Vision and Corporate Philosophy
Company History
40 years Rapunzel - 40 years organic movement
Divisions
Visitor Center
Fairy tale wedding: Zwergenwiese and Rapunzel
Rapunzel is one of the leading organic food producers in Europe. It all started very small: In 1974, Joseph Wilhelm and Jennifer Vermeulen started a self-sufficiency commune on a farm with a small natural health food store in the city of Augsburg in Bavaria.
From these humble beginnings an international company with more than 500 employees developed during the last 45 years. The idea behind it all remained the same since 1974: to manufacture certified organic, natural and untreated, vegetarian foods.
From these humble beginnings an international company with more than 500 employees developed during the last 45 years. The idea behind it all remained the same since 1974: to manufacture certified organic, natural and untreated, vegetarian foods.

Where does the company name 'Rapunzel' come from? In Southern Germany, lamb's lettuce is also called 'Rapunzel' - a strong, deep green plant that grows even when the ground is covered with snow. This symbol and the Rapunzel founders' strong desire for healthy food - similar to the pregnant woman's lust for lamb's lettuce in the beginning of the Rapunzel fairytale - were the reasons why Jennifer Vermeulen named the company Rapunzel.
Two friends - one vision

1974 | Joseph Wilhelm and Jennifer Vermeulen rent a farmhouse in the village of Pestenacker (Upper Bavaria) with the goal to grow healthy food |
1975 | Opening of the natural health food store „Rapunzel Naturspeisen“ in Augsburg. Start with the production of muesli, nut creams and fruit bars |
1976 | First contacts to farmers in Italy and Turkey. Move into the former guest house „Zur Post“ in Tegernbach, in the county of Fürstenfeldbruck |
1977 | First nationwide delivery of products |
1979 | Move to the village of Kimratshofen in the Allgäu region |
1985 | Purchase of the former dairy in the village of Legau and renovation of the building that serves as headquarters until today |
1987 | Rapunzel markets the first organic chocolate in the world. Construction of a new nut cream plant |
1989 | Opening of a first office in the city of Izmir, Turkey |

1990 | SAMBA introduced into the market |
1992 | Foundation of the Fair-Trade-Programm HAND IN HAND |
1997 | Foundation of the Turkish subsidiary Rapunzel Organik Tarim Ltd. Development of the OXYGUARD® process for cold-pressed edible oils |
1998 | Start of the HAND IN HAND fund |
2003 | Opening of the Rapunzel logistics center in the town of Bad Grönenbach with fully-automated high bay warehouse |
2004 | Certification as Demeter manufacturer |
2007 | Sustainable energy supply with Rapunzel biomass heating plant and photovoltaic panels on all roofs. "Genfrei Gehen" - march for a GMO-free world from Lübeck to Lindau |
2008 | Joseph Wilhelm initiates the One World Award, award ceremony at the IFOAM World Congress in Modena, Italy |
2009 | "Genfrei Gehen" – second march for a GMO-free world from Berlin to Brussels |

2010 | Construction of a new roasting plant for nuts and seeds. New company tour concept with glass production walkway, museum and cinema. Presentation of 2nd One World Awards |
2012 | Introduction of innovative breakfast porridge into whole food trade. Presentation of 3rd One World Awards. Remodeling and renovation of Turkish subsidiary |
2013 | New raw material warehouse in Legau |
2014 | Production expansion with second nut cream plant, packaging plant for bulkware and automated palletizer. Presentation of 4th One World Awards. Construction and opening of the Rapunzel Tower at headquarters in Legau |
2015 | Construction of a thermal power plant and a drying plant |
2016 | First palm oil meeting in Legau. Rapunzel certification pursuant to EU Eco-Regulation EMAS |
2017 | Presentation of 5th One World Awards |
2018 | Handover of 108,000 votes from the FOODprint campaign to Environment Minister Svenja Schulze in Berlin |
2019 | Leonhard Wilhelm becomes managing director Ground-breaking ceremony for the Rapunzel World Visitor Centre Ground-breaking ceremony for the expansion of the Bad Grönenbach logistics centre |
2020 | Publication of the study on pesticide pollution in the air “Ackergifte? Nein Danke!” (Poison on the fields? No thanks!) |
2022 | Establishment of the RAPUNZEL One World Organic Foundation Opening of the Rapunzel World Visitor Centre |