, Spain, Poland, Hungary, UK
- Capabilities
- Poultry (slaughter, processing, added-value), delicatessen (pizzas, sandwiches, ready meals, sauces, snacks), eggs; branded and private label
IFSBRCLabel Rouge
France's largest and Europe's leading poultry group, processing over 578 million birds annually. Three divisions: Poultry (40% French market share), International (Spain, Poland, Hungary, UK via Capestone Organic), and Catered-Food/Delicatessen (5th largest in France—pizzas, sandwiches, tarts, chilled deli, sauces under brands like Le Gaulois, Loué, Marie). Acquired parts of insolvent Groupe Doux in 2018 and recently acquired UK's Gressingham Foods. Euronext Paris listed, Lambert family controls ~42%. LDC's delicatessen division produces both branded and private-label products, making them a significant co-manufacturing partner in chilled convenience categories. The sheer breadth of their 93-site network across France gives them geographic reach that few competitors can match.
- Revenue
- ~€800M
- Employees
- ~3,500
- Facilities
- Multiple sites in western France (Vendée region), plus operations in Canada
- Capabilities
- Chilled deli meats (charcuterie), prepared meals, surimi, cooked poultry; tray-sealed, MAP packaging
IFSBRC
A household name in France for chilled convenience. Fleury Michon's "Bien Manger" (Eat Well) strategy has positioned them as a premium chilled deli and ready-meal manufacturer with clean-label credentials. Their primary business is branded, but they produce private label for French and European retailers. Strong in surimi (they're France's market leader in the category) and sliced charcuterie. Their Vendée production base gives them deep roots in one of France's most productive agricultural regions.
Benelux (Belgium & Netherlands)
The Benelux region punches far above its weight in European food co-manufacturing. Belgium and the Netherlands together function as a logistical crossroads—ports at Rotterdam and Antwerp, proximity to France, Germany, and the UK, and a pragmatic business culture that treats private-label production as a perfectly respectable (and highly profitable) enterprise. The region's strength concentrates in three areas: frozen vegetables (Belgium's Westhoek region is essentially the world capital of IQF vegetables), potatoes (the Netherlands and Belgium process more potatoes per capita than anywhere else in Europe), and bakery (Vandemoortele, Lantmännen Unibake, and Baker & Baker all have major Benelux operations).
- Revenue
- €5B+ (group, 2024—record year)
- EBITDA
- €186.5M adjusted (2024)
- Facilities
- 9 frozen facilities globally, extensive fresh distribution network; 80+ countries
- Capabilities
- Fresh/frozen/prepared fruit & vegetables; IQF vegetables, frozen fruit, ready meals, sauces; private label and branded
BRCIFSOrganicGlobalGAP
A fresh and frozen produce giant. Greenyard's "Long Fresh" segment (frozen + canned) generates approximately €1B in revenue from 9 frozen facilities worldwide. The Deprez family are principal shareholders. Recently invested €3M in a new sauce facility at Bree (Belgium) adding 15 million units of capacity. Their frozen division is a major private-label supplier of IQF vegetables, frozen fruits, and increasingly, frozen ready meals to European retailers. The fresh division handles distribution for fruit and vegetables across the continent. If you need frozen vegetable co-manufacturing at scale in Europe, Greenyard and Ardo (below) are the two names that matter most.
- Revenue
- ~€1B
- Employees
- ~3,500
- Facilities
- Multiple plants across Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, France, Portugal, UK
- Capabilities
- Frozen vegetables, herbs, fruits, rice, pasta; IQF processing, steam cooking, blanching
BRCIFSOrganic
One of Europe's largest frozen vegetable specialists, operating primarily from Belgium's Westhoek region—the heartland of European IQF vegetable production. Family-owned and deeply integrated with local farming cooperatives. Produces private-label frozen vegetables for major European retailers alongside its own Ardo brand. Their proximity to thousands of hectares of pea, bean, and spinach cultivation gives them a supply-chain advantage that's difficult to replicate.
