Okle

Okle GmbH is a German food wholesale group headquartered in Singen am Hohentwiel in southern Baden-Württemberg. Founded in 1934 by Josef Okle as a confectionery and tobacco wholesaler, the company has grown into a full-range food wholesaler that describes itself as a "Nahversorger aus Leidenschaft" — a passionate provider of local, proximity-based food supply. It is now led by the third generation of the Okle family, with Hans-Philipp Okle as managing partner. The company's core business is supplying independent food retailers and trade partners in Baden-Württemberg, the Allgäu region and neighboring countries. Its assortment covers roughly 10,000 articles, ranging from local and regional products to national and international brands, including Baden-Württemberg manufactory specialties and Demeter-certified organic goods. Okle is one of only two food wholesalers in Germany to hold Demeter certification. Okle operates through several subsidiaries. Okle Großhandelszentrale GmbH handles food wholesale for local supply; Okle Grundstücks- und Liegenschaften GmbH manages the group's real estate. The company supports around 300 independent retailers who use its LANDMARKT store concept, and food retail outlets are also run under the Markant Nah&Frisch and IK names. Until 2024, Okle also operated its own meat and sausage manufactory, producing under the Frischland and Älpler brands, including the Demeter Frischland line of around 80 organic sausage and meat specialties. With roughly 200 employees, Okle generated revenue of about 124 million euros in 2015. The group remains privately held and family-owned, emphasizing sustainability, regional responsibility and the economic viability of independent local retailers.

Okle was founded in 1934 by Josef Okle as a wholesale business for confectionery and tobacco, supplying the regional food retail trade with a selected food assortment. From the beginning, the founder held the conviction that long transport routes harm the environment and reduce quality of life, a principle that shaped the company's regional focus. Josef Okle's son, Klaus Okle, continued the founder's vision and expanded the assortment toward fresh and chilled foods. In 1966, a dedicated meat and sausage manufactory was established, which produced meat and sausage products under the Frischland and Älpler brands until 2024. This vertical integration allowed Okle to offer regional specialties with high quality standards. Today, the company is led by Hans-Philipp Okle, representing the third generation of family leadership. Under his direction, Okle has continued its tradition of broad responsibility, aiming to support regional retail and provide customers with high-quality food. The company operates as a full-range wholesaler with around 10,000 articles, serving independent retailers in Baden-Württemberg, the Allgäu and neighboring countries. Okle supplies approximately 300 independent retailers in southern Baden-Württemberg who use the LANDMARKT concept. The group includes subsidiaries for wholesale (Okle Großhandelszentrale GmbH) and real estate (Okle Grundstücks- und Liegenschaften GmbH). Food retail outlets operate under the names Markant Nah&Frisch, IK and Landmarkt. Okle is one of only two food wholesalers in Germany to be Demeter-certified, and under the name Demeter Frischland it produced around 80 sausage and meat specialties from its own production. In 2015, with about 200 employees, the company generated revenue of around 124 million euros. The group remains privately held and family-owned, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, fairness and responsibility toward people, nature and the environment.

• 2024

  Meat and sausage manufactory production under Frischland and Älpler brands ceased.

• 2015

  Revenue of around 124 million euros with about 200 employees.

• 1966

  Own meat and sausage manufactory established, producing under Frischland and Älpler brands until 2024.

• 1934

  Founded by Josef Okle as a confectionery and tobacco wholesaler.

Full-range food wholesaler and proximity supplier (Nahversorger) for independent retailers, emphasizing regionality, sustainability and Demeter-certified quality.

• LANDMARKT

  Retail concept for independent food retailers.

• Markant Nah&Frisch

  Food retail outlet name.

• IK

  Food retail outlet name.

• Frischland

  Meat and sausage brand produced until 2024.

• Älpler

  Meat and sausage brand produced until 2024.

• Demeter Frischland

  Around 80 Demeter-certified sausage and meat specialties from own production.

1. 1Okle GmbH Singen | Großhandel | Nahversorgerokle.de
2. 2Geschichte | Okle GmbHokle.de
3. 3Oklede.wikipedia.org
4. 4Oklewikidata.org