German confectionery major Katjes Group has sold its 25% stake in local porridge business Haferkater back to the company’s founders.
The sale has netted Katjes around €2.5m ($2.7m).
Katjes backed Cologne-based Haferkater via its investment arm Katjesgreenfood seven years ago.
Haferkater sells on-the-go porridge, granola, and coffee via a network of shops and stalls across Germany targeting commuters, travelers at railway stations, and even those with hangovers.
The company emphasizes its sustainability credentials, sourcing German oats from controlled cultivation and crushing the grains on-site. It started as a single outlet in Berlin, formerly a kebab shop.
In a brief statement confirming the stake sale, Katjesgreenfood said: “After a very successful collaboration for both sides since 2017, Katjesgreenfood is fulfilling the founders’ wish to follow examples like that of Patagonia and lead the company on an independent path in the long term.”
Key investments include Veganz, a vegan supermarket chain in Germany (2016), Seven Sundays, a US muesli manufacturer, Wild Friends, a US plant-based nut butter spreads maker, and PigOut, a US alternative bacon products startup.
In May 2023, the fund announced the purchase of a 10% stake in German cereal business Mymuesli, marking its largest minority shareholding to date.