- Revenue
- ~€600M
- Employees
- ~3,000+
- Facilities
- 12+ facilities: Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Poland, China
- Capabilities
- Frozen/fresh/dried fries, potato specialties, flakes, granules, croquettes; retail, foodservice, industrial
BRCIFSFSSC 22000
The world's fourth-largest potato processor, owned by Royal Cosun (a cooperative of Dutch sugar beet and potato growers). Processes 1.7 million tonnes of potatoes annually. Held 48% market share in Dutch frozen potatoes as of 2006—a dominance that has likely only grown since. Major expansion: new Poperinge (Belgium) plant opened 2021. Sold their Cuijk fresh potato plant to Frespo in 2023 to refocus on frozen. Both branded (Aviko) and extensive private-label production for European retail and foodservice. If you need frozen potato products co-manufactured in Europe, Aviko is alongside McCain and Lamb Weston as one of the few players with the scale and technology to deliver.
- Revenue
- ~€500M
- Employees
- ~2,500
- Facilities
- Plants in Belgium, Netherlands, France, UK
- Capabilities
- Chilled/frozen: meatballs, burgers, sausages, ready meals, plant-based proteins, meal components
BRCIFS
Formerly known as Ter Beke until a 2022 rebrand. A Benelux-based specialist in processed meat products and ready meals, with a growing plant-based portfolio. Produces both branded (Come a Casa, Dantessa) and private-label products. Acquired the ready meals business of Vamo (Belgium) and has expanded into plant-based manufacturing. Their strength is in meat-based convenience: meatballs, burgers, sausages, and the kind of everyday protein products that fill European supermarket chilled cabinets.
- Revenue
- ~€200M
- Employees
- ~600
- Facilities
- Ardooie, Belgium
- Capabilities
- Fresh-cut salads, vegetables, fruit; ready-to-eat, ready-to-cook; MAP packaging, washed and bagged
BRC AAIFS Higher Level
Belgium's leading fresh-cut produce specialist. Processes fresh-cut salads, vegetables, and fruits for retail private label and foodservice clients. Their position in the fresh-cut category—where shelf life is measured in days and cold-chain precision is critical—makes them a specialized partner for retailers needing local fresh-cut capacity in the Benelux/Northern France region.
DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
Germany is simultaneously the largest food market in Europe and one of the hardest to crack for outsiders looking for co-manufacturing partners. The market is defined by discounters—Aldi and Lidl together command enormous share, and their private-label requirements (stringent specs, aggressive pricing, massive volume commitments) have shaped an entire ecosystem of manufacturers that are optimized for discount retail. Many German food manufacturers operate a "dual-track" model: branded products under their own labels and private-label production from the same facilities. The result is a landscape where dedicated co-manufacturers are rarer than you'd expect, but dual-track producers willing to take co-manufacturing briefs are abundant if you know where to look. Austria contributes a strong beverage sector (Rauch is the standout), and Switzerland houses several niche-but-important players in ambient foods and bakery ingredients.
- Revenue
- €638M (2024)
- Employees
- ~1,600+
- Facilities
- 4 plants: 3 in Germany, 1 in Bydgoszcz, Poland
- Capabilities
- Frozen fish (€294M), frozen vegetables/fruit (€141M), frozen ready meals (€205M); IQF, coating, breading
IFSMSCOrganicPurity Law (Zero Additives)
Germany's market leader in frozen meals and a significant private-label producer operating through two distinct segments: FRoSTA (own brand + meals-on-wheels) and COPACK (dedicated private label + industrial). The COPACK segment is the one you care about for co-manufacturing—it produces frozen fish, vegetables, and ready meals for Aldi, Lidl, Norma, and other discounters. FRoSTA's self-imposed "Purity Law" (Reinheitsgebot) since 2003—zero additives, flavor enhancers, or artificial colorings—has become a genuine market differentiator. Also the market leader in frozen fish in Poland via their Bydgoszcz plant.
- Revenue
- €1.65–1.9B (group)
- Employees
- ~4,600–5,000
- Facilities
- 10–11 production sites in Germany + facilities in Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Spain
- Capabilities
- Potato specialties, sauces, salads, antipasti, spreads, desserts, dressings, dips, marinades, pasta, soups, stews; 400,000 tonnes potatoes processed annually
IFSBRCOrganic
Family-owned since 1962, Wernsing is Germany's premier potato and sauces specialist. The Wernsing Food Family encompasses four divisions: Wernsing Food Group (WFG), Bieze Food Group (BFG, Netherlands), Popp Food Group (PFG), and Food-Service-Group (FSG). Their product range is remarkably broad—from French fries to antipasti to desserts. Clients include wholesale, retail, discount, and industrial partners throughout Germany and Europe. Pioneered PEF (Pulsed Electric Field) technology in fries production since 2012. Automated cold storage at the Addrup site: 23,000 rack positions handling 1-tonne pallets. Nominated for the German Sustainability Award 2024. Sold CêlaVíta chilled potatoes subsidiary to McCain in 2024.
