When the original business was founded in 1899 in Hamburg by Oscar Ringe, the aim was to produce pure cultures for the dairy industry. What started out as rennin sales for cheese production led to the production of natural colorants, initially with only dairy products in mind, but nowadays involving a whole spectrum of products that is almost infinite in scope.

An independent business, with no ties to a larger group, Ringe+Kuhlmann leads the way in the manufacture of natural, nature-identical and synthetic foodstuff colorants. Clients in more than 30 countries worldwide rely on the expertise, dynamism and flexibility of Ringe+Kuhlmann. What's more, they rely on the experience of successful formulas that are used every day in the company - a perfect balance between carefully preserved recipes, and the very latest in processing technology.

Ringe+Kuhlmann's research and development laboratory is another factor in that success, as are the numerous employees of many years' standing, whose exceptional levels of supplier commitment on their customers' behalves can be seen in action on a daily basis.

ERKA is the brand name for Ringe+Kuhlmann's foodstuff colorants. ERKA colours have natural origins - only if nature has no direct equivalent will we seek out an identical or synthetic alternative. ERKA is backed up not just by a whole century of experience, but the very latest in expertise. After all, ERKA colourants have to be adaptable for use in the most diverse realms of basic and luxury foodstuffs.