Manufacturer of quality candles (pillar, taper, rustic and tealight candles) as well as scented candles and private-label production for the retail trade
Gies Kerzen GmbH
Norderstedt (DE) · Glinde (DE) · Fulda (DE) · Oskarshamn (SE)New on Amplifa
About Gies Kerzen
Gies Kerzen GmbH is a long-established candle manufacturer from Germany that has been producing and distributing high-quality candle products since 1899. Originally founded as Wachsindustrie Fulda Adam Gies, the company is today one of the leading manufacturers of quality candles in Europe, headquartered in Norderstedt. The full product range covers rustic candles, pillar candles, taper candles, tealights, household and chandelier candles as well as scented candles and accessories under the brands GIES and Dufti by Gies and through the distribution of Liljeholmens Stearinfabrik. Production includes, among other methods, the dipping and casting processes using selected raw materials such as fully refined paraffin, stearin, rapeseed wax and shea stearin as well as pure cotton wicks. In addition to brand assortments, the company develops private-label and retail-brand concepts, from product development through packaging solutions to logistical implementation. Customers supplied nationally and internationally include grocery retail, discounters, drugstores, wholesalers and other distribution channels; the product systems carry the RAL quality mark for candles.
- Site
- Norderstedt
- Processes
- Candle manufacturing (dipping process, "dipped quality"), Casting process (wick stretched in molds, poured over with wax; e.g. taper candles, candles in, Dipping white candles in a color bath / printing / complete coloring, Industrial candle production incl. private label / retail brand production, Private-label / own-brand development, Individual assortment development, Packaging and design solutions, Logistics and distribution
- Materials
- Fully refined paraffin, Stearin, Rapeseed wax, Shea stearin / Shea, Cotton wick, Ceramic (scented candle containers), Metal (candle holders), Ceramic
- Certificates
- RAL quality mark for candles, Nordic Swan (eco label, Liljeholmens), ISCC (Liljeholmens shea products), DIN EN 71 Part 3 (colors, product specification), Nordic Swan (Liljeholmens), ISCC (Liljeholmens), DIN EN 71 Part 3
- Founded
- 1899
- Employees
- 500
- Industries
- Grocery retail, Supermarkets and hypermarkets, Self-service department stores and discounters, Drugstores, Wholesale, DIY stores
- 01
Raw material selection (paraffin, stearin, rapeseed wax, shea stearin)
- 02
Candle manufacturing (dipping and casting processes)
- 03
Coloring / printing / color bath
- 04
Packaging and design
- 05
Logistics and distribution
- 06
Export processing
Materials and Raw Materials
Fully refined paraffin
Selected base material for clean and low-emission burning.
Stearin
Renewable raw material for low-soot candles with good burning behavior.
Rapeseed wax
Plant-based, renewable wax for 100 % plant-based scented candles.
Shea stearin / Shea
Renewable raw material of the Liljeholmens stearin candles.
Cotton wick
Pure cotton wicks for uniform burning behavior.
Ceramic
Reusable containers for scented candles.
Metal
Material for candle holder accessories.
Sites
Norderstedt
DEHeadquarters (sales, marketing)
Glinde
DEHistoric production site (1965–2018), subsequently sales and marketing
Fulda
DEFounding site (Wachsindustrie Fulda Adam Gies)
Oskarshamn
SEProduction (Liljeholmens Stearinfabriks AB)
- Materials
- Stearin, rapeseed wax, shea stearin
Candle Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candle manufacturing (dipping process, "dipped quality")Casting | – | – | – | – | Paraffin, Stearin, Rapeseed wax, Shea stearin, Cotton wick |
| Casting process (wick stretched in molds, poured over with wax; e.g. taper candles, candles inCasting | – | – | – | – | Paraffin, Stearin |
| Dipping white candles in a color bath / printing / complete coloringSurface | – | – | – | – | Paraffin, Stearin |
| Industrial candle production incl. private label / retail brand productionCasting | – | – | – | – | Paraffin, Stearin, Rapeseed wax, Shea stearin |
Additional services
Quality and Certification
The candles are certified with the RAL quality mark of the Gütegemeinschaft Kerzen e.V. quality association, whose compliance is monitored by DEKRA Umwelt GmbH. Only tested raw materials are used; the colors comply with DIN EN 71 Part 3.
| Evidence | Norderstedt |
|---|---|
| RAL quality mark for candles | |
| Nordic Swan (Liljeholmens) | |
| ISCC (Liljeholmens) | |
| DIN EN 71 Part 3 |
Company History
- 1899
Foundation of 'Wachsindustrie Fulda Adam Gies' by Adam Joseph Gies
- 1921
Branch plant 'Gebrüder Gies' in Bergedorf near Hamburg
- 1965
Relocation of headquarters to Glinde
- 1978
Major fire destroys candle production in Glinde (according to Wikipedia)
- 1982
Acquisition by Flensburger Spirituosenfabrik Hermann G. Dethleffsen; purchase of the Danish candle factory ASP-Holmblad
- 1983
Purchase of Wachsindustrie Fulda; company name 'Gies Kerzen Adam Gies GmbH & Co.'
- 1985-1989
Merger with Becker Kerzen (Switzerland) to form the Gies Group under the interest of the Swedish group Skane Gripen; relocation of production to Glinde
- 1995
Liljeholmens Stearinfabriks AB (Oskarshamn) joins the group
- 1997
Gies Group with five European production facilities goes public on the Swedish stock exchange under parent company Liljeholmens Stearinfabriks AB
- 1998
Member of the Blyth Group (USA)
- 2006
Acquisition of the Gies Group by ALG Holding A.B. (Malmö)
- 2017
Announcement of the end of production in Glinde (according to Wikipedia); 60 employees affected
- 2018
Relocation of machines from Glinde to Portugal and Sweden; the Glinde site focuses on sales and marketing
- 2026
Move from Glinde to Hamburg-Volksdorf (according to Wikipedia)