From a Fyn-based food partner to an international growth story

After three decades of growth, Fipros A/S is becoming part of the Swedish group Wellma. With kompasbank as a financial sparring partner, the company has had the confidence to invest in new technology, automation, and capacity — all while maintaining its roots on Fyn.

When Fyn-based Fipros A/S became part of the Swedish company Wellma earlier this October, it marked a new chapter for a business that, since 1992, has specialised in the production of powder and gel products for the food industry. Today, the contract manufacturer — Food Industry Processing Services — employs around 150 people and serves a growing international customer base across Europe, the USA, South America, and Asia.

“We are still very much a Fyn-based company with a short path from idea to action. The new ownership doesn’t change our DNA — but it does open new opportunities,” says CEO Conny Twisttmann, who, together with founder Morten Duch, continues to own the sister company Fipros Nutrition ApS.

“We have always operated the two companies side by side, and we will continue with the same division. The sale of Fipros A/S doesn’t change that,” she emphasises.

The courage to invest — and the need for a bank willing to do the same

For the past decade, Fipros has pursued a clear goal of automating as many processes as possible — both to improve productivity and to create a safer working environment by reducing heavy lifting and repetitive tasks.

“We have continuously invested in new, fully automated systems and introduced robots on several lines. Many of our investments are directly driven by customer needs. When customers bring a new idea or process, we look at the business case and act quickly,” says Conny Twisttmann.

In 2022, that mindset was put to the test. The energy and supply crisis, the after-effects of COVID-19, and rising inflation created extreme volatility in the market.

“It was the perfect storm. Lead times were long, prices surged, and demand exploded. We simply couldn’t keep up. So we decided to stay calm and expand capacity — while others held back,” says Conny Twisttmann and adds: “In a situation like that, it’s absolutely crucial to have a banking partner who also keeps a cool head. Someone who sees opportunities, potential, and future growth scenarios instead of barriers — even when the world doesn’t look like it did yesterday.”

Although demand has since normalised, the investments proved to be the right decision.

“The investments we made then have given us major competitive advantages. We now have significantly higher efficiency, stronger capacity, and a modern production setup that prepares us for the next growth phase,” she says.

A bold step into nutritional supplements

The significant investments have not only made Fipros more efficient — they have also paved the way for new business areas. Alongside the ongoing expansion of production capacity, the leadership team made one of the most important decisions in the company’s history: to establish Fipros Nutrition.

In 2019–2020, the company invested a triple-digit million amount in a new facility dedicated to producing powder-based nutritional supplements — a market experiencing strong, sustained growth.

“It was a bold decision for a company of our size, but it was necessary if we wanted to evolve. We believe that growth requires action,” says Conny Twisttmann.

The move into Fipros Nutrition demonstrated not only risk willingness but also an ability to read the market and act quickly when opportunities arise — a philosophy that defines Fipros’ entire way of operating.

The most flexible banking relationship we've ever had

These investments naturally required flexible financing solutions and a bank partner capable of acting quickly and pragmatically. This is where the collaboration with kompasbank has been essential — across loans, leasing, and FX trading.

“I have to say this: kompasbank is the most flexible and service-oriented banking relationship we’ve ever had. The speed at which they meet with us, understand an issue, find a solution, and implement it — we’ve never experienced anything like it,” says Conny Twisttmann. “We were used to running into limitations. Here, we were met with solutions.”

For Fipros, the ability of the bank to react quickly and understand the reality of a production business has made a real difference.

“When we’ve called with a need, we’ve had a meeting the next day. And within a few days, we had an answer. That makes a huge difference when you operate a company with large, ongoing investments,” she explains.

New ownership — same DNA

The sale to Wellma marks the next step in Fipros’ development. With ten companies and around 500 employees in the group, Fipros is now part of an international network of specialised producers across different product formats.

“We are not the largest, but we are in a niche where we can do something others cannot. What Wellma has seen is the potential in bringing together companies that complement rather than compete with each other. That makes sense for us — and for our customers,” says Conny Twisttmann.

Even though Fipros is now part of a larger group, the company’s roots, culture, and pragmatic, hands-on mindset remain unchanged.

“We are still a Fyn-based company, and we still need partners who think the way we do. Our collaboration with kompasbank is not just about financing — it’s about having someone who sees opportunities where others see limitations.”

When growth requires trust

For Fipros, the relationship between a company and its bank is ultimately about trust and an understanding of the realities of running a production business.

“When you operate globally, as we do, flexibility is everything — both in production and in financing. That’s what makes it possible to act when opportunities arise,” says Conny Twisttmann.

Fipros’ journey is an example of how Danish production companies can grow internationally — when the right conditions are in place.

“We have both feet firmly planted in the soil of Fyn and want to do things properly and realistically. But we also want to move forward — and that requires someone who believes in that journey together with us. kompasbank does.”

Facts About Fipros

Name: Fipros (Food Industry Processing Services) Founded: 1992 by Morten Duch Headquarters: Ebberup, Fyn Employees: approx. 150 Business area: Contract manufacturing of powder and gel products for the food and nutritional supplement industries Customers: Europe, USA, South America, China Production capacity: approx. 25 processing lines including spray drying, blending, milling, compaction, and packing in various formats Focus areas: Automation, digitalisation, and flexible full-service solutions Customer types: Fipros works with both small companies lacking production capacity and large international corporations wanting to test products before investing in their own facilities — helping drive growth and innovation across the food sector. Sister company: Fipros Nutrition ApS — still owned by Conny Twisttmann and Morten Duch