Nestlé buys spice start-up Ankerkraut

The Hamburg-based start-up now has a new majority shareholder. Not everyone likes that.

The spice start-up Ankerkraut is going to the food group Nestlé. According to Nestlé, Ankerkraut's current management team will continue to run the business independently. The founders and management will also remain as shareholders. Nestlé wants to learn from the start-up's agility, entrepreneurial spirit and omnichannel presence. Ankerkraut would benefit from Nestlé's distribution network as part of the takeover.

Anne and Stefan Lemcke founded the herb and spice manufacturer Ankerkraut in 2013. In 2016, the start-up became known through its participation in Die Höhle der Löwen and the involvement of Frank Thelen. The founders sell their products via an online store and in retail stores in Germany and Austria. Ankerkraut has now sold a majority stake to Nestlé. "This step is a great opportunity for us, as we want to continue our growth and professionalization," say the founders.

However, the announcement of the takeover has not been well received everywhere. Gerold Wolfarth, Managing Director of Ökovation Ventures, for example, is of the opinion that Ankerkraut's values do not suit Nestlé. "One thing is very clear to me: Ankerkraut has sold its soul here," writes the Managing Director on Linkedin.