Naturata AG is a German organic-food company and brand specializing in premium organic and biodynamic (Demeter) foods. Its roots go back to the early development of Germany’s organic-food movement in the 1970s. The company’s stated philosophy centers on producing food responsibly and maintaining a sustainable relationship between people, agriculture and nature.

Today, Naturata is particularly associated with organic, Demeter and Fairtrade food products, and describes itself as an international supplier of biodynamic and organic foods. Its range includes several hundred products, although the company’s current pages give slightly different figures depending on how the range is counted.1

Quick facts

Origins: 1976

Naturata’s history begins in 1976, when the “Naturata idea” emerged from the young German organic-food movement. At the time, natural-food shops were expanding but had difficulty obtaining a dependable supply of high-quality organic and Demeter products.

The idea was to create a reliable supply structure for these specialist retailers, with particular emphasis on organic and biodynamic agriculture. Naturata initially functioned primarily as a wholesaler.

An important characteristic of the early Naturata concept was that it did not simply distribute products that already existed. Because many conventional products had no organic equivalent at the time, Naturata also became involved in developing and marketing organic alternatives. This helped establish the company as one of the pioneers of the German organic-food sector.

Formation of Naturata eG: 1979

The organization was formally established as Naturata eG in 1979 in Lauda-Königshofen. It was structured as an associative cooperative involving producers, retailers and consumers.

This cooperative background became an important part of Naturata’s identity: rather than viewing food simply as a commodity, the organization sought to connect different participants in the agricultural and food value chain.

Development during the 1980s and 1990s

As the organic market expanded, Naturata developed from a relatively specialized wholesaler into a broader organic-food brand and product developer.

Independent organic shops also began using the Naturata name. These stores were not necessarily owned by the same company, but shared the broader “Naturata idea” and its emphasis on organic and biodynamic food. This eventually resulted in a group of legally independent organizations associated with the Naturata name.2

2003: separation of logistics and branded products

A major organizational change occurred in 2003.

The logistics and wholesale activities became the responsibility of Naturata Logistik eG, while Naturata AG concentrated on the development and marketing of Naturata-branded organic and Demeter foods.

This distinction is important because Naturata AG, Naturata Logistik eG and Naturata organic stores are not simply different branches of one company. They have common historical roots but operate as legally independent organizations.

2008: Naturata AG

Naturata adopted the Aktiengesellschaft (AG) corporate form in 2008. According to Naturata’s historical account, the ownership structure was designed around participants in its value chain, including suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, consumers and employees.

2012: headquarters in Marbach am Neckar

Naturata moved its headquarters from Murr to Marbach am Neckar in 2012. The city, famous as the birthplace of German poet Friedrich Schiller, remains the company’s headquarters.

2026: 50 years

Naturata is celebrating 50 years of the Naturata idea in 2026, marking half a century since its origins in 1976. The company presents this anniversary as five decades of commitment to organic food, sustainability and biodynamic agriculture.3

Naturata’s portfolio is centered on organic food, with many products additionally certified under Demeter or Fairtrade standards. The company describes its products as premium-quality organic foods produced under controlled growing conditions and with resource-conscious processing.

Its product categories include:

• Coffee and cocoa
• Condiments and sauces
• Mayonnaise
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Vinegar and oils
• Grains and cereals
• Pasta and staple foods
• Sweeteners and baking ingredients
• Spreads
• Canned and preserved foods
• Snacks and specialty foods
• Other organic pantry products

The exact assortment varies by country and market.

One distinguishing feature is that Naturata’s range goes beyond simply carrying an “organic” label. The company places significant emphasis on Demeter-quality products, reflecting its historical relationship with biodynamic agriculture.

Organic

Naturata products are produced according to the EU Organic Regulation where applicable. Organic certification places requirements on agricultural production, processing and permitted inputs.

Naturata positions organic production as the basic foundation of its product philosophy rather than merely a marketing feature.

Demeter

Demeter is particularly important to Naturata’s identity. Demeter certification is associated with biodynamic agriculture, which takes organic farming principles further and emphasizes the farm as an interconnected ecological system.

Naturata’s history is closely connected with the development of Demeter products in Germany. The company says that a large proportion of its products are Demeter-certified.

Fairtrade

Some Naturata products also carry Fairtrade certification, particularly products involving internationally sourced agricultural commodities such as coffee and cocoa.

