"The Lion's Den": A hundred million deal for Ankerkraut?

Company sold to Nestlé

Created: 04/16/2022, 19:52

Ankerkraut is one of the best-known start-ups from the "Lion's Den".

Now there is a new majority owner.

Nestlé secured shares in the spice company from Hamburg.

Hamburg - It is now one of the most successful start-ups that has ever presented itself in "The Lion's Den" (here all the news on the "Lion's Den" topic page): Ankerkraut.

The founding couple Anne and Stefan Lemcke presented spices and spice mixtures and got a 500,000 euro deal with investor Frank Thelen.

Now there is a new majority owner.

Ankerkraut is one of the most successful "lion's den" start-ups

The company Ankerkraut, a flavor manufacturer from Hamburg, has been around since February 2013.

In 2016, the couple secured a mega deal with Frank Thelen as an investor at the "Lion's Den" (here all the news about the new "Lion's Den" jury).

The company is one of the most successful investments in the history of "Lion's Den" (stream all episodes for free on RTL+ here).

In August 2020, the founding couple sold twenty percent of the company shares, bringing them a double-digit million sum.

Ankerkraut deal with Nestlé - founders remain involved in the business

Ankerkraut has now announced on Twitter: "Nestlé is the new majority owner of Ankerkraut!".

Nevertheless, the company should remain independent, "as a company and brand".

The statement goes on to say: "The founders Anne and Stefan, as well as the management, will remain on board as relevant shareholders and nothing will change in the operative business."

The food group has taken over the shares of the previous investors EMZ Partners, Freigeist Capital and Knälmann Ventures, as well as parts of the management shares.

The company did not give any figures.

Neither Nestlé nor Ankerkraut wanted to comment on the amount of the purchase price when asked by “Gründerszene”.

"The Lion's Den": A hundred million deal for Ankerkraut?

Company sold to Nestlé

In addition to the founders Anne and Stefan Lemcke as shareholders and brand ambassadors, managing directors Timo Haas and Alexander Schwoch will continue to run the company as shareholders.

The deal is currently still subject to official approval by the Cartel Office.

According to the estimates of the industry service "Gründerszene"

Lion's Den flop?

Second Ankerkraut start-up not in retail months after deal

In the meantime, the Ankerkraut founding couple are also investors in the "Lion's Den".

Among other things, the start-up "Holy Pit" secured a deal.

But months later, the vegan deodorant from "Lion's Den" cannot be found in large retail stores.