THE HISTORY OF DESTILLA
Genuine products since 1969
Since its founding in 1969, Destilla has produced flavours and extracts of the highest quality. We’ve grown organically, continuously modernized our production processes and expanded our product portfolio.
Today the Destilla brand tagline, “The Essence of Nature,” reflects how we think and act every day. From the traditional art of distillery to innovative flavour compositions, we bring together tradition and modernity, technology and sustainability ? and people with the purest, most natural and genuine products.
For the love of good taste
In 1969, Destilla was founded in Nördlingen by Erika and Franz Latka as “Destilla-Essenzen GmbH & Co. KG.”
1970
The company grew rapidly, thanks to the profound expertise acquired by Mr. Latka over his many years as a chemist and distiller in the flavour industry both in Germany and abroad. Only one year later, Destilla-Essenzen moved to the Kleinerdlingen neighborhood to new premises.
A visionary decision
Over the course of the years, our premises have been continually expanded. The foundation for the company’s success today was laid when the production of plant extracts began and when Mr. Latka had a vision of a completely natural product portfolio.
1985
Then as now, the focus is on supreme quality and accuracy. By continuing to develop and optimize our formulas, we have become one of the world’s leading providers of natural taste solutions for the food and beverage industry but also for our own flavour industry.
Destilla arrives on the internationally scene
In the context of the succession plan, the company was renamed “Destilla Aromen GmbH,” 25 years after its founding. Renata Thienel (née Latka) and Armin Thienel took over the reins of the company in 1994 and have since established it internationally.
1996
Our internationalization is strongly based on close cooperation with partner companies around the world that actively support us. Our first partnerships date back to the end of the 1990s. Today, Destilla can proudly look back on their cooperation with 20 partners from all continents of the world.
On a growth path
In the year 2000, this led to an enormous jump in activity. The Latka GmbH & Co. KG real estate management company, also owned by the family of Renata and Armin Thienel, responded to this growth by erecting a brand-new building complex and refurbished the existing Destilla buildings. It was in this context that the company was also given its present name: Destilla GmbH.
2000
Destilla is growing: this year, not only some new colleagues but also the first trainees will be starting their careers as distillers and industry business management assistants. Training our own specialist staff has proven effective to this day and now comprises seven training professions and three dual study courses.
The future moves in
Destilla’s successful expansion policy led to the construction of a modern logistics and administration building as well as the expansion of the development, production and quality assurance departments in 2005.
2010
For extraction process technology to remain state of the art, a new extraction facility was built in 2010. Around 1.5 million euros were invested in the facility. Destilla will continue to invest in new facilities and buildings. With Matthias Thienel in 2013, the third generation joined the company.
German Politicians as guests
Our natural products convinced German politicians when they were visiting. German Federal Minister Gerd Müller, German Federal Parliament representative Ulrich Lange and Deputy District Administrator Reinhold Bittner were our guests.
2017
With their new exhibition concept, Destilla was present at the Food Ingredients Europe trade fair in Frankfurt again for the first time since 2001. Their stronger presence at trade fairs both within and outside Germany is part of their expansion strategy.
German Brand Award for Destilla
The German Design Council awarded Destilla a prize for successful brand relaunch in the categories FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) and Best Corporate Brand of the Year. The company has thus joined the list of award winners along with well-known German brands such as Lufthansa, KUKA or Union Investment.
2018
Since 2017 the new company location has been set up in the new industrial area “Am Steinernen Mann”. The new construction generates 80 % of the energy needed from renewable energy sources such as solar modules and is connected to the district heating system.
Tomorrow´s flavour trends
After a mere 18 months of construction, Destilla has opened its second site in January 2019 – and new business perspectives have opened up along with it. On more than 10,000 square meters of cutting-edge production space, natural compositions are being produced with state-of-the-art technology from the Nördlingen region for the entire world.
2019
This year does not only mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Destilla is also celebrating fifty fantastic years according to the slogan “Time for gratitude”. With Katharina Hämmerle (née Thienel) having joined the company, the third generation is now complete.
