SGP secures a business continuity solution: the Bad Wörishofen site of meat specialist Josef Maier will remain open

Restructuring success for meat specialist Josef Maier: sale to a strategic investor secures the future of the long-established business. Alexander Hubl and Matthias Räupke have secured a sustainable solution for the business’s continued operation, thereby ensuring the preservation of the renowned Maier brand.

Hubl and Matthias Räupke, both of SGP Schneider Geiwitz & Partner, have succeeded in presenting a comprehensive plan for the company’s continued operation. The Austrian Hochländer Group is taking over the property and the large frozen food warehouse at the Bad Wörishofen location, thereby enabling the company to make a fresh start under stable economic conditions. “After intensive negotiations, we have succeeded in finding a solution that secures the company’s continued existence at the Bad Wörishofen location and preserves the valuable Josef Maier brand as a promise of quality in the market,” explains insolvency administrator Alexander Hubl.

A long-established company with deep regional roots

Josef Maier GmbH & Co. KG looks back on a history spanning more than 50 years, which began in 1973 with its founding by master butcher Josef Maier. What started as a small business has evolved over the decades into a technologically leading company. Bad Wörishofen has been the heart of the business since its founding: The facility on Leonhard-Oberhäußer-Straße includes, among other things, a state-of-the-art frozen food warehouse with over 7,500 storage slots as well as the entire logistics infrastructure. Maier supplied well-known supermarket chains such as Rewe and Edeka, as well as upscale restaurants.

The new force on the European market for game meat

The acquisition by the Hochländer Group marks a significant consolidation in the market. The family that holds a majority stake in the Hochländer Group has been involved in the game industry since 1950 and has established itself as a leading player in the European game meat trade over the past few decades. The merger with industry leader Maier is now creating a new major player in this specialized market sector in Europe. This strategic alliance brings together extensive expertise in the procurement, processing, and distribution of game meat specialties such as roe deer, red deer, and wild boar. “Through this restructuring, which also includes a solution for the Maier Group’s Eastern European subsidiaries and thus enables the continued supply of fresh meat, a new player is emerging that can address the challenges of the European game meat market from a position of strength and create synergies that will ensure the long-term competitiveness of the Bad Wörishofen location,” emphasizes Matthias Räupke of SGP Schneider Geiwitz & Partner.

Continuing operations and safeguarding jobs

Despite the economic difficulties at the end of 2025, which were triggered by liquidity shortages and consumer reluctance, operations at the logistics site were able to continue without interruption following the inevitable shutdown of the cutting plant in Landsberg am Lech, thanks to the restructuring efforts. The focus is now on integrating Wildfleisch Maier’s proven structures into the new ownership structure and further expanding its market presence. The Josef Maier brand will continue as a premium brand. With the successful conclusion of the investment process, the decisive step has been taken to keep this long-established specialty business in the region for the long term.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration at SGP Schneider Geiwitz

This transaction once again demonstrates that the successful outcome is largely attributable to the interdisciplinary collaboration within SGP Schneider Geiwitz.

SGP Corporate Finance provided exclusive advisory services to the insolvency administrators Alexander Hubl and Matthias Räupke on the seller’s side throughout the M&A process. The SGP Corporate Finance team (Peter Wieland, Alexander von Abercron, and Philipp Dorfner) managed the entire transaction process, oversaw the investor process, identified and approached potential buyers, coordinated the interested parties, and supported the negotiations through to the signing.

Legal advice was provided by colleagues from SGP Legal, Nicole Michel (attorney) and Stephan Schraudner (attorney).