Intersnack
Intersnack is a privately owned international producer of savoury snacks, operating branded and private-label businesses across Europe and selected markets beyond Europe.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Intersnack Group GmbH & Co. KG is a Düsseldorf-based, privately owned manufacturer and marketer of savoury snack foods. The group supplies both consumer brands and retailer private labels, with a portfolio spanning potato crisps, nuts, extruded snacks, pretzels, crackers, popcorn, peanut butter and related products. Its principal brands include funny-frisch, Chio, ültje, Pom-Bär, Hula Hoops, McCoy’s, Vico, Estrella, Maarud, Tayto, Tyrrells, Popchips and Whole Earth. The modern group grew from several German snack businesses rather than from a single original product. The Chio business traces its roots to 1962, when Irmgard von Opel and her sons Carlo and Heinz began producing potato chips at Petersau. In 1968, the sugar producer Pfeifer & Langen established Chipsfrisch. Chipsfrisch later combined with Pfanni’s savoury-snack activities, and the funny-frisch name was developed for their joint range. Separately, Josef Wolf, a bakery founded in 1905, developed snack brands including goldfischli and Pom-Bär. The acquisition of Josef Wolf by the Convent Group in 1995 led to the creation of Intersnack Knabber-Gebäck and provided the basis for the later group structure. From the 1990s onward, Intersnack expanded through acquisitions, operating companies and manufacturing sites in multiple European countries. The 1998 acquisition of Vico strengthened its French business and added Vico and Monster Munch. The group entered or expanded in Central and Eastern Europe, while acquisitions such as the Nut Company in 2008 added a major nut-snack platform centered on ültje. The purchase of Kelly in Austria, the investment in Irish snack producer Largo, the acquisition of KP Snacks in the United Kingdom, and the later purchases of Estrella Maarud and Tyrrells broadened its geographic and category reach. In 2024, its British subsidiary KP Snacks acquired Whole Earth Foods, adding a prominent peanut-butter business in the United Kingdom. Intersnack operates predominantly in Europe, combining branded products with contract and private-label manufacturing for retailers. The group has also built activities in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, including the Unisnack ANZ joint venture established with Universal Robina in 2019. By December 2024, the group was described as having 60 subsidiaries and 33 European production sites, together with additional facilities in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Its German operating company, Intersnack Deutschland SE, has production sites in Alsbach, Petersau, Olsberg, Schwerte and Wevelinghoven. The company competes in a fragmented savoury-snacks market against PepsiCo and Lorenz Snack-World, among others. Its positioning combines broad international scale with locally established brands, allowing it to sell familiar national products while also serving retailers’ own-label requirements. Intersnack’s public profile in Germany is supported by football, American football and esports partnerships, particularly through funny-frisch and Chio. The business remains privately owned within the Pfeifer & Langen Group.
History
Intersnack’s history is rooted in several German snack businesses that were consolidated over time. The earliest strand began in 1962, when Irmgard von Opel and her sons Carlo and Heinz started producing potato chips under the Chio name at Petersau. The name Chio was formed from the initials or names of Carlo, Heinz and Irmgard von Opel. In 1968, Pfeifer & Langen founded Chipsfrisch in Cologne. Chipsfrisch later merged with the savoury-snacks division of Munich-based Pfanni in 1972, and the combined range adopted the funny-frisch brand. In 1977, the businesses were brought together under Convent Knabbergebäck GmbH & Co., which managed Chio and funny-frisch. A second important strand came from Josef Wolf GmbH & Co. KG, a Darmstadt-Eberstadt bakery founded in 1905. Josef Wolf established goldfischli after obtaining a licence and later trademark rights from Swiss biscuit maker Kambly. In 1987, it created the Pom-Bär brand. In 1995, the Convent Group acquired Josef Wolf and formed Intersnack Knabber-Gebäck GmbH & Co. KG. This transaction created a more integrated platform for German snack production and international development. During the late 1990s, Intersnack expanded its manufacturing and distribution network across Europe. It already had facilities and sales organizations in countries including Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and the United Kingdom, with additional sales operations in Austria, Switzerland, France and Slovenia. In 1998, the group acquired Vico, strengthening its French presence and adding Vico and Monster Munch to its brand portfolio. Convent and Wolf initially retained separate domestic operations under the holding structure, but these activities were operationally merged on 1 January 2000. The acrylamide debate affecting potato crisps in Germany in late 2002 and early 2003 created pressure across the