Exhibiting at FOOD INGREDIENTS CHINA 2025

Stern Ingredients (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., located in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, is the China-based subsidiary of the global Stern-Wywiol Gruppe. The company specializes in the development, production, and supply of customized functional systems and food ingredients tailored for the Chinese and broader Asia-Pacific food industries. By leveraging the international expertise of its German parent group and combining it with local market knowledge, Stern Ingredients (Suzhou) serves as a pivotal innovation and supply hub in Asia.

Core Business and Product Offerings

Stern Ingredients (Suzhou) provides a comprehensive range of functional food systems and value-added ingredient solutions across several categories:

• Flour Improvers: Custom solutions designed to enhance baking performance and flour quality for industrial and artisanal applications.
• Baking Ingredients: TopBake and TopSweet series products formulated to meet specific processing and sensory demands in the baked goods sector.
• Micronutrient Blends: Tailor-made vitamin and mineral premixes for the fortification of flour, dairy, beverages, and other food categories.
• Enzyme Systems: Precision enzyme blends for applications in baking, beverage processing, and functional foods.
• Stabilizing Systems: Hydrosol-branded solutions for improving texture, viscosity, and shelf-life in dairy, deli foods, sauces, and more.
• Plant-Based Alternatives: Functional systems for creating clean-label, meat-free, and dairy-free alternatives, marketed through the Planteneers brand.

Specialization and Core USP

The company’s core strength lies in its custom formulation capabilities, which combine global research expertise with local ingredient functionality. Stern Ingredients (Suzhou) offers:

• Modular system design tailored to client-specific product and process needs.
• On-site technical application centers supporting rapid prototyping and formulation adjustments.
• Regulatory knowledge of both international and Chinese food laws, ensuring compliance and streamlined product development.
• Access to eight specialist companies under Stern-Wywiol Gruppe, each providing focused ingredient solutions under leading brand names such as:
  • Mühlenchemie (flour treatment)
  • DeutscheBack (baking ingredients)
  • SternVitamin (micronutrient premixes)
  • SternEnzym (enzymes)
  • Hydrosol (stabilizing systems)
  • Planteneers (plant-based innovations)
  • OlbrichtArom (flavoring systems)
  • Sternchemie (functional lipids and lecithins)

This vertically integrated model provides unmatched synergy in ingredient innovation for Chinese manufacturers.

Financials and Shipment Data

While Stern Ingredients (Suzhou) operates under the private ownership of Stern-Wywiol Gruppe, the global entity has reported:

• Annual revenues exceeding €500 million
• Exports to over 130 countries
• Over 1,700 employees across global offices, R&D hubs, and production sites

The Suzhou facility operates as the group’s Asia-Pacific center, with local manufacturing capacity and full technical support for regional clients. The facility supports both bulk ingredient shipments and customized product batches, contributing to the group's presence in China’s growing food innovation ecosystem.

Target Market

The company serves a diverse range of clients across China and Asia, including:

• Mills and flour producers
• Bakery and pastry manufacturers
• Dairy and beverage brands
• Nutraceutical and functional food companies
• Producers of meat and plant-based analogs

These customers benefit from Stern Ingredients’ deep formulation expertise, cost optimization capabilities, and fast turnaround times for localized product development.

Capabilities and Infrastructure

The Suzhou operation is equipped with:

• Application labs and pilot plants for bakery, dairy, and beverage development
• Advanced blending and mixing facilities for vitamins, enzymes, and stabilizing systems
• Customer-focused technical support teams for process optimization
• Collaboration networks with R&D teams in Germany and regional partners

This infrastructure enables rapid adaptation of Western formulations to Chinese processing technologies, climate conditions, and consumer expectations.

Certifications and Compliance

Stern Ingredients (Suzhou) maintains comprehensive food safety and quality certifications, including:

• ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management
• FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification
• Halal and Kosher certifications
• Compliance with Chinese GB Standards for food safety and labeling

These standards ensure the company’s products meet the expectations of multinational food brands, regulatory authorities, and institutional buyers alike.

Customer Testimonials

While direct testimonials are not publicly disclosed, Stern Ingredients’ repeat business from global and regional brands, along with its inclusion in the approved supplier lists of major Chinese mills and food manufacturers, signals a high level of trust and satisfaction.

Major Achievements

• Established as the Asia-Pacific innovation and production hub for Stern-Wywiol Gruppe.
• Supported China’s national flour fortification initiatives through tailored premixes.
• Delivered localized plant-based formulation solutions under the Planteneers brand for meat-free, dairy-free, and clean-label products.
• Developed functional ingredient systems that align with the latest food trends such as clean-label, high-protein, and immunity-boosting formulations.

Stern Ingredients (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. continues to play a critical role in the transformation of China’s food industry, empowering manufacturers with high-performance ingredients and a deep commitment to innovation, quality, and localized expertise.