Sustainability: Today for tomorrow

For pure enjoyment! Since our founding in 1988, sustainable practices have been an integral part of our corporate culture and something we take for granted. By this, we mean sourcing our ingredients from regional farmers and continuously optimizing our own production and packaging processes. For example, the heat generated by our production machinery is converted and used to heat our office building.

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Our vegetables and grains originate from seeds that are used several times. This way, we ensure the survival of ancient species and a greater diversity for the future.

We preferably purchase regional ingredients. Short transportation routes save CO2 emissions and ensure a positive climate footprint.

We receive buckwheat, emmer grain and oats from local farmers nearby. Our chickpeas come from Würzburg, a Bavarian city in the region of Franconia. For us, this important partnership means the support of our local agriculture, creating incentives to switch to organic farming and the protection of our enironment and climate.

Due to the fact that we are located close to a national boarder, some of our ingredients do come from neighbouring countries. Transport in these special cases is faster and shorter than shipping the goods through the whole of Germany.

For the purchase of raw materials a variety of criteria needs to be considered. This means, it is not always possible to stay within a specific limited radius.

Frozen peas, potatoes and sweet corn come from an adjacent region in Austria - ways are much shorter than receiving vegetables from the north of Germany. The farmers grow their veggies locally. After the harvest they are shock frozen and transported to our warehouse without any further delay.

The major part of our carrots and white cabbage comes from the Franconian wine-growing region. Our flours and flakes we receive from mills located in the close by Lower Bavaria.

We receive dairy products from the Lake Constance region, the Allgaeu, the Chiemgau and the Berchtesgaden region. Our sprouts usually arrive within about an hour. Even our Tofu which is made from German soy beans is produced by a family-run business located in the Middle Rhineland.

Please find more information in our News section. Our "Know the origin" series introduces selected suppliers.

When designing our production processes, we ensure that energy and resources are used as efficiently as possible. Part of the electricity we need comes from our own photovoltaic system; we also use electricity from renewable energy sources.

Through heat recovery, we reuse process heat multiple times. Among other things, it is used for hot water production and heating buildings. In addition, excess heat can be transferred to neighboring company buildings.

Any waste materials generated are also recycled: Used frying oil is processed into biofuel by a specialized partner. Organic production waste is used in biogas plants to generate heat and electricity.

Packaging plays a vital role for our products: It protects the quality of our organic specialties, contributes to their shelf life, and helps ensure product safety and hygiene. At the same time, we are working to reduce material use and continuously improve our packaging.

For the plastic packaging of our fresh products, we use material containing 57% recycled plastic. By using a new packaging machine, we are also able to reduce plastic waste in the production process. Our frozen fruits and frozen snacks are packaged in FSC-certified folding cartons that can be recycled as waste paper. Our outer cartons are also made of FSC-certified cardboard and contain a high percentage of recycled material. For shipping, we use corrugated cardboard, which ensures the necessary product protection.

Our specialty products are packaged in a modified atmosphere. This keeps them fresh longer and preserves their quality. This helps reduce food loss along the supply chain from the manufacturer to the consumer.

All of our products get a second chance:
If a shelf life is too short for retail these products are sold in our very own factory outlet integrated in our production site in Bad Endorf. This means, our customers have the chance to benefit in two ways: with their purchase they save flawless food from being wasted and at the same time they save real money as we offer our high-quality specialties for a small price.

Our employees benefit from us as an employer based in the region and serving the region. We offer secure jobs and training opportunities with exciting and varied responsibilities in an internationally active family-owned company.

Health, safety, and a respectful work environment are top priorities for us. That’s why we support our employees with a variety of benefits as part of our workplace health management program. These include, for example, discounted gym memberships at a local fitness center, ergonomic workplace solutions, and a company-sponsored supplemental health insurance plan with a personal health budget.

As a family-owned business, we value fair and responsible collaboration. We foster our employees’ individual strengths and create a work environment characterized by trust, respect, and mutual support. The safety and health of our employees are our top priority.

After all, the people at SOTO are the foundation of our success. With their dedication, knowledge, and craftsmanship, they help produce and refine our organic specialties every day.