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Private company

Apetito

Logo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons4

European frozen food company

apetito is a European frozen food company which was founded in post war Germany. The company operates in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain, France the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States and employ over 11,522 people. They are the main providers of "meals on wheels" for local authorities in the United Kingdom, and Canada, and were given a Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2005.2 It was founded by Karl Düsterberg.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1958Founded1
  • Industryfood service1
  • HeadquartersRheine1
  • Websitewww.apetito.com
  • Legal formjoint-stock company1
  • LEI529900NR7J4P04MW4N983
  • StatusActive3
  • LEI statusIssued and current3
  • Registered addressBonifatiusstr. 305, 48432 Rheine, Germany3
  • Registered withLocal Court Steinfurt, HRB 40403

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Rheine Bonifatiusstrasse Apetio01
Photo: Pelz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons6

apetito is a European frozen food company which was founded in post war Germany. The company operates in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain, France the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States and employ over 11,522 people. They are the main providers of "meals on wheels" for local authorities in the United Kingdom, and Canada, and were given a Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2005.2

Corporate structure

Apetito sits at the top of its group. 5 entities, 3 countries on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Apetito Rheine, Germany
    • apetito convenience AG & Co. KG Subsidiary · Hilter a. T. W., Germany
    • APETITO LIMITED Subsidiary · Trowbridge, United Kingdom
    • Bonfait B.V. Subsidiary · Denekamp, Netherlands
    • COSTA Meeresspezialitaten GmbH & Co. KG , (COSTA Meeresspezialitäten GmbH & Co. KG ,) Subsidiary · Emden, Germany

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0). Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Founded by Karl Düsterberg in 1958.1

The company was founded by Karl Düsterberg in 1958 in Rheine, Germany as "apetito Ready Meals" producing frozen ready meals for retail and business canteens, schools, nurseries and the service of Meals on Wheels in Germany. The company began to expand, to Canada in 1987, and to neighbouring countries in Europe in 1989, when "apetito B.V" was founded in the Netherlands.

In 1991, the company set up "apetito (UK) Limited" in Sevenoaks, United Kingdom, and by 2001, had acquired "Nord Restauration S.H." and "Orlysienne du Nord" in France. Business outside of Germany now accounts for approx 25% of apetito's total turnover, though the company's headquarters are still in Rheine, Germany.

From Wikipedia’s article on Apetito, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Leadership

Who has led Apetito, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Timeline

  1. 1958Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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