true fruits GmbH

About true fruits

true fruits GmbH is a German supplier of smoothies, ginger shots, vitamin and electrolyte shots as well as juices based in Bonn-Beuel. The company was founded in 2006 by Nicolas Lecloux, Marco Knauf and Inga Koster and was the first supplier to bring smoothies to the German market. The products are made without concentrates, colorings, preservatives, stabilizers and added sugar and have been produced vegan since 2009; the fruits are processed directly on site into purée or pulp. Bottling in glass bottles (250 ml, 750 ml, 99 ml shots as well as 3-liter magnum bottles) is carried out externally by W. Streker Natursaft GmbH in Aspach, Baden-Württemberg. Distribution takes place in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Spain and France, mainly via food retail. Since 2018, Eckes-Granini Group has held the majority of the company's shares; in 2024 revenue was €71 million, with a smoothie market share in Germany of over 70%.

Site

Bonn

Processes

Online shop, Upcycling bottle tops (e.g. spice grinder), Limited Editions, Seasonal Editions, Sales and retail partner support (Fruchtdealer distribution)

Founded

2006

Employees

40

Industries

Beverage industry, Food retail (grocery retail), Food retail (grocery/supermarket chilled shelf)

1. 01

   Fruit purchasing and recipe development

2. 02

   Contract bottling at W. Streker Natursaft GmbH (Aspach)

3. 03

   Storage and logistics

4. 04

   Distribution via food retail and online shop

Locations

Bonn (Auguststraße 19-29)

DE

Headquarters, administration, sales and marketing

Materials

Fruits, fruit purée, fruit juice

Aspach (W. Streker Natursaft GmbH)

DE

Contract bottling of the beverages in glass bottles

Part weight / size

Bottle sizes 99 ml, 250 ml, 750 ml, 3 l

Inside the production

History

1. 2005

   Lecloux, Knauf and Koster come into contact with smoothies during a semester abroad in Aberdeen (Scotland); research project at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University

2. 2006

   Founding of true fruits GmbH (June, start-up capital of €250,000); market launch of four smoothies in November – first smoothie supplier in Germany; revenue in the first year €40,000

3. 2007

   Exports to Austria, Luxembourg and Switzerland; iF Product Design Award for the glass bottle packaging

4. 2009

   Red Dot for packaging design; German Founder's Prize (Startup category); switch to vegan production

5. 2013

   German Design Award (Communication Tools); Cannes Lion in Bronze

6. 2014

   Launch of the first green smoothie; launch of the bottle-top shop (upcycling)

7. 2015

   Revenue almost tripled from €11.5 million to €29.14 million; market leader in the supermarket segment "chilled fruit" (according to AC Nielsen)

8. 2016

   Revenue just under €40 million; controversially discussed poster campaign for juices with chia seeds

9. 2017

   Controversially discussed poster campaign in Austria

10. 2018

    Eckes-Granini Group initially acquires 35% of the company's shares; launch of the Seasonal Editions

11. 2020

    Market launch of two ginger shots (99 ml); expansion into Spain

12. 2021

    Expansion into France; first place in the image ranking among juice brands (Splendid Research)

13. 2022

    Revenue approx. €62 million, average of 35 employees (Wikipedia); flavor limited editions including with Ahoj-Brause and Fisherman's Friend

14. 2023

    Smoothie market share in Germany over 70%; new products Smoothie violet and Vitamin B Shot

15. 2024

    Revenue €71 million (+ approx. 78% compared to 2016, according to AC Nielsen); Electrolyte Shot introduced; Eckes-Granini majority stake of 67%