category and contributed to a temporary decline in Intersnack revenue. The company responded partly through product development, including the introduction of oven crisps in 2003. Intersnack continued expanding geographically, with production sites in Romania and Bulgaria from 2005. In 2006, it exchanged certain French and Polish activities with Lorenz Snack-World: Lorenz took over Polsnack in Poland, while Lorenz Snack-World France was integrated into Intersnack. Brand licensing arrangements allowed selected products to continue being produced and marketed in both countries. In 2007, Intersnack acquired Austrian snack-market leader Kelly and took a minority position in Irish snack company Largo. The Austrian competition authority approved the Kelly transaction in 2008. Intersnack’s investment in Largo was subsequently increased to 51 percent and ultimately to full ownership in 2015; the business is now associated with the Tayto snack portfolio. Also in 2008, Intersnack merged with the Nut Company, bringing ültje and a broader nut-snack business into the group. The same year, the holding company Atrium Knabber-Gebäck GmbH & Co. KG was renamed Intersnack Group GmbH & Co. KG, and the registered office moved from Cologne to Düsseldorf. The group’s scale increased substantially during the 2010s. In 2012, it acquired KP Snacks from United Biscuits, giving it a major British snack platform and brands such as McCoy’s and Hula Hoops. Estrella Maarud followed in 2014, expanding the group in Scandinavia and the Baltic region. In 2015, the inclusion of Intersnack branded products in Aldi’s range led other German retailers to seek lower purchasing prices. Negotiations continued with major customers, including Edeka and Netto, and agreements were reached by mid-2016. In 2018, the group acquired British premium crisp producer Tyrrells. In December 2019, Intersnack and Philippine food company Universal Robina formed Unisnack ANZ, combining Griffin’s Foods and Snack Brands Australia. Intersnack initially held 40 percent of the consolidated business. Universal Robina later exited Australia and New Zealand, selling its remaining 60 percent interest to the company in August 2021. In Germany, Intersnack Knabber-Gebäck and ültje announced in 2020 that they would combine marketing and sales activities. By the mid-2020s, Intersnack was described as having operations across Europe as well as additional sites in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Its German operating company continued to invest in production and logistics, with expansion projects launched in 2025 at Alsbach-Hähnlein and Wevelinghoven. The group remains part of the privately owned Pfeifer & Langen Group and continues to operate a mixed model of branded snacks and private-label supply.
- 2024
Whole Earth Foods is acquired
[1]KP Snacks acquires Whole Earth Foods, adding a major United Kingdom peanut-butter brand.
- 2021
Intersnack takes full control of Unisnack ANZ
[1]Universal Robina exits the Australian and New Zealand market and transfers its remaining interest to Intersnack.
- 2019
Unisnack ANZ is formed
[1]Intersnack and Universal Robina establish a joint venture covering Griffin’s Foods and Snack Brands Australia.
- 2018
Tyrrells is acquired
[1]Intersnack adds the British crisp brand Tyrrells to its portfolio.
- 2014
Estrella Maarud is acquired
[1]The acquisition expands the group’s Scandinavian and Baltic presence.
- 2012
KP Snacks is acquired
[1]Intersnack acquires KP Snacks from United Biscuits, strengthening its United Kingdom business.
- 2008
The Nut Company joins Intersnack
[1]The merger adds ültje and expands the group into nuts and nut-based snacks.
- 2003
Oven crisps are introduced
[1]Intersnack introduces oven crisps during the industry response to concerns about acrylamide in potato crisps.
- 1998
Vico is acquired
[1]The acquisition strengthens Intersnack France and adds Vico and Monster Munch.
- 1995
Intersnack Knabber-Gebäck is established
[1]The Convent Group acquires Josef Wolf and establishes Intersnack Knabber-Gebäck GmbH & Co. KG.
Products and positioning
A privately owned, international savoury-snacks group combining strong local and regional brands with large-scale private-label manufacturing. Its portfolio covers mainstream crisps, better-known specialty and premium snack brands, nuts, children's snacks and adjacent categories such as peanut butter.
Potato crisps and savoury snacks · 1972
funny-frisch
A leading German snack brand developed from the combination of Chipsfrisch and Pfanni’s savoury-snack activities. Its range is centered on potato crisps and related savoury products, and it is one of Intersnack’s most visible German brands.
Potato crisps and savoury snacks · 1962
Chio
A potato-chip brand whose history dates to the von Opel family’s production at Petersau in 1962. Chio remains a principal Intersnack brand and is marketed in Germany and other European markets through the group’s branded-snack network.
Nuts and nut snacks
ültje
Intersnack’s principal nut-snack brand, incorporated through the 2008 merger with the Nut Company. The range complements the group’s crisp and extruded-snack businesses with packaged nuts and related products.
