Berentzen

Berentzen is a German beverage brand and the principal consumer-facing name associated with Berentzen-Gruppe Aktiengesellschaft, a publicly traded beverage manufacturer headquartered in Haselünne in the Emsland region of Lower Saxony. The company traces its origins to a grain distillery established in 1758 by Johann Bernhard Tobias Berentzen. Although the business began as a regional distiller, its identity developed around a broader beverage portfolio that eventually included spirits, soft drinks, mineral water, licensed beverages, and systems for freshly squeezed juice. The Berentzen name became a registered trademark in 1899 through the registration of the grain brandy “vom alten Faß.” During the twentieth century, the business expanded beyond alcoholic drinks. In 1958, it entered the non-alcoholic beverage market through Emsland-Getränke GmbH, and in 1960 it obtained a German Pepsi-Cola concession. The group’s best-known product breakthrough came in 1976 with Apfelkorn, a sweet apple-based mixed drink made from wheat schnapps and apple juice. Developed by brothers Friedrich and Hans Berentzen, Apfelkorn became one of the most successful new spirits launches in postwar Germany and was exported from 1979 onward. A major corporate transformation took place in 1988, when the Berentzen business merged with Pabst & Richarz, creating the Berentzen Group and making it Germany’s second-largest spirits company at the time. The combined group subsequently acquired or integrated additional beverage and spirits businesses, including Strothmann and Dethleffsen. In 1994, Berentzen became the first German spirits manufacturer to list on the stock market. Its public-company structure initially retained strong family influence, with the owner families controlling voting common shares while investors held non-voting preferred shares. The group later experienced a prolonged period of pressure in its core spirits business. Domestic spirits sales declined during the late 1990s and 2000s, while restructuring, management changes, and acquisitions did not restore the company’s earlier market performance. The owner families gradually withdrew from operational control, and in 2008 approximately three-quarters of the common stock was sold to a subsidiary of the Munich private-equity firm Aurelius. The transaction was followed by a substantial restructuring program, including administrative streamlining, organizational separation of sales, marketing, and logistics, and the relocation of spirits production from the historic old-town distillery in Haselünne to the company’s existing site in Minden. Berentzen also reshaped its beverage partnerships. Its long-standing Pepsi franchise ended earlier than originally planned, with the PepsiCo agreement terminating at the end of 2014. A Sinalco franchise agreement followed, and Sinalco beverages were distributed by the group from 2015. In 2014, the group agreed to acquire Austrian company TMP Technic-Marketing-Products GmbH, later renamed Citrocasa, an international provider of freshly squeezed orange-juice systems. Following Aurelius’s complete exit in 2016, Berentzen continued as a publicly traded company with a broad shareholder base. The group converted its non-voting preferred shares into voting common shares in 2015, leaving a single share class. From 2017 onward, management emphasized premiumization, including the opening of a distillery at the Berentzen Hof in Haselünne for premium spirits. Later launches included Tres Países premium rum in 2019 and Berentzen Signature premium fruit liqueurs. The wider group also developed non-alcoholic products, including Mio Mio beverages and the Kräuterbraut herbal soda introduced in 2019. Today, Berentzen represents a multi-category beverage business whose heritage remains anchored in German distilling while its commercial scope covers spirits, soft drinks, and fresh-juice technology.