- Revenue
- ~€1.8B
- Employees
- ~5,000
- Facilities
- 30+ production sites globally
- Capabilities
- Beverage ingredients, natural flavors, fruit/vegetable concentrates, purees, colors, cereal ingredients, dairy ingredients, fermented products
IFSFSSC 22000OrganicKosherHalal
Similar qualifier to Kerry: Döhler is primarily a B2B ingredients company—one of the world's largest suppliers of natural ingredients to the food and beverage industry. They don't typically co-manufacture finished products at scale, but their integrated "concept-to-product" approach means they can support clients from formulation through pilot production. Most relevant if you need beverage ingredients, fruit processing, or natural flavor systems with European manufacturing. Their Darmstadt innovation center is one of the most impressive food tech facilities in Europe.
- Revenue
- €1B+ (2019)
- Employees
- ~3,000+
- Facilities
- 13 production sites: Austria (Rankweil, Nüziders), Switzerland (Widnau), Germany (Baruth planned), US (Glendale AZ, Concord NC)
- Capabilities
- Beverage production: juices, nectars, teas, energy drinks, coffee drinks; fruit concentrates and purees (B2B); co-packing and contract filling; aseptic, PET, can, glass, Tetra Pak
ISO 9001BRCGSFSSC 22000HalalKosher
Family-owned since 1919 (4th generation) with a remarkable dual identity: they're both a branded juice company (Happy Day, Bravo, Cafemio, Nativa) and the world's largest bottler for Red Bull. The Red Bull partnership, dating to 1987, is the engine that built Rauch's co-packing infrastructure. Three divisions: Rauch Beverage Solutions (own brands), Rauch Fruits (B2B concentrates/purees for 100+ countries), and Rauch Co-Packing (contract filling). If you need beverage co-packing in Central Europe with aseptic and Tetra Pak capability, Rauch is one of very few players with both the technology and the track record.
- Revenue
- ~CHF 200M
- Employees
- ~600
- Facilities
- Switzerland (Gümligen), plus partner facilities
- Capabilities
- Ambient foods: soups, sauces, seasonings, instant meals, coffee/tea, dessert mixes; dry blending, spray drying, liquid processing; private label and co-manufacturing
IFSBRCOrganicKosher
Switzerland's largest ambient food co-manufacturer and a hidden gem in the European landscape. HACO specializes in shelf-stable products—soups, sauces, seasonings, instant meals, beverage powders—with particular strength in dry-mix and powder processing. Their Swiss base means higher production costs than Eastern European alternatives, but also Swiss precision in quality control and formulation. A strong partner for premium ambient food co-manufacturing where "Swiss quality" is a selling point for the end product.
- Revenue
- Not disclosed (est. €30–50M)
- Employees
- ~150
- Facilities
- Single production site, Bavaria
- Capabilities
- Private-label sauces, ready meals, fruit preparations; co-packing services for retail
IFS
A smaller, family-owned Bavarian manufacturer (founded 1948) specializing in private-label sauces, ready meals, and fruit preparations for the retail sector. Representative of the many mid-sized German Mittelstand companies that quietly produce millions of units of private-label product without any public profile. Good for brands needing mid-scale sauce or ready-meal production in southern Germany.
- Employees
- ~500+
- Facilities
- Germany
- Capabilities
- Frozen and chilled convenience: meat products, vegetarian/vegan alternatives, breaded/coated items; private label
IFS
Founded 1982, Vossko is a German specialist in frozen and chilled convenience products. Produces meat-based and vegetarian/vegan items—breaded, coated, and prepared formats—primarily for private-label retail. Part of the dense network of mid-sized German food manufacturers that serve discounters and supermarkets with product that goes to market under the retailer's brand.