Naturata says that many of its products are either Demeter-certified or carry the Fairtrade label, with certification depending on the individual product.

Sustainability is central to Naturata’s corporate positioning.

The company says that it considers sustainability throughout the value chain, including:

• organic and biodynamic farming;
• resource-conscious production;
• careful processing;
• responsible relationships with suppliers;
• social responsibility;
• environmental considerations;
• long-term cooperation with producers and agricultural partners.

Naturata’s approach is therefore broader than simply selling organic products. Its stated objective is to establish a food system in which agriculture, producers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers are connected through sustainable relationships.

Biodynamic agriculture is one of the most distinctive elements of Naturata’s history.

The company emerged partly from an anthroposophically influenced environment and became closely connected with Demeter agriculture. Its early activities included cooperation with farmers and producers working to develop organic and biodynamic products at a time when the market was still very small.

Consequently, Naturata’s identity is somewhat different from that of a conventional food company that later introduced an organic product line. Organic and biodynamic agriculture were part of the company’s original purpose.

There is an important distinction between the Naturata food brand and stores carrying the Naturata name.

Naturata AG is the branded manufacturer responsible for products sold under the Naturata brand. Meanwhile, various independent organic-food stores in Germany and elsewhere have historically used the Naturata name because of their connection to the wider Naturata concept.

Luxembourg provides a particularly notable example. NATURATA Luxembourg originated from the country’s organic-farming cooperative movement and opened its first store in 1989. It is legally independent from Naturata AG in Germany.4

Thus, “Naturata” can refer to several related but legally separate entities depending on context.

Because several independent companies and stores shared the Naturata philosophy, Naturata International – Gemeinsam Handeln e.V. was established in 2002.

The association provides a framework for organizations connected with the Naturata concept to cooperate around issues such as sustainability, organic agriculture and relationships between producers and consumers.

This explains why the Naturata name appears in different European markets without all of those businesses necessarily belonging to one corporate group.

Naturata’s philosophy can broadly be summarized as “more than organic.”

The brand emphasizes several interconnected ideas:

Organic quality → Biodynamic agriculture → Fair relationships → Sustainability → Product quality

Rather than focusing exclusively on nutritional claims, Naturata’s identity is strongly tied to how food is produced, where it comes from, and the relationships among farmers, processors, retailers and consumers.

The company’s own description emphasizes responsibility toward people and the environment, transparent manufacturing processes, defined production standards and respectful relationships with employees and partners.

Naturata occupies the premium organic/natural-food segment.

Its positioning is built around:

• long experience in the organic sector;
• organic certification;
• strong association with Demeter/biodynamic agriculture;
• Fairtrade sourcing for applicable products;
• premium rather than mass-market positioning;
• specialist organic retailers; to bring their products to consumers. Naturata developed within this ecosystem and helped create products and distribution structures for the emerging market;
• sustainability and ethical sourcing;
• product development within the organic-food sector.

This gives Naturata a different identity from mainstream supermarket brands that merely have a small organic range. Naturata’s entire corporate history is rooted in the organic-food movement.

Naturata is significant primarily because of its early involvement in Europe’s modern organic-food movement.

When the Naturata idea emerged in 1976, organic food was still a niche market. Organic retailers needed reliable suppliers, while organic farmers and processors needed ways to bring their products to consumers. Naturata developed within this ecosystem and helped create products and distribution structures for the emerging market.

Over the following decades, organic food moved from a niche sector into mainstream retail. Naturata consequently evolved from an early wholesaling organization into a specialized premium organic-food brand.

As of 2026, Naturata presents itself as a mature European organic-food brand with 50 years of history. Naturata AG is headquartered in Marbach am Neckar and focuses on developing and marketing organic and biodynamic food products.

The company’s current website describes a portfolio of roughly 250–300 premium products, depending on the particular company page and how products are counted. A substantial portion carries Demeter or Fairtrade certification.

In one sentence

Naturata is a German organic-food pioneer founded around the 1976 Naturata idea, which evolved from an organic-food wholesaler into a premium international brand specializing in organic, Demeter/biodynamic and Fairtrade foods, with sustainability and responsible relationships across the food value chain at the center of its identity.

1. Company
2. Products
3. Jubiläum: 40 Jahre Naturata – Naturata Blog
4. About NATURATA | Naturata