Berentzen’s history begins in Haselünne in 1758, when councilman Johann Bernhard Tobias Berentzen established a grain distillery. Distilling was already an established local activity: contemporary records identified numerous small distillers in the town. The family’s commercial identity became more formal in 1899, when the Berentzen grain brandy “vom alten Faß” was registered as a trademark. The business remained rooted in spirits but broadened into non-alcoholic beverages during the twentieth century. Emsland-Getränke GmbH was founded in 1958, and in 1960 the company acquired a German Pepsi-Cola concession. A decisive brand event occurred in 1976, when brothers Friedrich and Hans Berentzen introduced Apfelkorn, a sweet combination of wheat schnapps and apple juice. The product became a major German spirits success and began to be exported in 1979. In 1988, the Berentzen business merged with Pabst & Richarz, whose own origins reached back to nineteenth-century distilling and wine businesses. The resulting Berentzen Group became Germany’s second-largest spirits company. The group expanded through further acquisitions, including Strothmann in 1996 and Dethleffsen in 1999. In 1994, it became the first German spirits manufacturer to list publicly. Its ownership structure initially separated voting common shares, retained largely by the founding families, from non-voting preferred shares held by outside investors. The company encountered increasing difficulty in the late 1990s and 2000s as domestic spirits sales weakened. The share price fell substantially from its 1990s high, while restructuring programs, management changes, acquisitions, and licensed brands failed to reverse the broader decline. Jan Berentzen left the Executive Board in 2006, marking the end of direct family involvement in day-to-day management. In 2007, the group announced a consolidation strategy and a marketing effort aimed at strengthening its position in a shrinking German spirits market. In 2008, during the company’s 250th anniversary year, the Berentzen, Pabst, Richarz, and Wolff owner families largely withdrew. Approximately 75% of the common stock was sold to a subsidiary of Munich-based private-equity firm Aurelius, while a minority holding remained with other shareholders and selected family branches. The new owner’s management initiated extensive restructuring. Administrative functions were streamlined, sales, marketing, and logistics were reorganized, and spirits production was moved from the historic old-town facility in Haselünne to Minden. Haselünne retained administrative activities and a bottling facility for soft drinks and mineral water. The company’s distribution portfolio also changed. From April 2009, Berentzen no longer distributed Licor 43 and Linie-Aquavit after the manufacturers ended their agreements following the change in ownership. Berentzen returned to net profitability in 2009 despite continuing sales pressure. In the non-alcoholic business, PepsiCo announced in 2013 that its franchise agreement would not be renewed beyond 2015. The parties instead agreed to an earlier termination at the end of 2014, after which Berentzen began distributing Sinalco under a new franchise agreement. In 2014, Berentzen agreed to acquire TMP Technic-Marketing-Products GmbH of Linz, Austria. Renamed Citrocasa, the company provided equipment and systems for freshly squeezed orange juice, giving Berentzen an additional technology-oriented business alongside beverages. In 2015, all non-voting preferred shares were converted into voting common shares. Aurelius sold its entire holding in 2016, leaving the company with public ownership and a significant institutional shareholder base. The post-2016 strategy emphasized premium products. Berentzen opened a distillery at the Berentzen Hof in Haselünne in 2017, mainly for premium spirits. It launched Tres Países premium rum in February 2019 and Berentzen Signature premium fruit liqueurs in April of that year. The group also extended its non-alcoholic portfolio: after the growth of Mio Mio, it introduced Kräuterbraut herbal soda in May 2019. Berentzen therefore combines a long-established German distilling heritage with a broader group model spanning spirits, soft drinks, mineral water, and fresh-juice systems.

1. 2019Premium and herbal beverage launches

   Berentzen introduced Tres Países rum, Berentzen Signature fruit liqueurs, and Kräuterbraut herbal soda.

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2. 2017Premium distillery opened

   A distillery opened at Berentzen Hof in Haselünne to support premium spirits production.

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3. 2015Share classes consolidated

   The company converted all non-voting preferred shares into voting common shares.

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4. 2014Citrocasa acquisition agreed

   The group agreed to acquire TMP Technic-Marketing-Products GmbH, later renamed Citrocasa.

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5. 1994Initial public offering

   Berentzen became the first German spirits manufacturer to go public.

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6. 1988Berentzen Group established

   Berentzen merged with Pabst & Richarz and became a major German spirits group.

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7. 1976Apfelkorn introduced

   Friedrich and Hans Berentzen launched the apple-based spirits drink that became the group’s best-known product success.

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8. 1960German Pepsi-Cola concession acquired

   The company entered a long-running Pepsi-Cola franchise relationship in Germany.

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9. 1958Entry into non-alcoholic beverages

   Emsland-Getränke GmbH was founded, extending the company beyond spirits.

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10. 1899Berentzen name registered as a trademark

    The Berentzen grain brandy “vom alten Faß” was registered as a trademark.

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11. 1758Founding of the Berentzen grain distillery

    Johann Bernhard Tobias Berentzen established the family grain distillery in Haselünne, the origin of today’s Berentzen Group.

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A traditional German beverage house combining accessible fruit-based spirits and grain distillates with premium spirits, non-alcoholic beverages, and fresh-juice technology.

• Berentzen ApfelkornApple-based spirit drink1976

  Apfelkorn is a sweet mixed drink combining wheat schnapps with apple juice. Introduced in 1976, it became the defining commercial success of the modern Berentzen brand and was exported internationally from 1979. Its approachable fruit profile helped establish Berentzen as a mainstream German spirits name rather than only a traditional grain-distillery label.

• Berentzen SignaturePremium fruit liqueurs2019

  Berentzen Signature is a premium-oriented range of fruit liqueurs launched as part of the group’s post-2016 strategy to move beyond traditional, accessible spirits. The line builds on Berentzen’s historic fruit-flavored expertise while presenting it in a more premium format.

• Tres PaísesPremium rum2019

  Tres Países is a premium rum introduced in 2019. Its launch formed part of Berentzen Group’s premiumization program, which sought to create higher-value spirits alongside the company’s established fruit liqueur and grain-spirit products.

