Foodspring, the Germany-based sports-nutrition products manufacturer in which Mars holds a majority stake, is ceasing operations.
In a brief statement posted on its website, Foodspring said: “Due to challenging market conditions, we have taken the difficult decision to close the Foodspring business, with all customer-facing operations to end by June 30, 2025.
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“We thank our customers, business partners, and associates for their support and commitment over the years.”
US-based confectionery and pet-care giant Mars, which took a majority interest in Berlin-based Foodspring in 2019 through its Mars Edge venture, referred Just Food to the same statement when asked for comment on the closure.
Approached by this publication to confirm how many people are likely to lose their jobs at the direct-to-consumer business and for more information on the reasons for the company’s demise, Foodspring said: “Please understand that we will not comment further. Our current priority is to support our approx. 130 employees.”
Mars Edge was set up in 2017 to explore opportunities in “targeted personalised nutrition”, both organically and non-organically, Jean-Christophe Flatin, the head of the venture at the time, told Just Food in 2020.
Flatin was also the president of innovation, science and technology at the Mars group.
However, Flatin joined the Sweden-based alternative-dairy group Oatly as president in 2022 before being elevated to CEO of the oat-drinks maker the following year to replace Toni Petersson.
Petersson became co-chairman of the company’s board, alongside Eric Milou.
Foodspring was set up in 2013 as a sports nutrition and health-and-wellness products business. The portfolio featured protein powders and shakes, snack bars, breakfast cereal and supplements.
The business worked with manufacturing partners but research and development, marketing and customer service activities were conducted in-house, co-founder Marc Hermann said in a joint interview alongside Flatin in 2020.
“Our approach at Foodspring was always to outsource everything which is non-mission critical and in-source everything which is mission critical,” Hermann said at the time.
“The partnership works so well from both sides because Mars has a certain skill and capability set which they built over centuries – food safety, regulation and innovation are definitely things where we have continuous dialogue with Mars.”
