RAPS forms joint venture to strengthen Italian market position
German spice specialist RAPS GmbH & Co. KG has established RAPS Italia, a strategic partnership with Italian ingredient company Zuegg Com. The collaboration combines RAPS’ century of expertise in spices and functional ingredients with Zuegg Com’s established market position to deliver tailored solutions to Italy’s €179 billion food industry.
RAPS GmbH & Co. KG has expanded its European operations through a joint venture with Italian ingredient specialist Zuegg Com, creating RAPS Italia. The partnership represents a significant development for the German spice manufacturer’s presence in one of Europe’s most dynamic food markets.
Technical expertise meets market intelligence
The joint venture leverages complementary strengths from both companies. RAPS contributes over 100 years of technical knowledge in spice formulation and functional ingredients, particularly in microencapsulation technology that enhances ingredient performance. This technical capability supports various food sectors including meat processing, ready meals, bakery applications and meat-alternative products.
Oliver Ebneth, managing director of RAPS GmbH & Co. KG, comments: “Expanding into Italy marks a key milestone in our strategic growth. With Zuegg Com as our trusted partner, we gain invaluable market insight and direct access to well-established customer relationships. RAPS Italia will allow us to provide Italian food manufacturers with customized seasonings, functional ingredients and coating solutions tailored to their individual needs.”
Zuegg Com brings critical market expertise as RAPS’ long-standing exclusive Italian partner. Based in South Tyrol, the company has spent more than two decades developing innovative ingredients and finished products while building strong relationships within Italy’s food industry.
“This joint venture is a natural extension of our long-standing collaboration with RAPS,” states Lukas Zuegg, managing director of Zuegg Com & RAPS Italia srl. “Our position in the Italian market enables us to support RAPS Italia in seamlessly integrating into the industry. Together, we will expand our reach and deliver innovative, high-quality ingredient solutions that meet the demands of local food manufacturers.”
Italian market characteristics and trends
The Italian food sector presents specific technical challenges and opportunities. With annual turnover of €179 billion and food exports exceeding €50 billion, the market demonstrates significant scale. Consumer preferences show strong demand for authenticity, with data indicating 66% of Italian consumers favour organic products and 45% actively avoid preservatives.
Ingredient innovation represents a key growth driver, particularly in emerging categories such as plant-based alternatives. This sector is projected to reach $162 billion globally by 2030, potentially capturing 7.7% of the world’s protein market.
Tailored functional solutions
RAPS’ advanced encapsulation technology offers particular technical advantages in the bakery and confectionery segments, where it enhances functional ingredient performance for acids and other components. The company processes more than 1,700 raw materials globally and produces over 38,000 tonnes of food ingredients annually across seven European production facilities.
The collaboration enables RAPS to deliver customised seasonings and functional ingredients specifically formulated for Italian manufacturing requirements, with particular emphasis on clean-label applications that align with local consumer preferences.
- For more information, visit: raps.com
