Rügenwalder Mühle meat and plant-based alternatives

Rügenwalder Mühle is a storied German brand that traces its roots back to 1834 in Rügenwalde, Pomerania (current-day Darłowo, Poland). Founded by Carl Müller, the company became famous for its 'Rügenwalder Teewurst'. After World War II, the family-owned business relocated to Bad Zwischenahn, Lower Saxony, where it rebuilt its operations and became a staple of the German deli meat market.

In a landmark shift for the industry, the brand pioneered plant-based meat alternatives in 2014, eventually leading it to sell more vegetarian and vegan products than traditional meat by 2021. In early 2024, it was announced that the majority of the company would be acquired by the Pfeifer & Langen Group, a major family-owned food conglomerate. This acquisition places Rügenwalder Mühle within a portfolio that includes other well-known brands like Intersnack (Funny-Frisch). Today, the products are primarily manufactured at the company's facilities in Germany, maintaining its heritage while leading the European plant-based protein market.