Business development
Strong brands, leading positions
Since its foundation, the Melitta Group has always had a clear mission: to deliver innovative products that make people’s everyday lives easier and more enjoyable. Underpinning this mission is a deep understanding of customer needs, as well as a range of strong brands. These brands provide guidance, build trust, and stand for dependable solutions that perform reliably in everyday life – both at home and in commercial environments.
This commitment continues to define the Melitta Group to this day – in its Coffee business as well as its Coffee Preparation and Household Products business fields. In all three business fields, the goal is to achieve leading positions and continuously expand them.
Leading positions in the fiscal year 2025
- Global market leader in the coffee filter paper business
- Market leader in Europe for household films and products – under the Toppits® and Swirl® brands, among others
- Market leader for coffee products in Germany and Brazil, the world’s second- and third-largest coffee markets
The Melitta Group’s successful positioning in numerous countries and markets is also due to its commitment to understanding regional differences, expectations, and habits – and incorporating them specifically into its product portfolio. Today, Melitta products are used to prepare one in every four cups of roasted coffee worldwide – whether in the form of coffee, filter papers, coffeemakers, or other accessories.
Long-term and independent growth
As a family-owned company, the Melitta Group does not think in terms of financial quarters, but focuses on long-term and sustainable development. Entrepreneurial independence is our top priority. Quality, expertise, integrity, and reliability are therefore the hallmarks of our business practices.
In challenging times like these, the effectiveness of this approach is particularly evident. It strengthens the Melitta Group’s adaptability and resilience, provides the necessary space for innovation and new business models, and at the same time ensures that we remain a reliable partner for our customers and business associates – even under difficult circumstances.
Long-term growth strategy
Key drivers:
- Focus on the Coffee and Coffee Preparation business fields as growth drivers
- Profitability and stability in the Household Products business field
- Internationalization of business activities and entry into new markets
- Strengthening of the branded product business
- Investment in new categories within the coffee sector and exploitation of opportunities in the international coffee market
- Expansion of the Professional and Direct-to-Consumer segments
- Continuation of investments in growth businesses
Challenging environment 2025
Geopolitical developments, fluctuating commodity and energy prices, and high living costs: the fiscal year 2025 was another extremely challenging year for most companies in the consumer goods industry.
Economic growth in Germany and other key European markets was no more than modest. In Brazil and China, the economic climate was clouded by numerous uncertainties. Only the US economy achieved comparatively high growth rates.
For coffee-producing companies, the situation was further complicated by sharply fluctuating prices for green coffee beans: a pound of Arabica beans cost US$3.20 at the beginning of the year and rose to a year-high of US$4.30 in mid-February. After falling to US$2.80 in early August, the price climbed to US$4.20 in mid-September, only to drop back to US$3.30 by the end of the year.
Continued growth
Despite these challenges, the Melitta Group’s overall performance in fiscal year 2025 was very satisfactory. This was largely due to the Group’s strong positions in numerous markets, its stable business relationships, and its longterm outlook. Measures to strengthen the operating divisions and corporate functions – already initiated in fiscal year 2024 – also played a key role.
Sales rose to €2,530 million – representing a year-on-year increase of 18 percent. Adjusted for currency effects, growth was even stronger at 21 percent. There was also a noticeable improvement in earnings. As a result, the Group exceeded its expectations for the fiscal year.
As of the fiscal year 2025, the Melitta Group’s operating divisions have been grouped into six segments. Their contributions to the Group’s sales revenue are as follows:
Segment sales 20251
(in € million)
This overview clearly illustrates that the coffee businesses in particular – and thus the Coffee Europe, South America, and North America segments – were very successful:
- The Coffee Europe segment pools our coffee business in the European markets. With its core brands Melitta® and Caffè Corsini®, the product range comprises filter coffee, instant cappuccino, whole beans, and single-serve coffee. This segment also includes roastmarket.de, the largest online marketplace for premium coffee and coffee accessories in the German-speaking region. In 2025, the segment’s sales revenue rose by 56 percent. In addition to higher sales volumes, this growth was primarily driven by the successful passing on of increased green bean prices.
- The South America segment comprises our coffee and filter paper business in the South American markets. We market coffee products, as well as Melitta filter papers and coffee filters, including under the Melitta®, Café Bom Jesus®, and Café Barão® brands. Despite a decline in sales volumes, revenue rose by 26 percent in 2025. This was driven by a consistent pricing strategy and the strong market position of the brands, particularly in Brazil.
- The North America segment comprises our coffee and filter paper business in the USA and Canada. Here, too, the company offers coffee products, Melitta filter papers, and coffee filters tailored to the respective market needs. The segment also achieved revenue growth in 2025. The main driver here was the passing on of increased green bean prices.
Despite the challenging market environment, the Group’s other segments remained stable:
- The Professional segment pools the Group’s international business activities in the field of professional coffee preparation – ranging from coffee machines and coffee products to service and office coffee offerings. In 2025, sales in this segment were slightly below the prior-year level. This was primarily due to the reluctance of many customers to invest in new equipment and a resulting decline in coffee machine sales. By contrast, the coffee and service business remained stable. Due mainly to rising demand for water dispensers and price adjustments, fresh at work achieved revenue growth.
- The Household Europe segment comprises products for coffee preparation at home, as well as household products for keeping food fresh, storage, and waste disposal. These include, among others, the Melitta®, Toppits®, Swirl®, Albal®, handy bag® and Cuki® brands. The segment remained under pressure in 2025. Revenue was down 4 percent from the previous year. This was primarily due to lower demand for filter papers and strong price pressure in the Food Management and Professional categories.
- Others & Services not only comprises service and holding activities but, above all, products for industrial clients, such as specialty papers, nonwovens, and flexible packaging. In 2025, revenue declined by 9 percent. A key factor was the persistently challenging situation in the European wallpaper industry, which impacted the specialty papers business.
Strongly positioned for 2026
In the fiscal year 2025, significant progress was made in the ongoing development of the operating divisions and corporate functions, with improvements in operating performance and liquidity. In addition to the strong performance of its coffee businesses, the Group was able to consolidate or expand its market positions in many key regions and strengthen its competitive standing. As a result, the Melitta Group enters 2026 in a stronger position overall.
The Group will continue to pursue its current strategy in the fiscal year 2026. The goal is to further strengthen its coffee business, drive international expansion, and systematically adapt its product portfolio to changing customer needs. The Group will continue to optimize its processes and maintain strict cost management in order to become even more efficient and resilient. The Melitta Group is therefore upbeat about its prospects for the fiscal year 2026 and expects to maintain its successful trajectory.