Hosti International

Hosti International (Hosti GmbH) is a German manufacturer of disposable tableware made from cardboard and paper. The family-owned company is headquartered in Pfedelbach in the Hohenlohe district of Baden-Württemberg and traces its origins to 1949, when Emil Stickel founded the Hohenloher Papptellerfabrik in Neuenstein. The business moved to Pfedelbach in 1953, and since 1979 its products have been sold under the Hosti brand name. In 2003 the company was renamed Hosti International GmbH. Hosti describes itself as Europe's largest manufacturer of paper plates, with a capacity of more than 2 billion plates per year. Its product range covers paper plates, paper cups, bowls, cutlery and special shapes such as star-shaped plates, as well as party collections with napkins, drinking cups and serving trays, and even pet food bowls. The company states that its plates and bowls are made from up to 50% recycled material and 50% renewable raw materials (wood fibres). Hosti serves the food retail and wholesale sectors and markets its products for everyday and party use. The Hosti Group consists of three companies with a total of 185 employees, according to the company's own figures. Group revenue in 2022 (HOSTI D, HOSTI CZ, Zechel) was approximately EUR 45 million. The group includes the Papptellerfabrik Oertz & Co. in Hamburg, acquired in 2002; Zechel Pappteller GmbH in Altlußheim, acquired in 2005; the machinery division spun off as ES Evo Tec GmbH in 2007; a majority stake in Pfiff-Kuss GmbH & Co. KG acquired in 2008 and fully taken over in 2011; Kartonwerken Eerbeek in Spankeren, Netherlands, acquired in 2012; and Tedeco-Gizeh GmbH in Offenburg, acquired in 2014, alongside the opening of a new production site in Hronov, Czech Republic, in the same year. Hosti emphasises quality, service and sustainability. It has held FSC certification since 2010, ISO 9001 certification since 2002, and has obtained certifications such as OK compost INDUSTRIAL (2020), Seedling (2020) and the Nordic Swan Ecolabel (2022) for selected materials. Since 2022 the Pfedelbach site has been described as climate-neutral. In 2024 the company marked its 75th anniversary. The founder, Emil Stickel, born in 1918 in Bessarabia, died on 7 March 2011; in 2017 the municipality of Pfedelbach named a street after him. In 2011 the German Federal Cartel Office imposed fines totalling EUR 1 million on Hosti International and five other companies for price and customer protection agreements between 1999 and 2002; Hosti admitted its involvement and cooperated with the investigation.

Hosti International was founded in 1949 by Emil Stickel as the Hohenloher Papptellerfabrik in Neuenstein, Germany. In 1953 the company relocated to Pfedelbach in the Hohenlohe district, where it remains headquartered. Since 1979 the products have been marketed under the brand name Hosti. In 2002 the company acquired the Papptellerfabrik Oertz & Co. in Hamburg, including 11 Gietz paper plate machines and a customer revenue of EUR 1.2 million. Also in 2002, the quality management system was certified according to ISO 9001. In 2003 the company changed its name to Hosti International GmbH, and Hansjörg Stickel, representing the third generation of the founding family, joined the management on 1 July 2003. On 1 January 2005, Hosti took over Zechel Pappteller GmbH with 25 employees at its Altlußheim site. In 2007 the machinery division was spun off into ES Evo Tec GmbH as a wholly owned subsidiary of Hosti International GmbH. In 2008 Hosti acquired a majority stake in Pfiff-Kuss GmbH & Co. KG, which it fully took over in July 2011. In 2009 the company celebrated its 60th anniversary and described itself as the largest paper plate manufacturer in Europe. Since April 2010 it has been certified according to the FSC standard. The founder, Emil Stickel, born in 1918 in Bessarabia, died on 7 March 2011 at the age of 93. In 2011 the German Federal Cartel Office imposed fines totalling EUR 1 million on Hosti International and five other companies for price and customer protection agreements between 1999 and 2002; Hosti admitted its guilt and cooperated in the investigation. In 2012 Hosti acquired Kartonwerken Eerbeek in Spankeren, Netherlands. In 2014 the company took over Tedeco-Gizeh GmbH in Offenburg and opened a new production facility and founded HOSTI CZ s.r.o. in Hronov, Czech Republic. In 2017 the municipality of Pfedelbach named a street after the company founder. In 2020 Hosti received the OK compost INDUSTRIAL and Seedling certificates for selected materials. In 2021 the company introduced paper plates made from virgin fibre, colour-printed with lacquer and without plastic coating, described as SUPD safe. In 2022 Hosti received the Nordic Swan Ecolabel for selected materials, and the Pfedelbach site has been described as climate-neutral since 2022. In 2024 the company marked its 75th anniversary. According to the company, the Hosti Group today consists of three companies with 185 employees and generated group revenue of approximately EUR 45 million in 2022.

• 2024

  75th anniversary of HOSTI.

• 2022

  Nordic Swan Ecolabel for selected materials; Pfedelbach site climate-neutral.

• 2021

  Introduction of SUPD-safe paper plates from virgin fibre without plastic coating.

• 2020

  OK compost INDUSTRIAL and Seedling certificates for selected materials.

• 2017

  Pfedelbach names a street after company founder.

• 2014

  Takeover of Tedeco-Gizeh GmbH; new production site and HOSTI CZ s.r.o. founded in Hronov, Czech Republic.

• 2012

  Acquisition of Kartonwerken Eerbeek in Spankeren, Netherlands.

• 2011

  Founder Emil Stickel dies; full takeover of Pfiff-Kuss; Bundeskartellamt fines.

• 2010

  FSC certification since April 2010.

• 2009

  60th anniversary; described as largest paper plate manufacturer in Europe.

• 2008

  Acquisition of majority stake in Pfiff-Kuss GmbH & Co. KG.

• 2007

  Machinery division spun off as ES Evo Tec GmbH.

• 2005

  Takeover of Zechel Pappteller GmbH in Altlußheim.

• 2003

  Company renamed Hosti International GmbH; Hansjörg Stickel joins management.

• 2002

  Acquisition of Papptellerfabrik Oertz & Co. in Hamburg; ISO 9001 certification.

• 1979

  Products begin to be sold under the Hosti brand name.

• 1953

  Company moves to Pfedelbach.

• 1949

  Founded by Emil Stickel as Hohenloher Papptellerfabrik in Neuenstein.

Europe's largest manufacturer of paper plates, offering sustainable disposable tableware for food retail and wholesale.

• Paper plates

  Standard and special-shape paper plates, including star-shaped plates.

• Paper bowls

  Various bowl shapes for different occasions.

• Paper cups

  Disposable paper cups.

• Disposable cutlery

  Cutlery for single use.

• Party collections

  Sets with napkins, drinking cups and serving trays.

• Pet food bowls

  Disposable bowls for pet food.

• Black Line

  A product line highlighted on the company website.

1. 1Hosti GmbH - Das naturbewusste Einweggeschirr für LEH & Großhandelhosti.de
2. 2Unternehmen - Hosti GmbHhosti.de
3. 3Hosti International - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Hosti International - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org