• Mio MioNon-alcoholic soft drinks

  Mio Mio is a non-alcoholic beverage line associated with Berentzen Group’s expansion beyond spirits. Its performance provided the platform for further soft-drink development, including the Kräuterbraut herbal soda launched in 2019.

• KräuterbrautHerbal soda2019

  Kräuterbraut is an herbal soft drink launched in 2019 as an extension of Berentzen Group’s non-alcoholic beverage portfolio. The product reflects the group’s attempt to use the momentum of Mio Mio to develop additional differentiated soft-drink offerings.

• CitrocasaFresh-juice systems

  Citrocasa is the brand of the Austrian business acquired by Berentzen Group in 2014. Rather than being a packaged beverage line, it provides systems for freshly squeezed orange juice and gives the group a technology and equipment business serving the fresh-juice market.

• 2017Premiumization strategyStrategy

  After the change in ownership and the end of the Aurelius period, Berentzen sought new growth in higher-value beverage categories.

  What changed. The group opened a distillery at Berentzen Hof in Haselünne, primarily for premium spirits.

  Aftermath. The initiative was followed by premium launches including Tres Países rum and Berentzen Signature fruit liqueurs.

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• 2014Transition from Pepsi to Sinalco distributionStrategy

  PepsiCo announced that it would not renew the long-standing German franchise agreement after its scheduled end.

  What changed. Berentzen and PepsiCo agreed to terminate the arrangement at the end of 2014, and Berentzen entered a new franchise agreement with Deutsche Sinalco.

  Aftermath. Sinalco beverages were distributed by Berentzen under license from 2015.

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• 2014Acquisition of TMP Technic-Marketing-ProductsM&A

  Berentzen sought to broaden its beverage activities beyond packaged spirits and soft drinks.

  What changed. The group agreed to acquire all shares in Austrian fresh-juice system provider TMP Technic-Marketing-Products GmbH, later renamed Citrocasa.

  Aftermath. The transaction added fresh orange-juice equipment and systems to Berentzen Group’s business portfolio.

  Purchase price range. (2014 announcement)

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• 2008Sale of majority stake to AureliusM&A

  The founding owner families had largely withdrawn from the company after years of pressure in the core spirits business and weakening domestic sales.

  What changed. Approximately 75% of the common stock was sold to a subsidiary of Munich-based private-equity firm Aurelius.

  Aftermath. Aurelius-appointed management initiated administrative streamlining, organizational restructuring, and the relocation of spirits production from historic Haselünne premises to Minden.

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• 2019Berentzen launches Tres Países premium rum

  Berentzen introduced Tres Países as a premium rum, reflecting the group’s strategic emphasis on higher-value products.

  Product launch
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• 2019Berentzen introduces Berentzen Signature fruit liqueurs

  The company launched Berentzen Signature, a premium fruit-liqueur range intended to extend the brand into higher-priced spirits.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2019Berentzen launches Kräuterbraut herbal soda

  The group expanded its non-alcoholic portfolio with Kräuterbraut, an herbal soft drink developed after the success of Mio Mio.

  Product launch
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• 2017Berentzen opens premium distillery at Berentzen Hof

  The group opened a distillery at the Berentzen Hof in Haselünne to support production of spirits positioned in the premium segment.

  Product launch
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• 2016Aurelius exits Berentzen

  Aurelius sold its entire stake in Berentzen Group, ending its period as the company’s controlling shareholder.

  M&A
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• 2014Berentzen ends PepsiCo franchise and begins Sinalco distribution

  Berentzen and PepsiCo agreed to end their German franchise arrangement at the end of 2014. Berentzen subsequently entered a new franchise agreement with Deutsche Sinalco.

  Other
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• 2014Berentzen agrees to acquire Citrocasa

  The group announced an agreement to acquire all shares in TMP Technic-Marketing-Products GmbH, later renamed Citrocasa, a provider of freshly squeezed orange-juice systems.

  M&A
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• 2008Aurelius acquires a controlling stake in Berentzen

  The historical owner families largely withdrew and sold approximately 75% of the common stock to a subsidiary of Aurelius, leading to a major restructuring program.

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• 1994Berentzen becomes the first German spirits manufacturer to go public

  Berentzen Group completed its stock-market listing, introducing a public-company structure while the owner families retained control of the voting common shares at that time.

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• 1988Berentzen Group formed through merger with Pabst & Richarz

  The Berentzen business merged with Pabst & Richarz, creating the Berentzen Group and establishing it as one of Germany’s largest spirits companies.

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1. Berentzen
2. Berentzen official website