Nordics (Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway)
The Nordic food manufacturing landscape is defined by cooperatives, high welfare standards, and an outsized per-capita consumption of frozen and convenience foods. Norway consumes 5.5 kg of pizza per person per year. Finland eats 14 liters of ice cream per capita. These aren't small markets—they're intensely competitive ones where private label from Aldi (via Rema 1000), Lidl, ICA, and Coop drives significant co-manufacturing volume. The region's food manufacturers tend to be either farmer-owned cooperatives (Atria, Lantmännen, HKFoods) or family businesses (Gunnar Dafgård, Orkla portfolio companies) with deep roots in specific protein or convenience categories.
- Revenue
- NOK 50.4B (~€4.5B, 2021)
- Employees
- ~21,400
- Facilities
- Multiple production sites across Nordics, Baltics, Central/Eastern Europe, India
- Capabilities
- Branded consumer goods: sauces, dressings, snacks, confectionery, baked goods, pizza, frozen meals; strong portfolio across Nordics and CEE
BRCIFS
Qualifier: Orkla is primarily a branded consumer goods conglomerate—think of them as the Nordic equivalent of a Kraft or Unilever. They own dozens of beloved Scandinavian brands: Felix, Stabburet, OLW, Abba Seafood, Göteborgs Kex, Nidar, KiMs, Beauvais, Panda, Kalev, and many more. They generally do NOT operate as a contract manufacturer for third parties. However, their sheer scale and breadth across Nordic/Baltic food manufacturing makes them important landscape context. Some of their portfolio companies do produce private-label products alongside their branded lines.
- Revenue
- €1.3B (2024)
- Employees
- ~2,600
- Facilities
- Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia
- Capabilities
- Meat processing: pork, beef, poultry slaughter and processing; consumer products (sausages, cold cuts, ready meals), foodservice; branded and private label
BRCIFS
Finland's market leader in meat processing and one of the largest in the Nordics. Operates across four geographic areas: Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Estonia. Strong in consumer-ready meat products—sausages, cold cuts, kebab/burger products (under the Well Beef brand), and ready meals. New Nurmo poultry plant opened 2024. Acquired Saarioinen's slaughter operations in 2014. Both branded (Atria) and private-label production for Nordic retailers including ICA, Coop, and S Group.
- Revenue
- ~€1.8B
- Employees
- ~6,000
- Facilities
- Finland, Sweden, Baltics
- Capabilities
- Meat processing: pork, beef, poultry; consumer-ready products, foodservice; 400M kg meat processed/year; 7,500+ contract farmers
BRCIFS
A major Nordic meat processor that rebranded from HKScan to HKFoods. Operates across Finland (brands: HK, Kariniemen chicken), Sweden, and the Baltics. Recently sold its Danish subsidiary (Rose Poultry) to Plukon in 2024 for €44.6M. Processes 400 million kg of meat annually from 7,500+ contract farmers. Their "Agrofood" ecosystem initiative (launched 2019) aims to create a more transparent farm-to-fork chain. Strong in private-label supply to Nordic retailers alongside their own brands.
- Revenue
- ~SEK 3B (~€260M+)
- Employees
- ~1,100+
- Facilities
- Källby, Sweden (main production complex)
- Capabilities
- Frozen/chilled: Swedish meatballs, pizza (Billy's Pizza), lasagna, ready meals, bakery; co-packing for frozen meat, pizza, pasta, ready meals
BRCIFS
Sweden's largest private food producer and a family business in its third generation (founded 1937). Their Billy's Pizza brand is one of the most recognized frozen food brands in Sweden. Beyond their own brands (Familjen Dafgård, Gorby's), they operate as a contract manufacturer for frozen ready meals, meatballs, pizza, and pasta products. A genuine dual-track operator: strong consumer brands and meaningful co-manufacturing capacity. If you need frozen convenience manufactured in Sweden, Dafgård is the first name.
- Revenue
- SEK 5.4B+ (~€470M+)
- Employees
- ~3,000+
- Facilities
- Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Ireland
- Capabilities
- Poultry: fresh, frozen, marinated, breaded, ready-to-cook; ~45% frozen products; retail private label + foodservice
BRCIFS
The Nordic poultry specialist. Holds commanding market shares across the region: ~30% in Sweden, ~43% in Denmark, ~24% in Norway. Brands include Kronfågel (Sweden), Danpo (Denmark), and Den Stolte Hane (Norway). A significant proportion (~45%) of output is frozen products. Supplies major Nordic retailers (ICA, Coop, Rema 1000) and foodservice chains (including McDonald's). Both branded and private-label production. Recently reported improved profitability driven by strong demand for chicken products in Nordic home markets.
