the way we work
Harnessing the Power of Plants – from Farm to Fork
Südzucker Group is passionate about leveraging the power of plants. Today, we are more than a large-scale processor of agricultural raw materials into high-quality products. We accelerate plant-based innovations to create circular economy models that conserve resources. An integrated group of companies with diverse divisions and technologies in different scaling sizes, Südzucker Group takes its core strengths and operates along the entire plant-based value chain. Driven to ensure the future of our customers, our planet and its natural resources, Südzucker Group develops plant-based solutions and products that will sustainably and positively transform agriculture, food, packaging, fuel, and more.
our divisions
Broad Expertise
Südzucker Group specializes in a wide range of agricultural, food and bio-economy markets, covering the whole value chain from farmer to consumer. Processing the sugar beets of our farmers and selling beet sugar once formed the foundation of our company – but now we are so much more! Today, Südzucker Group operates in five business segments: specialty products/consumer markets, CropEnergies (i.e. bio-ethanol), starch, fruit and of course sugar. We see the whole picture – the spectrum of possibilities in bio-based solutions for a more sustainable economy and society. We convert our expertise in technology, agriculture, circular economy and food/bio-economy markets into B2B and B2C innovations.
Südzucker Group
Südzucker Group is an integrated group of companies with plant-based solutions for food, energy and beyond. We strive for a livable, healthy and sustainable world.
Südzucker
Südzucker is the world’s leading producer of beet sugar, sugar specialties and related co-products. Südzucker produces and sells organic beet sugars, fondants, pearl sugars, liquid sugars and sucrose-based excipients. We customize products according to customers’ requirements.
BENEO
BENEO and its state-of-the-art production sites offer plant-based ingredients for food, feed and pharma that improve the nutritional and technical properties of a wide variety of products, while maintaining or even improving taste or texture. Our diversity of expertise offers customers new product ideas and successful product launches.
cropenergies
CropEnergies stands for sustainable, renewable products from biomass. Every day, people use products made from fossil raw materials like crude oil, coal or natural gas. Our biobased products ensure that fossil carbons remain in the ground. For today, and for future generations!
Freiberger
Freiberger grew from a small pizza delivery bakery into Europe’s largest manufacturer of frozen pizzas, snacks and pasta products for retailer own-brands. We work closely with our trading partners to continue our pioneering work, not only technologically, but also in terms of own-brand category management, encompassing consumer wishes and eating trends from America to Cyprus.
Portion Pack Group
Portion Pack Group is a joint venture of specialists in the field of portion packs and the largest producer and supplier of portion packs in Europe. The production sites are spread across several countries and together the group sells around 15 billion portions a year. That’s more than 40 million portions a day!
AGRANA Starch
Starch is our strength. We manufacture starch products at the highest level – using modern and environmentally friendly methods. The raw materials: corn, potatoes and wheat. The result: high-quality starch products for a variety of applications in a wide range of industries.
AGRANA Fruit
In our newest segment, fruit, we have specialized in fruit preparations and fruit juice concentrates. Since 2003, we have relied on gentle, state-of-the-art production processes. Healthy nutrition continues to be a trend – as evidenced by the dynamic growth in this segment.
AGRANA Sugar
As an international sugar supplier, AGRANA is ideally positioned in central, eastern and southeastern Europe, where local production is declining. What sets us apart: High quality standards, new products from purely organic cultivation and the support for regional private labels.
Austria Juice
Austria Juice is one of the most important producers of high-quality food & beverage ingredients and develops customized beverage concepts — in close cooperation with the customer. The comprehensive product portfolio consists of innovative beverage compounds, flavors and fruit juice concentrates, as well as all-in-one fruit wine and cider applications.
a powerful network
Our Innovation
Ecosystem
We believe in the power of plants. To harness this potential, we focus on four “innovation lighthouse” themes: plant-based proteins (meat & fish), bio-based chemicals & decarbonization, sustainability & climate strategy, and digitalization & digital service solutions. Our ecosystem partners draw on broad technological capabilities to grow ideas more profitablly and faster than market peers.
our collaborative innovation
With You all the Way
Our collaborative network empowers the abilities and passion of our people to go further. Together, we can extend technologies to create market-driven value by valorizing the whole biomass of plants and developing circular economy solutions. We can develop, produce and supply plant-based solutions – for nutrition, energy and beyond.
cooperation possibilities
Team Up with Experts
Our highly-motivated and diverse Innovation Team wants to connect, collaborate, accelerate and scale with you.