Children’s potato snacks · 1987
Pom-Bär
A shaped potato snack created by Josef Wolf in 1987. The bear-shaped product became one of the group’s best-known family and children-oriented offerings and remains part of Intersnack’s German portfolio.
British savoury snacks
KP Snacks
The United Kingdom snack platform acquired by Intersnack in 2012. It includes brands such as McCoy’s and Hula Hoops and gives the group extensive manufacturing, distribution and brand capabilities in the British market.
Premium potato crisps
Tyrrells
A British premium crisp brand acquired by Intersnack in 2018. Tyrrells extends the group’s portfolio into a more premium and provenance-oriented segment of the potato-crisp market.
Peanut butter
Whole Earth
A United Kingdom peanut-butter brand acquired by KP Snacks in 2024. It gives Intersnack a position outside conventional savoury snacking while remaining adjacent to its established nut expertise.
Controversies
2003
Acrylamide debate affecting potato crisps
Intersnack was among potato-crisp suppliers affected by the German public and industry debate over acrylamide in food. The issue was associated with a decline in revenue before the business recovered, and the company introduced oven crisps during its product response.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga partnership
Germany
funny-frisch became an official partner of Germany’s Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga competitions.
Outcome. The partnership increased the brand’s association with national professional football.
- 2022Chio NFL partnership in Germany
Germany
Chio became an official partner of the National Football League in Germany, extending Intersnack’s sports-marketing activity beyond football and into American football.
Outcome. The partnership was reported as active from 2022.
- 2018Team Fokus Clan support
Germany
Intersnack supported Team Fokus Clan in esports, using its brands to engage with gaming audiences.
Outcome. The reference describes support continuing from 2018.
- 2011Bastian Schweinsteiger funny-frisch ambassadorship
Germany
Bastian Schweinsteiger became a funny-frisch brand ambassador, with Lukas Podolski joining the brand’s ambassador activity in 2017.
Outcome. Schweinsteiger’s reported ambassador relationship ran through 2022.
- 2003funny-frisch football sponsorship
Germany
funny-frisch served as shirt sponsor of 1. FC Köln during the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons, linking the brand with German club football.
Outcome. The sponsorship ended after the two reported seasons.
Brand decisions
2025
Expansion of German manufacturing capacityStrategyBackground
Intersnack Deutschland SE planned to enlarge production and logistics capacity at key German sites.
Action taken
Construction began on a new production and logistics hall at Alsbach-Hähnlein, while expansion at Wevelinghoven was intended to support an additional crisp-production line.
Aftermath
The projects were expected to increase the group’s domestic manufacturing capacity.
2024
Acquisition of Whole Earth FoodsM&ABackground
KP Snacks pursued expansion into the United Kingdom peanut-butter category.
Action taken
KP Snacks acquired Whole Earth Foods.
Aftermath
The acquisition added a leading United Kingdom peanut-butter brand to Intersnack’s wider portfolio.
2019
Formation of Unisnack ANZM&ABackground
Intersnack sought a consolidated platform in Australia and New Zealand with Universal Robina.
Action taken
The companies formed Unisnack ANZ, combining Griffin’s Foods and Snack Brands Australia; Intersnack initially held 40 percent.
Aftermath
Intersnack obtained the remaining interest after Universal Robina exited the market in 2021.
2015
Retail pricing negotiations in GermanyStrategyBackground
After Aldi added Intersnack branded products to its range, other food retailers sought lower purchasing prices.
Action taken
Intersnack conducted intensive negotiations with customers, including Edeka and Netto.
Aftermath
Agreements with all customers were reported by mid-2016.
2012
Acquisition of KP SnacksM&ABackground
The transaction was intended to strengthen Intersnack’s United Kingdom operations and branded-snack portfolio.
Action taken
Intersnack acquired KP Snacks from United Biscuits.
Aftermath
The acquisition added major British brands including McCoy’s and Hula Hoops.
2008
Merger with the Nut CompanyM&ABackground
Intersnack sought to broaden its snack categories beyond potato and extruded products.
Action taken
The Nut Company and its ültje business were incorporated into the Intersnack structure.
Aftermath
The transaction established nuts as a major additional segment in the group’s portfolio.
2003
Launch of oven crispsProduct launchBackground
The launch followed the industry controversy and consumer concern surrounding acrylamide levels in potato crisps.
Action taken
Intersnack introduced oven-baked crisp products as part of its response and product development.
Aftermath
The group subsequently recovered from the reported revenue decline associated with the debate.
Sources1 sources
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