More power for good
This guiding principle shapes the decisions we make as a family business. Long-term thinking and responsible business practices have been part of Voelkel for four generations.
In 2011, we transferred our family business into a foundation and made ecological, economic and social sustainability a central objective in its statutes. Since then, 90% of our profits have flowed back into the company. They are used, for example, to create jobs and invest in our production facilities, including our bottle-washing system and biomass heating plant.
The remaining 10% support projects for the common good. We are particularly committed to preserving biodiversity, supporting organic seed breeding and promoting open-pollinated vegetable varieties
Voelkel has undergone several assessments based on the criteria of the Economy for the Common Good (ECG).
„It was very important to me to firmly embed the vision of my grandparents and my father in the company.“
Stefan Voelkel
Four generations of juice-making tradition
Long before the first organic shops opened, founders Margret and Karl Voelkel were committed to organic and, in particular, biodynamic farming – approaches that were still in their infancy at the time.
With the same passion for traditional craftsmanship, fascination with nature’s diversity and belief in holistic biodynamic farming, we continue to produce our organic juices and beverages today – with the trusted quality associated with Voelkel.
„In the neighbouring gardens, ripe fruit was lying on the ground. So Margret and Karl bought a mobile juice press.“
From ‘Höhbeck. Memoirs of the settlers Karl and Margret Voelkel’
1919
Margret and Karl meet through the Wandervogel movement and, together with a group of like-minded people, begin cultivating an old orchard near Pevestorf.
After a few years, everyone has left the sparsely populated Höhbeck region – everyone except Margret and Karl.
1936
Official operating licence for the Voelkel contract juicery, after Margret and Karl had already spent several years using their mobile juice press, the “Mostmax”, to turn fruit from traditional orchards into juice.
1950
Under the management of Harm Voelkel, the company joins the Demeter-Association.
1980
Stefan Voelkel takes over the company from his father and significantly expands the product portfolio.
Explore our current range
2011
The Voelkel Foundation is established. This ensures that 90% of the profits flow back into the company, while the remaining 10% are used for charitable purposes.
2017
The management of Voelkel GmbH is shared between Stefan Voelkel and his sons Jakob, Boris and Jurek as well as Christian Harder.
2020
Voelkel undergoes its first assessment based on the criteria of the Economy for the Common Good.
2021
A new reusable-bottle washing system goes into operation. Compared with the system previously used, it reduces water and energy consumption by 50%.
More about measures in our production
2024
Our biomass heating plant goes into operation. In 2025, it reduced CO₂ emissions by around 5,250 tonnes compared with 2024, as approximately 75% of the heat required was generated from biomass instead of natural gas.
2026
Stefan Voelkel receives the Lower Saxony State Prize (Niedersächsischer Staatspreis) in recognition of his entrepreneurial lifetime achievement and his social and environmental commitment.
The future
With the right mix of tradition and innovation, we will continue developing our juices, refreshments and other beverages. To do that, we need new ideas and fresh minds.
If you would like to join us on that journey, take a look at our current vacancies (in German)!