Production of meat, sausage and poultry specialities as well as vegan and alternative protein products as a brand, private label and contract manufacturing
Hans Kupfer & Sohn GmbH & Co. KG
Heilsbronn · Nuremberg · GüntherslebenNew on Amplifa
Family company since 1906
Hans Kupfer & Sohn GmbH & Co. KG is a family-run food company founded in 1906, headquartered in Heilsbronn (Franconia). The company produces scalded sausage products, meatloaf (Leberkäse), sausages, poultry products, cooked ham and salami as well as Original Nuremberg roasting sausages in sheep casings and Original Thuringian sausage products according to traditional recipes. Production takes place in modern production facilities without intermediate storage, including packaging under modified atmosphere or vacuum, post-pasteurisation as well as 100% metal detection and weight control. Kupfer manufactures as a brand manufacturer, as a private label producer for food retailers and as contract manufacturing on a project basis. Since 2019, the company has been engaged in the field of alternative proteins through Kupfer Innovative Food GmbH and has been producing vegan products in its own plant in Nuremberg since the end of 2022; further areas of application include organic products (Bioland-certified) and regional brands such as "Unser Bayern". With more than 1300 employees in four plants, a production volume of approx. 31,000 tonnes was achieved in 2021; exports go to over 30 countries.
- Site
- Heilsbronn
- Processes
- Private label production of sausage and ham products, Contract manufacturing / production on a project basis, Manufacturing, processing, cutting of scalded sausage, cooked cured products, raw sausage and, Packaging under modified atmosphere or vacuum in tubing bags or thermoform packaging, Post-pasteurisation of packaged scalded sausage products, Manufacturing, packaging and pasteurisation of scalded sausage (e.g. grilling sausage) and, Thermoform packaging, vacuum packaging, modified atmosphere packaging, Production of Original Nuremberg roasting sausages filled in sheep casings
- Materials
- Pork, Beef, Poultry meat, Pea protein, Insect protein, Cultured meat, Sheep casings (natural casing)
- Certificates
- IFS Food Version 8 (Higher Level, 96.68%), IFS Food Version 8 (Higher Level, 95.46%) - Gebrüder Kupfer GmbH & Co. KG, IFS Broker (own brokerage activities), QS criteria (processing), Bioland certification (all sites), Organic products certificate (EU organic), IFS Food V8 (Higher Level), Bioland certification, IFS Broker
- Founded
- 1906
- Employees
- more than 1300
- Industries
- Food retail, Food industry/brand manufacturers, Food trade (export)
- 01
Raw material purchasing (regional farmers, Bioland partners)
- 02
Product development
- 03
Processing and manufacturing (scalded sausage, cooked cured products, raw
- 04
Packaging (vacuum/modified atmosphere/thermoform packaging)
- 05
Post-pasteurisation
- 06
Metal detection and weight control (100%)
- 07
Distribution via logistics partners
Raw materials and protein sources
Pork
Main raw material for scalded sausage, raw sausage and grilling sausage specialities, including Original Nuremberg roasting sausages.
Beef
Used, among other things, in organic quality from German organic farmers.
Poultry meat
Basis of the poultry range at the Heilsbronn site.
Sheep casings (natural casing)
Casing for Original Nuremberg roasting sausages according to a traditional recipe.
Pea protein
Plant-based protein basis for vegan barbecue and meat substitute products.
Insect protein
Alternative protein source, among other things for burger patties in the Innovative Food business unit.
Cultured meat
Used in the prototype for hybrid grilling sausages with real muscle tissue together with MyriaMeat.
