Welcome to the nature network
Expertise and Passion for Botanicals
the nature network offers an impressive range of botanical-based products and value-added services: responsible sourcing of high-quality botanicals and gentle processing through certified methods; the creation of innovative products tailored to our customers’ product application needs; laboratory, consulting and distribution services.
As a fourth-generation family business, we have worked hard for decades for business partners, customers and employees to place their faith in our value-driven, long-range corporate strategy.
Passion, love for nature and expertise built on decades of experience are our hallmarks. We keep a sharp ear for the trends and traditions of both local and global markets. Our customers benefit from the technical expertise and creativity of our development experts.
"Climate change is one of the greatest global challenges of our time. We have therefore set ourselves the ambitious goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030.”
Anne Wedel-Klein, CEO the nature network
There is no planet B: We´re going climate-neutral
As a company that has long been committed to sustainable principles, we wish to make our contribution. There is no planet B and we want our grandchildren to inherit a livable planet! Our promise applies not only to our group of companies MartinBauer, Finzelberg, PhytoLab und Europlant Group but also to our entire supply chain. How can we achieve that?
> 30
With more than 30 manufacturing sites and sales units worldwide, we keep our finger on the pulse of our customers’ markets.
> 90
Each of our products is steeped in craftsmanship we have developed in more than 90 years of creating botanical products.
> 4.000
Over 4,000 highly committed employees worldwide — many of them with decades of experience — work to maintain your competitive edge.
> 700
Underpinned by steady growth, the consolidated revenue of our divisions exceeded €700 million.
Our Divisions
Our network currently consists of four Divisions
MartinBauer
Expertise in Teas, Extracts and Botanicals
MartinBauer is a leading developer, producer and supplier of teas, botanicals, extracts and powders for the food, tea, phytopharmaceutical and animal nutrition industries.
Finzelberg
Active Botanical Ingredients
Nature offers us an endless variety of natural active substances. Using modern technology, we harness those natural actives from plants, for use in a wide variety of galenic forms in both pharmaceutical as well as healthcare companies. A painstaking focus on quality is taken at every stage in the process, from seed to extract.
PhytoLab
Safety in Laboratory and Regulatory Services for Herbal Products
PhytoLab is an independent, officially accredited and recognized test lab specializing in the analysis, development, control and approval of botanical products for herbal medicinal products, foodstuffs, animal feed, and cosmetics.
Europlant Group
Innovation in Herbal Products for Pharmacies
Europlant Group develops and produces effective and safe liquid herbal pharmaceuticals and medicinal teas for Central and Eastern Europe and operates a distribution network for the sale of phytopharmaceuticals via pharmacies.
Sustainability
A natural at sustainability
Our decisions today will shape our world tomorrow. As a link in the value chain, we carry a special responsibility not only towards our customers, but also towards end consumers — a responsibility we shoulder with conviction and enthusiasm. We always aim for the highest quality and safety standards for our botanical products, acting responsibly within the framework of a consistent strategy.
Product safety starts at the beginning of the value chain, which is why we have adopted a responsible sourcing approach. More than ten years ago, we took this concept one step further by developing our own sourcing standard: mabagrown. Our unwavering commitment to this standard has allowed us to become the first manufacturer to offer a comprehensive range of herbal and fruit infusions with the UTZ sustainability seal.
1930: How it all began
Martin Bauer and his love of herbs
Martin Bauer (middle with hat)
Martin Bauer discovered his passion for hunting and collecting wild herbs at an early age. A farmer’s son, he was dabbling in herbs in the Bavarian hinterland, when he came up with the idea of turning his passion into a source of income. Riding his bicycle, he delivered his first batches of wild herbs to pharmacies, drugstores, hospitals and health food shops. He soon started growing his own herbs in his fields. In 1930, at the age of 28, Martin Bauer built an herb processing plant, which later turned into a multinational enterprise.
Soon he not only grew herbs, but also started to buy and reprocess them. Martin Bauer became strongly invested in the quality of his products. Since business success had outgrown the labor supplied by the family, the company started using a tobacco-cutting machine in the 1930s.
In the 1950s, Martin Bauer’s son-in-law Hans Wedel joined the company, ushering in its expansion. Herbal and fruit infusions became the company’s core products. Later on, the product range was expanded to include medicinal teas and mixtures
In the 1960s, the company grew rapidly thanks to a special fine-cutting method for tea in bags. The modern cutting system turned out 10 tons of fine herbs every day, enough for filling five million tea bags. The company had come a long way from the early days when the family members laboriously cut small batches by hand.
Even at a ripe old age, the ever modest Martin Bauer lent a helping hand in his company.
His passion lives on in his descendants, adding more chapters to the modern fairy tale of an unassuming youngster-turned-global-entrepreneur.
Subsequent Company Milestones
1980
Extracts
1980 – Plantextrakt is launched. The company specializes in making extracts for food products
1986 – Birkenweg is acquired. The company specializes in making phytopharmaceutical extracts
1989 – Acquisition of stake in Finzelberg — a company founded in 1875 — full takeover to follow
2020 – Red otc in Germany is acquired
1993
PhytoLab
1993 – PhytoLab is formed as a spinoff from the Martin Bauer laboratory
1994
Eastern Europe
1994 – A Polish company is privatized and subsequently renamed Phytopharm Kleka
1994 – The Russian company Krasnogorskleksredstva is privatized (deconsolidated in 2022)
1995 – Martin Bauer Poland and Multeafil are launched.
1997 – All Central and Eastern European activities related to development, manufacture and pharmaceutical distribution of herbal medicinal products are grouped in the Europlant Group division
2011 –The Ukrainian company Liktravy is acquired
1996
North America
1996 – Martin Bauer USA is launched
2008 – Kentea USA is acquired
2019 – BI Nutraceuticals USA is acquired
2020 – Core Botanica USA is acquired
1998
Europe/Middle East
1998 – The Paul Müggenburg group is acquired
– Martin Bauer Alveslohe becomes an important site for botanicals
– Plantafarm Spain becomes an important site for the Group
1999 – The Italian company D. Ulrich, founded in 1854, is acquired and subsequently renamed Martin Bauer Italy
2004 – Martin Bauer Turkey is launched
2019 – Martin Bauer Croatia is launched
2010
Asia
2010 – A joint venture is formed with Chinese tea producer ShanShan Tea. In 2014, a majority stake is acquired in the JV, subsequently renamed Martin Bauer Plant Extracts
2013 – Martin Bauer China is launched
2017 – Martin Bauer Japan is launched
2013
Latin America
2013 – Martin Bauer Brazil is launched
2016 – Martin Bauer Argentina is launched
2017 – A stake is acquired in the Brazilian company Evateira São Mateus
2020 – Joint venture Phytera, Brazil
