Chinese company buys traditional Wolf brand: future of sausage production?

Chinese company buys traditional Wolf brand: future of sausage production?

In a significant turnaround for Bavarian sausage production, Wolf Essgenuss, a traditional sausage manufacturer from Schwandorf, is being sold after 100 years of family ownership. The buyer is the WH Group, an international meat company from China, which is handling the deal through its British subsidiary Morliny Foods. However, the takeover still needs to be approved by the antitrust authorities Mercury reported.

Wolf Essgenuss is not an unknown player in the German sausage landscape. The company is one of the four largest sausage manufacturers in the country and employs around 1,800 people at the Schwandorf, Nuremberg and Schmölln locations. Christian Wolf, the fourth generation to run the company, sees the takeover as a new phase in the company's 100-year history. The Wolf brand should remain intact even after the sale T Online reported.

Opportunities and challenges

The WH Group wants to strengthen its presence in Europe, where it already operates over 20 locations and generates annual sales of around 27 billion euros. Claudius Wolf, the managing director, sees the company's undeniable potential and emphasizes that the takeover could help to secure the locations and thus jobs in Bavaria and Thuringia in the long term. But critical voices warn that regional meat production could be endangered by such takeovers.

Experts, such as Josef Efken from the Thünen Institute, view the developments with moderate skepticism. They emphasize the economic benefits that could arise from cooperation between international corporations and regional producers. At a time when German meat and sausage production is under pressure due to falling demand and rising raw material prices, WH Group's expertise could actually open up new perspectives.

The situation of meat processing in Germany

It's not just the takeover of Wolf Essgenuss that is a sign of change in the industry. In general, meat processing in Germany faces major challenges. With a turnover of almost 50 billion euros, this sector of the economy is still strong, but reality paints a picture of change. The leading companies in this sector are Tönnies, Westfleisch and Danish Crown, and pork consumption is declining, albeit slightly. Statista provides exciting insights into developments.

Jacob is certain: “We have to accept the challenges and at the same time seize the opportunities that arise.” The sale of Wolf Essgenuss could perhaps actually begin a new chapter for Bavarian sausage production, with both the preservation of the brand and the well-being of the employees in mind.