iffa-2025

RAPS strengthens presence in Italy with new joint venture

rapsSpice specialist RAPS enhances its market position in the country through partnership with Zuegg Com

German spice manufacturer RAPS has expanded its footprint in Italy with the launch of RAPS Italia, a joint venture with Italian ingredient specialist Zuegg Com. This strategic move combines RAPS' expertise in spices and functional ingredients with Zuegg Com's unrivalled knowledge of the Italian food industry, thus reinforcing their market presence.

By increasing its presence in Italy, RAPS will maximise its technical expertise and market knowledge to deliver high-quality, tailor-made spice solutions, and foster closer collaborations with customers.

Spice experience meets market knowledge

With over 100 years of expertise, RAPS offers the Italian market a diverse portfolio of seasoning mixes and marinades, as well as functional ingredients such as microencapsulated ingredients. These support food industry sectors such as meat, ready meals, bakery and meat-alternative products. RAPS' advanced encapsulation technology enhances the performance of functional ingredients, such as acids, ensuring optimal results in bakery and confectionery products.

Zuegg Com, based in South Tyrol, has been creating and marketing innovative ingredients and finished products for more than 20 years. The company has been RAPS' exclusive partner in Italy for many years, building strong market relationships and a well-founded understanding of the country's food industry, which stands out in Europe for its rich culinary traditions, regional diversity and demand for both authenticity and innovation.

Combined expertise for Italy

The combined expertise of these two companies allows RAPS to better serve customers with market-driven solutions while ensuring a seamless integration into the Italian food sector.

Oliver Ebneth, managing director of RAPS GmbH & Co. KG, comments: "Expanding into Italy marks a key milestone in our strategic growth. With Zuegg Com as our trusted partner, we gain invaluable market insight and direct access to well-established customer relationships. RAPS Italia will allow us to provide Italian food manufacturers with customized seasonings, functional ingredients and coating solutions tailored to their individual needs."

Lukas Zuegg, managing director of Zuegg Com & RAPS Italia srl, adds: "This joint venture is a natural extension of our long-standing collaboration with RAPS. Our position in the Italian market enables us to support RAPS Italia in seamlessly integrating into the industry. Together, we will expand our reach and deliver innovative, high-quality ingredient solutions that meet the demands of local food manufacturers."

The evolving needs of the Italian food market

Italy is one of Europe's most dynamic food markets, boasting an annual turnover of €179 billion and exporting more than €50 billion worth of food products each year. The market is shaped by a strong demand for authenticity, with 66% of consumers favoring organic products and 45% actively avoiding preservatives. At the same time, ingredient innovations are driving industry growth. Sales of plant-based alternatives, for example, are projected to reach $162 billion globally by 2030, accounting for 7.7% of the world's protein market. With RAPS Italia, the spice specialist will meet these evolving needs. www.raps.com