Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller will shut its Rogätz sauce factory in Saxony-Anhalt by the end of September 2027, putting around 160 jobs at risk, and has confirmed the closure of its sliced cheese division at Leppersdorf on 31 December 2026.

The dual announcement, reported by FoodBev on 8 October 2026, marks a significant contraction of the German dairy and convenience group's production footprint at two sites with long operating histories.

Why is Rogätz closing?

Müller said the decision follows a review of the plant's economic viability. Efforts to improve the site's cost structure have not made production sustainably competitive, and the factory would also require significant investment to continue operating.

The group also cited changing consumer preferences. Demand for sauces packaged in glass jars is declining in favour of alternative formats. That shift has lowered capacity utilisation at Rogätz and placed further pressure on production costs.

Marcus-Dominic Hauck, managing director of Müller's sauces and dressings business unit, said: "A comprehensive economic analysis has shown that the Rogätz production site has no prospect of recovering from its current loss-making situation and returning to long-term profitability."

"We are aware that this decision will cause consternation amongst our staff. We will be holding discussions with the works council in the near future, with the aim of finding socially responsible solutions," Hauck added.

What is the site's history?

Müller acquired the Rogätz operation in 2008, when Homann Feinkost bought the site alongside Hamker. Homann Feinkost itself became part of the Müller group in 2011, folding the sauce and dressings business into the broader portfolio.

The planned closure by end-September 2027 therefore ends a near two-decade ownership run under the group and its predecessors.

What happens at Leppersdorf?

Separately, Müller confirmed it will close its sliced cheese division at Leppersdorf on 31 December 2026. The closure covers the associated production, packaging and administrative operations.

The company said the division could not be operated profitably in the long term, despite efforts to assess alternative options for the business.

Not all activity at the Saxony site stops. The acid curd cheese dairy and mozzarella operations at Leppersdorf will not be affected by the decision, leaving the site partially operational beyond 2026.

What happens to affected workers?

Müller said it is working with the works council on measures for affected employees. The package under discussion includes:

• Opportunities for continued employment elsewhere within the Müller business
• Contractual adjustments for affected staff
• Targeted training and skills development programmes

For the roughly 160 employees at Rogätz, the timeline to end-September 2027 gives unions and the works council a multi-year window to negotiate severance terms and internal transfers.

What does this mean for buyers and suppliers?

For food service operators, retailers and private-label buyers sourcing sauces and dressings from the Rogätz plant, the 2027 deadline sets a clear resourcing horizon. Glass-jar sauce lines produced at the site will need to migrate to other facilities or suppliers.

Sliced cheese buyers face a tighter deadline. Production, packaging and administration at the Leppersdorf division cease at the end of December 2026, little more than two years after the announcement.

The closures also reflect broader structural pressure on European processors: format-driven demand shifts, underutilisation at legacy plants and heavy reinvestment requirements are forcing portfolio reviews across the sector. Müller's decision to close rather than reinvest at both sites signals where it sees the economics landing.

Discussions with the works council begin in the near future, according to Hauck, with the stated aim of finding socially responsible solutions for staff. The sliced cheese closure takes effect on 31 December 2026; the Rogätz sauce factory follows by 30 September 2027.