Published on 6/14/2026
The German company “Appetito”, which specializes in frozen foods, is betting on demographic changes and the shortage of skilled workers to support the growth of its business in the coming years, with increasing demand for ready-made meals in nursing homes, hospitals and schools.
The company’s CEO, Jan-Per Labs, said in statements to the German News Agency, “The aging of society is in our interest. The demand for meals in nursing homes and hospitals, as well as food delivery services for the elderly, will continue to rise.”
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The company achieved sales of about 1.4 billion euros (about 1.5 billion dollars) during the year 2025, an increase of 4.6% compared to 2024, while it expects growth of between 6% and 7% during the current year, bringing revenues to about 1.5 billion euros (about 1.6 billion dollars).
Appetito produces up to 270 tons of frozen food daily at its headquarters in the city of Rheine, relying on large-scale industrial production. It also supplies about 12,000 nurseries in Germany with frozen meals that are heated on site, which is equivalent to about 20% of the nurseries in the country.
External expansion
The company has about 12,800 employees, while it continues to expand outside Germany. The company is building a new factory in Britain that is expected to double its production capabilities there.
Labs indicated that establishing production sites in Spain and the United States of America remains an option.
Labs believes that the growing shortage of chefs represents an additional opportunity for the company’s growth, explaining that nursing homes, hospitals and large schools are facing increasing difficulty in recruiting chefs to work directly for them.
He said: “The labor market is suffering from a severe crisis in chefs, and this crisis will increase in the coming years… Appetito offers a solution to this problem, as we allow the operation of kitchens without the need for specialized workers.”
He added that the company does not face the same problem because it needs a limited number of chefs compared to the size of its production.
Appetito achieves about 60% of its sales in Germany, while Britain is its second largest market, followed by Denmark and Canada, in addition to Spain, the Netherlands and Austria.
