Danish specialist Dragsbæk announced the acquisition of the German family-owned company Vortella GmbH. The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities and is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
With this acquisition, Denmark’s leading producer of plant-based and hybrid dairy products and fats, enters the German market with its first production site and creates a platform for butter-based solutions and specialty fats close to key customers in Western and Central Europe. Vortella has more than 120 years of experience in the production of specialty fats and margarines, employs 107 people at its Preußisch Oldendorf site, and generates annual sales of around EUR 50 million.
The market for margarines and specialty fats has been consolidating for some time. At the same time, Dragsbæk has seen a significant increase in demand from international industrial customers in recent years, particularly in the area of butter and specialty fat products, the company detailed in an announcement.
“Germany is our most important export market, and we are very impressed by what Vortella has achieved in an intensely competitive environment. The acquisition is therefore a logical but significant step toward strengthening our position in Europe. As part of Dragsbæk, Vortella will gain access to additional capacity, further technologies, and product development opportunities. We see considerable growth potential in combining our strengths,” says Christian Munk, CEO, Dragsbæk.
The Danish company has expanded its capacities and geographical presence considerably, while also consolidating its operations activities to increase its efficiency. “Vortella is the next step,” the CEO continues, “With our own production facilities in Germany, we will be even better positioned in a market where customers expect specialized expertise, delivery reliability, and scalability.”
Vortella was founded in 1904 and has been a family business for five generations, now under the leadership of Friedrich Hamker and his family. It develops specialty fats for professional applications.
Dragsbæk is a leading European manufacturer of hybrid dairy products and specialty fats with particular expertise in butter, specialty fats, and margarine for professional use. The company is partly owned by the Nielsen family, who founded the business in 1923, and by Orkla Food Ingredients (OFI).
Dragsbæk employs around 300 people at production and administrative sites in Vejen, Thisted, and Randers, as well as at a production unit in Lithuania. The group achieved total sales of around DKK 3 billion (EUR 401,597,100) in 2025.
Photos: Dragsbæk