Poland & Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe—and Poland in particular—is the fastest-growing region in European food co-manufacturing. The combination of lower production costs, EU regulatory compliance, skilled labor forces, and strategic location between Western European markets and raw material sources has turned Poland into a genuine production hub. Private-label penetration in Central and Eastern Europe is rising (the shift from traditional to modern retail is driving net growth of 0.1% annually through 2030, according to McKinsey), and manufacturers in the region are increasingly upgrading to match Western European quality standards while maintaining cost advantages. The region's frozen food sector is particularly strong, with Polish manufacturers supplying significant volumes of private-label frozen products to Western European retailers.
- Revenue
- ~PLN 1.5B (~€350M)
- Employees
- ~3,000
- Facilities
- Multiple plants across Poland
- Capabilities
- Frozen foods: fish (breaded, battered), vegetables, ready meals, pierogi, dumplings, pizza; private label and branded
BRCIFSMSC
Poland's largest frozen food producer and a major private-label exporter to Western European retailers. Their product range covers the full frozen spectrum—fish, vegetables, ready meals, traditional Polish products (pierogi, dumplings). A key supplier to European discounters seeking cost-effective frozen production with EU-standard certifications. Their scale in frozen fish processing is particularly notable; Poland has become a significant hub for frozen fish products destined for Western European markets.
- Revenue
- ~PLN 1B (~€230M)
- Employees
- ~2,000
- Facilities
- Multiple Polish production sites
- Capabilities
- Frozen fruits, vegetables, ready meals; juices, nectars, drinks; IQF processing
BRCIFSOrganic
One of Poland's most recognized frozen food and juice brands, with significant private-label production alongside its own branded products. Strong in IQF frozen fruits and vegetables—categories where Poland's agricultural base (particularly berries and soft fruits) gives the country a natural advantage. Dual-track branded/private label operation serving both the Polish domestic market and export clients across Europe.
- Revenue
- PLN 4.76B+ (~€1.1B+)
- Employees
- ~8,000+
- Facilities
- 18 modern production plants in Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia
- Capabilities
- Juices/nectars/drinks (2.2B liters/year), pasta/cereal/instant products (280,000 tonnes/year), jams/preserves, sauces, ketchup, ready meals; B2B co-manufacturing division
IFSBRC
Poland's largest private food company and one of CEE's biggest food producers. Primarily a branded business—owning Tymbark, Kubuś, Lubella, Łowicz, and 70+ other brands—but operates a dedicated B2B sales department that provides co-manufacturing services for international food corporations, yoghurt producers, and confectionery/convenience companies. Their beverage production capacity (2.2 billion liters/year) is immense. Acquired Nestea production/distribution license for Central Europe from Nestlé in 2019. Recently acquired Becherovka from Pernod Ricard and has expanded into alcoholic beverages. 18 production plants across 5 CEE countries make them a genuinely pan-regional operation.
Southern Europe (Spain & Portugal)
Southern Europe's co-manufacturing landscape is thinner in terms of dedicated contract manufacturers, but the region excels in specific categories—particularly frozen bakery (Spain) and plant-based beverages. The companies listed here represent the strongest co-manufacturing plays I've identified in the region.
- Revenue
- ~€1.3B
- Employees
- ~5,000
- Facilities
- 25+ plants across Spain, France, Netherlands, UK, Turkey, US, Latin America
- Capabilities
- Frozen bakery: croissants, pastries, breads (par-baked, pre-proofed, ready-to-bake), sweet baked goods; retail, foodservice, in-store bakery
BRCIFS
One of Europe's largest frozen bakery companies, founded in 1987. Attempted a €2.2B IPO on the Madrid Stock Exchange in 2024 that was ultimately postponed due to market conditions. Their strength is in premium frozen bakery—particularly croissants and artisan breads—supplied to both in-store bakeries and retail frozen aisles. The postponed IPO revealed the scale of their operations: 25+ plants, presence in 80+ countries, and a product portfolio of over 1,000 SKUs.
