Federal Association of the Fruit, Vegetable and Potato Processing Industry

The Bundesverband der obst-, gemüse- und kartoffelverarbeitenden Industrie e. V. (BOGK) — in English, the Federal Association of the Fruit, Vegetable and Potato Processing Industry — is a German trade association and registered voluntary association (eingetragener Verein) that represents the interests of companies processing fruit, vegetables and potatoes. It operates both nationally in Germany and at European Union level, advocating positions on nutrition and agriculture, consumer protection, fair competition, energy policy and the approval of plant protection products. Its membership base is the German fruit-, vegetable- and potato-processing industry, which according to the association's own figures comprises around 180 companies, the majority of them small and medium-sized enterprises with up to 250 employees, providing roughly 27,426 jobs and generating about EUR 10.7 billion in turnover, of which 18.3 percent is export-related, mainly to EU partner countries followed by the USA and China. The association is organised into specialist divisions (Fachsparten) for fruit processing, vegetable processing, potato processing and fine-sour vegetables (Feinsaures Gemüse), and a technical committee deals with food law. It maintains its main office in Bonn and a European office in Brussels. Its collegial management includes Christoph Freitag, Horst-Peter Karos and Werner Koch. The board is chaired by Michael Mayntz, with deputy chairs Claudia Niemann, Michael Durach, Ernst-Rainer Schnetkamp and Willi Stollenwerk, alongside further board members and honorary chairs Dr. Arend Oetker and Konrad Linkenheil. BOGK is a member of European umbrella organisations including PROFEL (European Association of Fruit and Vegetable Processors), EUPPA (European Potato Processors' Association) and the association of the industry for sauerkraut and similar products within the EU. Through these memberships and its Brussels office, it channels the positions of German processors into EU-level policymaking. The association also engages with current regulatory debates, for example advocating reform of packaging legislation and cost-bearing rules, and it runs seminars and events such as one on using AI to reduce food waste and costs. It publishes industry news, for instance on expected potato harvest yields, and awards or participates in recognitions such as the Bundesehrenpreise (Federal Honor Prizes). As a trade body rather than a commercial manufacturer, BOGK does not sell products itself; its "offerings" are representation, information, networking and advocacy services for its member companies. It is funded through membership and supported by sponsors (Förderer) from adjacent industries such as glass packaging, plant breeding, food technology, pectin and agricultural trading. The association is a private, non-listed voluntary association and remains active.

The Bundesverband der obst-, gemüse- und kartoffelverarbeitenden Industrie e. V. (BOGK) is a German registered voluntary association (eingetragener Verein) that serves as the interest association of the food industry for fruit, vegetable and potato processing. It operates at both national and EU level, representing positions on nutrition and agriculture, consumer protection, and the common interests of its members against unfair competition. It also addresses energy policy and concerns about the approval of plant protection products. The association is structured into specialist divisions (Fachsparten) for fruit processing, vegetable processing, potato processing and fine-sour vegetables (Feinsaures Gemüse). A technical committee (Fachausschuss) deals with food law. In addition to its main office in Bonn, the association maintains a European office in Brussels. Its collegial management includes Christoph Freitag, Horst-Peter Karos and Werner Koch. BOGK is a member of several European organisations: PROFEL (European Association of Fruit and Vegetable Processors), EUPPA (European Potato Processors' Association), and the association of the industry for sauerkraut and similar products within the EU. Through these memberships, the association participates in EU-level policymaking affecting processed fruit, vegetables and potatoes. According to the association's own industry data, the German fruit-, vegetable- and potato-processing industry comprises around 180 companies, of which 142 are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with up to 250 employees. The sector provides 27,426 jobs and generates total turnover of EUR 10.7 billion, with an export share of 18.3 percent, mainly to EU partner countries, followed by the USA and China. Production of processed fruit, vegetable and potato products is subject to natural harvest fluctuations; in the past year, production remained nearly constant. The association engages in current regulatory and industry debates. It has advocated reform of § 21 of the German Packaging Act (VerpackDG) to introduce cost-bearer-specific, material-specific participation fees. It runs seminars, such as one on using AI to reduce food waste and costs in out-of-home catering, retail and adjacent food supply chain areas. It also reports on industry developments, for example the potato-processing industry's expectation of a significantly lower yield in the upcoming main potato harvest, and it participates in recognitions such as the Bundesehrenpreise (Federal Honor Prizes). The board is chaired by Michael Mayntz, with deputy chairs Claudia Niemann, Michael Durach, Ernst-Rainer Schnetkamp and Willi Stollenwerk. Further board members include Carola Appel, Thomas Brückner, Ralf Flatten, Aymeric de la Fouchardière, Stefan Franceschini, Alfred Kessen, Mathias Koeppen, David Krause, Rochus Nepf, Alfred Paulsen, Dr. Sebastian Portius and Sebastian Martin Weiß. Honorary chairs are Dr. Arend Oetker and Konrad Linkenheil. The association is supported by sponsors (Förderer) from related industries, including Ardagh Glass GmbH, EUROPLANT Pflanzenzucht GmbH, Florin Gesellschaft für Lebensmitteltechnologie mbH, Gesellschaft für Lebensmittel-Forschung mbH (GfL), Goglio S.p.A., Herbstreith und Fox GmbH & Co. KG, IKEGO, NORIKA, Raiffeisen Waren GmbH, Solana Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Verallia Deutschland AG, WBG-Pooling GmbH & Co. KG and Wilhelm Weuthen GmbH & Co. KG.

• Association operates a main office in Bonn and a European office in Brussels.

• BOGK is a member of PROFEL, EUPPA and the EU association for sauerkraut and similar products.

• Bundesehrenpreise 2026 awarded.

• BOGK calls for revision of § 21 VerpackDG on cost-bearer-specific, material-specific participation fees.

• Seminar on AI-based reduction of food waste and costs.

A national and EU-level interest association for the German fruit, vegetable and potato processing industry, focused on policy advocacy, food law, consumer protection and fair competition.

• Industry representation and lobbying at national and EU level

• Specialist divisions for fruit, vegetable, potato processing and fine-sour vegetables

• Food law technical committee

• Seminars and events (e.g., AI for reducing food waste)

• Industry news and information services

1. 1BOGK e. V. – official website homepagebogk.org
2. 2Team – BOGKbogk.org
3. 3Vorstand – BOGKbogk.org
4. 4Förderer – BOGKbogk.org
5. 5Bundesverband der obst-, gemüse- und kartoffelverarbeitenden Industrie – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
6. 6Federal Association of the Fruit, Vegetable and Potato Processing Industry – Wikidatawikidata.org