History
From “non-alcoholic wines” to pure, healthy fruit juices. Haus Rabenhorst in Unkel can look back on an eventful history of more than 200 years.
| 1805 | In 1805, the foundation stone of Haus Rabenhorst was laid by Heinrich Lauffs (1761-1837), a clergyman. In that year, he founded a winery in Oberwinter, just a few kilometres away from the present home of the business. |
| 1885 | 80 years later, his grandson, Oskar Lauffs, moves the business to its present location in Unkel, with the firm’s villa that is still a characteristic feature of Haus Rabenhorst today. |
| 1898 | His son, Alexander Lauffs (1865-1951), makes use of the pasteurization process invented by Louis Pasteur and launches the production of “alcohol-free wines”. The “Red grape juice” is created, becoming Rabenhorst’s trademark product and marking the first step on the path as a maker of healthy juice products. |
| 1910 | Alexander Lauffs begins working with the reform movement. The guiding principle of the reform movement was a healthy and natural diet. The Reformhaus emerged from the alternative diet of the Lebensreform movement. The Rabenhorst cider became an important reform food. This is also the origin of the exclusive distribution of Rabenhorst juices in the Reformhaus for decades to come. |
| 1920 | His sons, Günther Lauffs (1901-1990) and Walther Lauffs (1903-1981), embark on their careers in the business. In line with the “health reform” movement, they advocate for healthy, natural nutrition. Under their management, Rabenhorst becomes synonymous with healthy fruit juices, with the range extended by products that are still known and loved today. |
| 1967 | Rabenhorst starts producing vegetable juices. The first vegetable juice "Bleib immer frisch" (Always stay fresh) has now given way to a diverse range of vegetable juices with 6 different varieties, consisting of B-Aktiv, our carrot juice Gartenmöhre (garden carrot), Italian free-range tomato, mild sauerkraut, beetroot and the traditional vegetable juice. |
| 1969 | As early as 1969, they initiate the system of controlled, organic contract cultivation at Rabenhorst. The first research contracts are placed with Institute of Organic Agricultural Sciences of Kassel University, marking the start of a process of cooperation lasting many years. This is a trailblazing step in the development of controlled, organic cultivation. |
| 1970s | The healthy fruit juice products from Rabenhorst are also advertised on TV from an early stage. Today, the old television commercials have the charm of days gone by. Take a look some time at the old commercials on our Youtube channel. A total of 5 spots show advertising on German TV from 1960, 1968, 1970, in the 70s and from 1981. |
| 2005 | Haus Rabenhorst celebrates its 200th birthday. The first German producer of non-perishable grape juice has grown into an enterprise that stands like no other for healthy, high-quality juices. |
| 2006 | A reorientation of the Haus Rabenhorst company leads to the lifting of the Reformhaus exclusivity. Since then, the high-quality juices can be bought in Reform houses, pharmacies, drugstores, food retailers and also in the exclusive online shop. Our organic varieties are distributed by health food shops. |
| 2020 | The Rabenhorst Shots in the small 60 ml brown glass bottle are introduced to the market. Two delicious varieties combine the best of nature in its smallest form. The powerful shots for every day consist of high-quality direct juices in best organic quality. The intense taste comes without any added sugar (in compliance with German law). |
| 2021 | Rabenhorst is awarded Gold at the German Brand Award 2021 in the category "Excellence in Brand Strategy and Creation - Brand Strategy". One of the most important German prizes for brand management has awarded the project "With value-oriented brand management from a niche to a nationally established premium health juice brand". In addition, Rabenhorst received the Federal Award of Honour for Fruit Drinks from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in gold for the second time: It is the highest award that a food producer in Germany can achieve. The producer won it for the first time in 2010. Two more varieties of the powerful shots are added to the range. The best of nature in its smallest form is now also available in the varieties Cranberry-Ginger and Sea Buckthorn-Ginger. |