Ditsch, a bakery company that specializes in soft pretzel products for over 100 years, is investing in the US market. In November, the subsidiary of Valora expands its pretzel manufacturing capacity with a new, state-of-the-art bakery in Cincinnati, USA. It represents an investment of around USD 70 million, for a new facility that will feature the latest production technology. The bakery has enough capacity to triple the current pretzel bakery production over the medium term, it reveals.

The bakery’s portfolio includes the classic German pretzel and new innovations, such as ‘pretzel bites’.

This is the second bakery Valora runs in the American city. At the same time, Ditsch is also planning to expand capacity at its production sites in Germany to meet the strong growth in global demand for pretzel products.

Demand for high-quality pretzel bakery products is also continuing to grow in the German market. To keep pace with this trend, Ditsch plans to expand capacity at the Oranienbaum bakery by the end of 2025. At the bakery in Mainz, buildings and production are gradually being optimized to meet rising market requirements. The Valora subsidiary is set to invest over USD 30 million in upgrading and expanding the capacity of its existing German facilities.

Ditsch supplies customers in 38 countries, sells over 900 million baked goods a year and operates four production facilities. In the last five years alone, Ditsch has created more than 280 new jobs in Germany and more than 80 in the US. The new plant in Cincinnati will create more than 150 new jobs over the next two years. Ditsch currently employs about 1,500 employees worldwide. 

“Ditsch expertly combines tradition with innovativeness and has thus grown into the world market leader for pretzel bakery products,” stresses Michael Mueller, CEO of the Valora Group. “With our new, second plant in the US and the capacity expansions in Germany, we are laying the foundation for further growth.” Sebastian Gooding, CEO Food Service B2B of the Valora Group, adds: “With our strong teams, we deliver great tasting products, a strong and resilient supply chain and comprehensive food safety. We are delighted to be able to supply the US wholesale market even more comprehensively thanks to our new plant. At the same time, the capacity expansion in Germany will enable us to better meet the high demand.”

The Valora Group is the European retail unit of FEMSA (Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.).

Photos: Ditsch