- Revenue
- ~€400–500M
- Employees
- ~2,000
- Facilities
- Multiple plants in Navarra (Spain), Portugal, Italy
- Capabilities
- Frozen vegetables, prepared vegetables, ready meals; IQF processing; retail private label, foodservice, industrial
BRCIFSOrganic
Spain's leading frozen vegetable company and a significant European private-label supplier. Navarra's Ebro Valley is one of Southern Europe's most productive vegetable growing regions, and Congelados de Navarra has built its operations around that agricultural base. Strong in IQF vegetables, prepared vegetable mixes, and increasingly in frozen ready meals. A key supplier to European retailers needing frozen vegetable sourcing from Southern Europe.
- Revenue
- ~€100M
- Employees
- ~300
- Facilities
- Burgos, Spain
- Capabilities
- Plant-based beverages: oat milk, soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, coconut milk; ambient UHT processing; Tetra Pak and bottle formats; private label and branded
IFSOrganicVegan
Spain's largest independent producer of plant-based beverages and a growing private-label supplier to European retailers. As plant-based milk alternatives have exploded from niche to mainstream, Frías has positioned itself as a key co-manufacturing partner for retailers and brands needing UHT plant-based beverages produced in Europe. Their Burgos facility handles multiple plant bases (oat, soy, almond, rice, coconut) with the flexibility to switch between formulations—a capability that's increasingly valuable as the plant-based category fragments.
Private Label Is the Operating System, Not a Feature
The single biggest mental adjustment for anyone coming from the US market is this: in Europe, private label is not a secondary revenue stream that manufacturers tolerate because branded volume is soft. It is the business. European private-label grocery share hit 39.1% in 2024—and McKinsey projects it could reach 42% by 2030. In Germany, Aldi and Lidl run 80%+ own-brand ranges. In the UK, Marks & Spencer's entire chilled food empire is built on private label manufactured by Greencore, Bakkavor, and their peers.
What this means in practice is that most European co-manufacturers have already developed the formulations. When you approach them, you are not bringing a blank canvas and asking them to paint your vision. You are choosing from a menu of existing capabilities—proven recipes, validated line configurations, packaging formats that are already retailer-approved. The upside: onboarding can be faster if your product fits within their existing repertoire. The downside: if you need something genuinely custom—a novel formulation, an unusual format, a non-standard allergen profile—expect the conversation to slow down considerably. Custom work requires new line trials, new supplier qualifications, and often new packaging tooling. I've seen custom projects take 9–12 months from first conversation to first commercial run. Plan accordingly.
The Family Ownership Dynamic
I made the mistake, early in my European sourcing career, of sending a polished corporate RFP to a fourth-generation German manufacturer. It was 22 pages long, contained every specification imaginable, and was structured exactly the way our procurement team would approach a US-based co-packer. The response was a three-sentence email from the founder's grandson: "Thank you for your interest. We would prefer to discuss this in person over lunch. Are you available to visit our facility in the next month?"
A striking number of the companies in this guide are multi-generational family businesses—Wernsing (since 1962), Rauch (1919, fourth generation), Gunnar Dafgård (1937, third generation), Fleury Michon (Vendée roots going back decades), Samworth Brothers (1896), Vandemoortele (1899), Maspex (1990 but with an acquisitive founder who still runs the show). This isn't a curiosity—it has direct operational implications for how you source.
Family-owned manufacturers value long-term relationships over transactional wins. They are more likely to invest in the relationship if they believe you'll be a partner for years, not quarters. But they are also more conservative about taking on new clients. Capacity is finite, and they'd rather run at 90% utilization with trusted partners than chase marginal volume from unknown brands. Getting a meeting often requires an introduction—from a broker, a shared supplier, or an industry contact—rather than a cold email. Once you're in, though, the relationship can be remarkably stable. I've worked with family-owned European manufacturers who haven't changed their commercial terms in a decade because the handshake still holds.
Certifications: The European Retailer's First Filter
In the US, SQF and GFSI certification are important, but a scrappy regional co-packer without top-tier certs can still land business with certain retailers and DTC brands. In Europe, the certification question is binary. BRC (now BRCGS) and IFS are the two dominant food safety standards, and if a manufacturer doesn't hold at least one at a high grade—AA for BRC, Higher Level for IFS—most major European retailers won't even take a sample. It's not a negotiation. It's a filter that runs before any commercial conversation begins.