The Open Innovation
Team of Südzucker Group
Severin Guski
Innovation Project Manager, Austria Juice
Matthias Magin
Head of Corporate Development, Südzucker Group
Head of Corporate Development, Südzucker Group
With a keen eye for fields of innovation and potentially disruptive approaches, Matthias is always on the lookout for strategic partnerships and investment opportunities.
Jens Angermann
Senior Manager Biobased Chemicals, CropEnergies AG
Senior Manager Biobased Chemicals, CropEnergies AG
Jens is an experienced manager and process engineer working for nearly 20 years at Südzucker Group in different functions and positions. Before he joint CropEnergies AG he worked at the New Business Development team at Südzucker Group and was heading the department Bioethanol- and Glucose Technology within Südzucker’s central R&D. Curiosity, discovering new business opportunities and bring relevant stakeholders together are important drivers, every day.
Johan De Soete
New Business Development Sales, Südzucker Group
New Business Development Sales, Südzucker Group
Johan is always in search of new applications and ideas for sugar beet products. Evaluating market opportunities and bringing new solutions to our customers are his priority.
Rüdiger Schock
Head of New Business Development, BENEO
Head of New Business Development, BENEO
Rüdiger is a food technologist with 26 years of experience in the food ingredient industry in Europe and the United States. After spending most of his career as a leader of customer technical support and innovation teams, Rüdiger is now responsible for exploring new ingredients and technologies to expand BENEO’s product portfolio in functional carbohydrates, functional fibers, plant-based proteins as well as rice ingredients.
Stefan Marhöfer
New Product Development Manager, Südzucker Group
New Product Development Manager, Südzucker Group
Stephan is an experienced beverage and sugar specialties technologist. After having worked many years in the beverage industry, he now works as a new product developer for sugary products for the bakery- and confectionery industries at Südzucker AG central R&D. Sustainable products with added value for our customers and Südzucker Group are his priority.
Christoph Poppitz
Product Development Manager, Freiberger Lebensmittel GmbH
Product Development Manager, Freiberger Lebensmittel GmbH
Christoph obtained his degree in food technology after working as a chef in top restaurants for many years. As Product Development Manager, he combines his areas of expertise to create tasty and sustainable food products using plant-based ingredients.
Dr. Peter Risser
Head of Agricultural Research Farm, Südzucker Group
Geert Van Aelst
Head of Sustainability, Südzucker Division Sugar
Head of Sustainability, Südzucker Division Sugar
Combining strategic thinking with broad expertise, Geert aims to implement sustainability through innovative processes like regenerative agriculture, active biodiversity and creating value from agricultural by-products.
Dr. Liv Jánváry
Project Manager New Business Development, BENEO
Project Manager New Business Development, BENEO
With a Ph.D. in agronomy, Liv is especially passionate about the development of new and sustainable protein innovations.
Diana Johnson
Global Account Director, Freiberger Lebensmittel GmbH
Global Account Director, Freiberger Lebensmittel GmbH
An experienced retail key account manager, Diana firmly believes in the power of innovation to create new opportunities in seemingly saturated CPG markets.
Bettina Julien
Senior Innovation Manager, Südzucker Group
Senior Innovation Manager, Südzucker Group
Having worked many years as Food R&D Manager in both B2C and B2B businesses, Bettina brings her experience in the product and innovation management process, as well as her passion to connect people and to create new solutions for consumers.
Martin Kozich
Head of Starch Non-Food Department, Südzucker Group
Head of Starch Non-Food Department, Südzucker Group
Martin has a strong expertise in developing physical, chemical and enzymatic modified starches, especially for technical applications (paper, adhesives, textile, construction, biopolymers, etc.) as well as for food. His priority lies in developing sustainable products for the Südzucker Group with added value for our customers.
Dr. Steffen Beccard
Production Engineer, Südzucker Division Sugar
Production Engineer, Südzucker Division Sugar
Equipped with both a Ph.D. in chemistry and a deep knowledge of manufacturing processes, Steffen’s work at Südzucker Group focuses primarily on industrial process development and engineering.
Dr. Michael Schäfer
Strategic Market Analyst, Südzucker Division Sugar
Strategic Market Analyst, Südzucker Division Sugar
With a doctorate in agricultural economics, Michael uses his insight into commodity markets to evaluate new business opportunities.
Dr. Johann Maier
Head of Agricultural Research, Südzucker Group
Florian Weber
Head of Corporate New Business Development, Südzucker Group
Head of Corporate New Business Development, Südzucker Group
Having worked in the food industry for more than 20 years, both B2B and B2C, Florian is a committed innovator. With expertise in various food segments, he is passionate about creating market-driven innovations, developing new businesses and expanding the world of tasty and sustainable food.