History

What started in 1946 with the trading of goods then in short supply, like grain, peas, writing paper, and steel screens, grew over the decades to become a family company with Hanseatic roots and globe-spanning activities. With our broad business portfolio, today we’re at home on all continents.

For more than seven decades, CREMER has been an international specialist company focusing on trade, the processing and transport of basic commodities and raw materials, the development and manufacturing of oleochemical products and in the production of food. 

After the company was established in Hannover, trading successfully in grain, animal feed, and other agricultural products, Cremer Group moves to Hamburg in 1954.

It isn‘t long before the company expands overseas with the installation of its first production plants in Thailand for the manufacture of tapioca, chopra and other feedstuffs. An own shipping company is founded in the late 1960's.

With further branches set up in South America, Cremer Group gradually establishes itself on the world markets. The Group begins trading and manufacturing products like molasses, oleochemicals and cornflakes.

German reunification brings opportunities, and Cremer Group expands into the former East Germany.

The Cremer Group founds Cremer Steel, joining the worldwide steel trading business.

Meanwhile, the Group continues its successful expansion abroad into markets like Bulgaria, Singapore, Hungary, the US and Great Britain. The primary focus is on Singapore and the US. Further investments are also made in the oleo business.

The new millennium brings with it new opportunities for the Cremer Group. In the UK, the Group sets up Prime Molasses to trade in the international molasses business.

Further company foundings follow in France (Oleochemicals), Australia (Grain), the Czech Republic (Oleo), and Indonesia (Grain).

The Cremer Group continues to grow in Germany as well, acquiring deuka in Düsseldorf and founding CremerEnergy GmbH to start trading biodiesel.

Despite the global financial and economic crisis, CREMER steers safely through these stormy years, unfaltering in its pursuit of success.

Several new companies are founded and others acquired, such as Gesellschaft für Tierernährung (GfT) in Wildeshausen. The sister companies deuka and Cremer Futtermühlen are merged into Deutsche Tiernahrung Cremer.

The Cremer Group becomes CREMER. Possehl Erzkontor GmbH is acquired in stages to expand our trade business portfolio with minerals and ores. Peter Cremer (Singapore) GmbH opens an office in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Lübeck site of Nordgetreide is expanded and adapted for the production of innovative cornflake products.

The purchase of four compound feed plants in Southern Germany helps strengthen our market position. An additional production site is built in Wuxi, China. The industrial oleo sites in Witten and Wittenberge, as well as Walter Rau AG in Neuss, are sold for strategic reasons.

In 2016, our long-time Managing Partner Stefan Cremer passes away. Dr. Ullrich Wegner becomes chairman of the board. The close ties of the Cremer family to the company ensure the long-term sustained development of CREMER.

In 2017,  Cremer Steel celebrates 25 years of successful steel trading. In 2019, a grain silo in Varna/Bulgaria is completed by CREMER Sofia Ltd, and CREMER OLEO strengthens its position with the acquisition of the Uetersen location.

In 2018 Thiemo Heinzen becomes CFO, and since has led CREMER side by side with CEO Dr. Ullrich Wegner.

In 2020 CREMER adds plant-based meat alternatives to its portfolio, opening the first production plant in 2022 in Singapore. 

Through international expansion, integration of our locations, and continuous portfolio additions, CREMER is ready for the future, even after 75 years of history.