Ohly marks 190 years of production in Hamburg - Wandsbek
Ohly is celebrating the 190th anniversary of its Hamburg-Wandsbek plant, founded on February 14th, 1836. Originally a distillery producing yeast for brewing, the Hamburg site is now a global headquarters and centre of excellence for Ohly’s innovative fermentation operations and their next generation PRECISION EXTRACTION™ technology.
From craft fermentation to PRECISION EXTRACTION™
From its earliest years, the Wandsbek site has been defined by technical innovation and a commitment to quality. Traditional fermentation methods evolved to industrial yeast manufacturing before they pioneered the scientific extraction of yeast extracts in 1934. Controlled autolysis, precise separation and gentle concentration enabled the systematic release of flavour and functional components. This has culminated in the development of advanced PRECISION EXTRACTION™ technology which enables the isolation and production of highly functional speciality ingredients.
Ohly’s story is one of continuous reinvention. From the craftmanship of traditional fermentation to today’s world-class bioprocessing, Ohly has continuously innovated, diversified and modernised to grow. This long history of technological development continues to translate directly into consistent product quality, supply reliability, and tailored application solutions for customers today.
Throughout all these developments, Ohly’s purpose has remained constant: to delight customers with reliable partnership, consistent performance and innovative ingredient solutions that help them differentiate in their own markets.
“For 190 years, our experience has always translated into real value for our customers,” says Dr Ralf Fink, CEO, Ohly. “While competitors have come and gone, our expertise and resilience have allowed us to grow. Today, we continue to help customers innovate with our advanced PRECISION EXTRACTION™ techniques, whilst our ambitious decarbonisation roadmap shapes the environmental standards of tomorrow.”
With its robust decarbonisation roadmap, Ohly is leading efforts to reduce carbon emissions. As the first and only provider of ClimatePartner-certified yeast-based ingredients, the company is establishing a new benchmark for verified innovation in this category.
Modern facilities and innovation powered by 190 years of experience
190 years of history have shaped Ohly into a trusted partner recognised for deep fermentation and extraction expertise, continuous innovation, and consistent quality.
Today, the Hamburg-Wandsbek site combines that know-how with Europe’s most modern bioprocessing technology. Continued investments in this facility including a new spray drying tower and a state-of-the-art fermentation facility, will enhance capacity, automation and energy efficiency while ensuring our customers benefit from consistently high product quality and secure supply out of the heart of Europe.
Ohly has also established a strong presence in the United States over the years, with a production plant in Wisconsin and, most recently, a Customer Innovation Centre in Chicago that supports collaborative product development with customers.
For customers, this continued investment means greater resilience, consistent quality and the confidence that Ohly will remain a dependable partner. It reflects a long-term commitment to delighting customers with reproducible performance and innovative ingredients that meet modern technical, regulatory and sustainability demands — combining 190 years of know-how with next-generation technology to deliver real commercial advantage.
Guided by technical excellence, responsible growth, and a deeply rooted commitment to Doing the Right Thing, the company continues to respond to emerging market opportunities and the evolving needs of their customers.