Dr. Oetker Stories
Hazelnuts: A closer look at cultivation and origin
Ground, chopped or as a glaze: hazelnuts are a key ingredient in many recipes – from classic cakes to regional specialties. Dr. Oetker sources a large proportion of hazelnuts from Rainforest Alliance Certified cultivation.
28.7.2026 • Sustainability
Hazelnut cookies, baklava or torta soffice di nocciole – as different as these recipes may be, they have one thing in common: they would be hard to imagine without hazelnuts. Hazelnuts are also an important ingredient in many Dr. Oetker products – for example as ground or chopped nuts or as part of our hazelnut cake glaze.
Behind the harvest: Why Rainforest Alliance?
Hazelnuts are largely harvested by hand. During the harvest season, many thousands of migrant workers travel to growing regions. Due to economic uncertainty, families often bring their children to the fields, which can increase the risk of child labour.
The Rainforest Alliance works with farms and local stakeholders to identify and address social and environmental risks, including with regard to child labor and working conditions.
Because hazelnuts are used in so many products worldwide, the conditions under which they are grown and harvested are particularly important to us.
Hazelnuts from certified growing regions
At Dr. Oetker, we already source a large share of our hazelnuts from farms certified according to Rainforest Alliance standards. In 2025, this share reached 90%.
"Sourcing Rainforest Alliance Certified hazelnuts is an important lever for us to reduce social risks in our supply chain while maintaining our quality standards." Vidyadhara Basti, responsible for hazelnut sourcing
By increasing the share of Rainforest Alliance Certified hazelnuts, we strengthen a supply chain in which defined social and environmental standards are systematically taken into account.
Rainforest Alliance beyond hazelnuts: cocoa
Our commitment to certified supply chains goes beyond hazelnuts. For many years, Dr. Oetker has also sourced Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa. The Rainforest Alliance works with farms and local stakeholders to identify and address social and environmental risks, including with regard to child labor and working conditions.
Read more in our story on Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa.
For more information please contact:
Katharina Ahnepohl
Media Spokesperson Sustainability