Production sites
Heilsbronn
DEHeadquarters and main production (scalded sausage, poultry, cooked ham, salami)
- Materials
- Pork, poultry meat, organic meat
- Production hall (2007, state-of-the-art manufacturing methods, order-based production without intermediate storage)
Nuremberg
DEProduction site Gebrüder Kupfer GmbH & Co. KG (Original Nuremberg roasting sausages)
- Materials
- Pork, marjoram, sheep casings
Günthersleben
DEProduction site Ilmenauer Wurstwaren GmbH & Co. KG (Thuringian sausage products)
- Materials
- Meat
- Modern production technology
Nuremberg (vegan plant)
DEVegan plant of Kupfer Innovative Food GmbH
- Materials
- Pea protein, vegan proteins
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private label production of sausage and ham productsAssembly | – | – | – | – | Pork, Beef, Poultry meat, vegan alternatives, Pea protein, Insect protein |
| Contract manufacturing / production on a project basisAssembly | – | – | – | – | Meat, Sausage products, vegan products |
| Manufacturing, processing, cutting of scalded sausage, cooked cured products, raw sausage andAssembly | – | – | – | – | Scalded sausage, Cooked cured products, Raw sausage, Meat substitute products |
| Packaging under modified atmosphere or vacuum in tubing bags or thermoform packagingPackaging | – | – | – | – | Meat products |
| Post-pasteurisation of packaged scalded sausage productsHeat treatment | – | – | – | – | Scalded sausage |
| Manufacturing, packaging and pasteurisation of scalded sausage (e.g. grilling sausage) andAssembly | – | – | – | – | Scalded sausage, Convenience meat substitute products, vegan proteins |
| Thermoform packaging, vacuum packaging, modified atmosphere packagingPackaging | – | – | – | – | Meat products, Meat substitute products |
| Production of Original Nuremberg roasting sausages filled in sheep casingsAssembly | – | – | – | – | Pork, Marjoram, Sheep casings |
| Production of Thuringian sausage products (roasting sausages, blood and liver sausage, meatloaf,Assembly | – | – | – | – | Meat |
| Production of organic sausage specialities (Bioland/Naturland certified)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Organic beef, Organic pork, Organic poultry meat |
| Production of hybrid grilling sausages with cultured meat (prototype with MyriaMeat)Additive | – | – | – | – | Cultured meat, Muscle tissue |
| 100% metal detection and weight controlTesting | – | – | – | – | Meat products |
| DLG test on requestTesting | – | – | – | – | Sausage products |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production plant | – | 1 | – | 2007 | Heilsbronn (parent company, production hall) |
| Production plant | – | 1 | – | – | Nuremberg (Gebrüder Kupfer) |
| Production plant | – | 1 | – | 1990 | Günthersleben/Thuringia (Ilmenauer Wurstwaren) |
| Vegan plant | – | 1 | – | 2022 | Nuremberg |
| Photovoltaic system | Bürgersolar Neuendettelsau | 1 | 73,000 m², more than 18,000 modules, 10,000 kWp | 2023 | Heilsbronn |
Additional services
Reference customers
Certified quality
Kupfer meets the QS criteria in processing and the requirements of the International Food Standards (IFS); quality and hygiene standards are confirmed by internationally recognised certifications as well as export approvals for many countries. Production includes HACCP, 100% metal detection and weight control; a DLG test is possible on request.
| Evidence | Heilsbronn | Nuremberg | Günthersleben |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFS Food V8 (Higher Level) | |||
| Bioland certification | |||
| QS criteria (processing) | |||
| IFS Broker |
Company history
- 1906
Foundation of the family company in Heilsbronn (from the "backpack butcher's shop" to a medium-sized family company)
- 1990
Foundation of Ilmenauer Wurstwaren GmbH & Co. KG in Günthersleben (Thuringia)
- 2007
Commissioning of the new production hall at the Heilsbronn headquarters
- 2016
Start of production of eleven sausage specialities in organic quality
- 2019
Foundation of Kupfer Innovative Food GmbH; partnership with Bioland; entry into vegan nutrition and alternative proteins
- 2020
Start of construction of the vegan plant in Nuremberg
- 2021
Introduction of the regional brand "Unser Bayern" in Bavarian ALDI SÜD branches; production volume approx. 31,000 t, exports to over 30 countries
- 2022
Start of production of vegan products at the Nuremberg plant; acquisition of the brand rights to Bugfoundation by Kupfer Innovative Food GmbH & Co. KG
- 2023
Commissioning of the photovoltaic system (10,000 kWp) on 01.06.2023, switch of the Heilsbronn plant to green electricity
- 2024
Stake in Allgäu Fresh Foods (Kupfer Holding SE acquires 51% by the end of the year); prototype for hybrid grilling sausages with cultured meat together with MyriaMeat