Karwendel-Werke Huber GmbH & Co. KG (Karwendel) based in Buchloe, Bavaria, is one of the most successful private dairy companies in Germany. Its soft cheese, fromage frais and cheese specialities are distributed under the established brands Exquisa and miree. Karwendel produces with his 360 employees more than 175 million litres of milk annually. Thus making Karwendel one of the biggest employers and training companies in the region.

Natural, soft and processed cheese formed Karwendel´s main product range at the beginning of the nineties, however, the company has successfully transformed itself within the last few years into a specialist in soft cheese and fromage frais. Up to 10 million Euros are invested in new products and processes each year. 

Franz Xaver Huber founded Karwendel in the Bavarian town of Wessobrunn near Weilheim in 1909. The companies headquarter has been based in Buchloe since 1926. In the meantime, Dr. Wilfried Huber leads the third generation in the successful and independent family owned company. Karwendel reached an annual turnover of around 250 million Euros. The company sells its products in about 25 countries and therewith 25% of its products are exported into other countries in Europe. Since 2005 there is also an italian company with Exquisa Italia, which organises its own distribution and marketing for the italian market.

The main source of Karwendel´s business comes from soft cheese and fromage frais products. Under its leading brand Exquisa, which has a brand awareness of approx. 82 % in Germany, the company offers soft cheese, slices, fromage frais, fromage frais with fruit, mascarpone and cheesecake snacks. French style soft cheese is marketed under the special brand miree and is sold under the brand Karwendel.

Karwendel with its Exquisa and miree product lines and a share in the branded business that is around 20% is ranked second among the top suppliers of soft cheese in Germany. In the case of branded fromage frais with fruit, almost every second 500 g tub comes from Buchloe. Karwendel has managed to achieve a high degree of acceptance on the market and among consumers, particularly with the Exquisa brand thanks to its consistent brand management. 

Innovations provide impulses for growth
The product range is continuously enlarged by new soft cheese and fromage frais specialities. The innovation power of Karwendel can be clearly seen by the example of the introduced Exquisa Slices of Soft Cheese in 2005. Karwendel succeeded as the first producer of these Slices of Soft Cheese and established the product with much television advertising as a branded product. The Exquisa Slices of Soft Cheese combine the convenience of sliced cheese with all the healthy benefits of soft cheese, they are a fresh alternative toward hard cheese and slices of cut cheese.

Karwendel also stimulated the market with its product concept Exquisa fitline. Karwendel was the first and still is the only producer in Europe to have launched a cream cheese variation onto the market containing just 0,2 % fat. In the beginning of 2004 the company launched the first Cottage Cheese which contains only 0,8 % of fat thereby underlining its leading position in the important low fat sector. 

In 1994, Karwendel launched the first Cheesecake Snack in Europe with its Exquisa Snack. This refrigerated Mini-Cheesecake available in 70g portions comes in three varieties, for example as a plain classical Cheesecake. 

Quality as a recipe for success
Excellent product quality is an essential part of the company policy. As a result the DLG (German Farming Society) prized Karwendel for excellent quality products in the so called "yellow product range". In Mai 2011 the German Federal Ministry for food, agriculture and consumer protection awarded Karwendel for the third consecutive time the so called "Bundesehrenpreis" for milk products. This prize is one of the most important benchmarks in which 225 companies with approximately 3000 products participate. The awards are based on the test results which the award winners have achieved in the DLG quality tests carried out in comparable company sizes. 

The quality from Karwendel does not come from just anywhere: the fresh milk used for the quality products is delivered from round about 790 choosen farms from the region. Consequently, Karwendel is making a significant contribution towards maintaining the agricultural structures in Bavaria. In addition to this, the maximum amount of freshness is guaranteed due to the short delivery routes. In the company´s own laboratory, all raw materials and finished products undergo constant quality controls in order to meet strict guidelines. Since 1994, Karwendel has been certified as well according to DIN ISO 9001 and since 2004 Karwendel has been certified according to the International Food Standards (IFS).  Whereas the ISO-norm certifies the company assurance, the IFS-norm stands explicit for the product assurance of groceries.

Engagement in the region
The company is aware of its social responsibility and therefore an extensive educational program has been started. As many as ten young people start their training at Karwendel each year where a total of 19 trainees are currently employed. The company offers attractive traineeships for modern job profiles such as specialists in mechatronics as well as apprenticeships in classical professions such as industrial clerks, dairy specialists and dairy laboratory technicians. With this training program Karwendel underlines its high standards on a comprehensive qualification for staff.

Besides its importance as a great employer in the region the company is also aware of its corporate responsibility. For example Karwendel supports projects like "healthy breakfast" in kindergartens and schools. Cyclists, gymnasts as well as foot- and volleyball players of local clubs wear jerseys with the Exquisa-Logo.

Stand: September 2011