But food safety certs are just the entry ticket. The second tier of requirements is where the real complexity lives, and it's accelerating:
Certification / Standard | What It Covers | Status in Retailer Scorecards |
|---|
BRCGS / IFS | Food safety management systems | Non-negotiable baseline. AA or Higher Level expected. |
FSSC 22000 | Food safety (ISO-based alternative) | Accepted by many retailers, especially in Benelux/Nordics. |
RSPO | Sustainable palm oil sourcing | Required by most Western European retailers for bakery/confectionery. |
MSC / ASC | Sustainable seafood (wild-caught / farmed) | Required for frozen fish private label at major retailers. |
SBTi Validation | Science-based climate targets | Moving from "nice to have" to required. Plukon, Lantmännen Unibake already validated. |
SEDEX / SMETA | Ethical trade / labor standards | Required by UK retailers. Increasingly expected across Europe. |
When you're building your shortlist, map certifications first. It will eliminate half the field before you ever discuss pricing—and that's exactly the point. A manufacturer without the right certs for your target retailer is a manufacturer who cannot ship your product, regardless of how good their line looks.
Geography Is a Constraint, Not a Preference
In the US, you can ship a shelf-stable product from a co-packer in Illinois to a retailer DC in Georgia without thinking twice about it. In Europe, that logic breaks down fast—and not just because of distance. A frozen food manufacturer in Belgium serves a fundamentally different logistics radius than one in Poland. Cross-border shipments within the EU are frictionless on paper but involve different labeling requirements, language-specific packaging, and transport costs that are significant for chilled and frozen products. Post-Brexit, UK-EU shipments are a category of pain unto themselves.
Many European retailers actively prefer to source from manufacturers within their own country or immediate neighbors. A German discounter will default to a German or Dutch manufacturer before considering a Spanish one—not out of bias, but because shorter supply chains mean fresher product, lower transport costs, and faster response times when something goes wrong. This is why I organized this guide by geography first, and it's why you should think about your manufacturing footprint the same way. If you're targeting Tesco, you need UK capacity. If you're targeting Aldi Süd in Germany, you need DACH production. If you're targeting Carrefour in France, you need French or Benelux production. Trying to serve a French retailer from a Polish plant is possible for frozen or ambient—but for chilled, it's a non-starter.
Lead Times and the Capacity Squeeze
I want to be direct about this because it's the part that catches most first-time European sourcers off guard: the good manufacturers are full. They have been full for years. European food co-manufacturing operates at 85–95% capacity utilization as a baseline, and the best facilities—the ones with AA-grade BRC, clean audit histories, and long-term retailer relationships—are often booked 12+ months out for new client onboarding.
This isn't a temporary supply crunch. It's structural. Family-owned manufacturers don't build speculative capacity. They expand when they have signed contracts that justify the investment—not before. Private-equity-owned operators (Aryzta, Baker & Baker, Compleat Food Group) are slightly more aggressive on capacity expansion, but they're also under margin pressure that makes them choosy about which new clients justify the setup costs.
The practical takeaway: start conversations 6–12 months before you need product on shelves. Have backup manufacturers identified before you need them. And when you do get a meeting with a manufacturer you want, come prepared with volume commitments, not "projected interest." European manufacturers—especially the family-owned ones—have heard every optimistic forecast from every brand that was going to be "the next big thing." They've learned to filter for partners who can demonstrate real demand, not just ambition. A confirmed retail listing, a signed distribution agreement, or existing sales data from another market will open doors that a pitch deck alone never will.
Beyond the Capabilities Deck
That first trip to the Netherlands—the one where the plant director informed me that "aspirational" and "confirmed" were different words—taught me something I carry to every European sourcing engagement. The distance between a manufacturer's website and their production floor is measured in trust, not kilometers. The companies in this guide represent the tier of European operators who have earned that trust over decades, often generations. They are the ones who run the lines that keep 500 million European consumers fed, even when supply chains fracture and costs spike and regulators change the rules mid-game.
Your job isn't to find a facility with the right checkboxes on a capabilities matrix. It's to find a partner whose plant scheduler treats your SOPs with the same seriousness as their own. Close the browser, book the flight, and don't sign anything until you've stood on the production floor and watched the line run. In European food manufacturing, the relationship starts when you show up.
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