Dr. Oetker Stories
Energy, Team Spirit and Strong Partnerships
Across the globe, companies of the Oetker Group nurture diverse connections to the world of sports – on the field, along the track, and in collaboration with well-known athletes.
5.11.2025 • Company and Culture
In most countries, sports play an important role – and that is certainly true for the markets in which Dr. Oetker operates. Employees take part in runs, triathlons and team events, support local clubs, or link products to movement and a healthy lifestyle. In many places, renowned athletes even serve as ambassadors for Oetker products. However different these activities may be, they all share one idea: sport brings people together – and that fits perfectly with the Dr. Oetker purpose “Creating a Taste of Home”.
Germany: Football means unity
At its Bielefeld headquarters, Dr. Oetker is sending a strong signal for local connectedness and equality. Since the 2024/25 season, the company has been supporting the women’s and girls’ teams of DSC Arminia Bielefeld. Even before that, Dr. Oetker was part of a group of sponsors backing the club, whose men’s team plays in Germany’s second division. The partnership goes beyond shirt sponsorship for the seven teams – from the first women’s squad down to the U13 – and includes close cooperation focused on promoting diversity and equality. The commitment is visible on jerseys, team apparel, pitchside boards and the club’s social media channels. Dr. Oetker had previously been a member of a sponsoring association of the club (Bündnis OWL), whose men's team plays in the second German Bundesliga.
In addition, Dr. Oetker is regularly represented at sporting events around its German locations – including in Wittenburg. Here, our IT colleague Martin Pankow leads the local running group and has for many years been responsible for organizing the traditional Wittenburg “Mühlenlauf” (Mill Run). With nearly 1,000 participants in the most recent event – including 30 Dr. Oetker colleagues – the run has become a well-established fixture in northern Germany as part of the “Laufcup MV” race series.
Dr. Oetker Belgium’s sports sponsorship is on the move
After two seasons of involvement in the Jupiler Pro League, the country’s top football division, the focus has now shifted to the hockey field: since 2024, the prestigious cup competition of Belgium’s professional clubs has been known as the Dr. Oetker Hockey Cup.
The company serves not only as a name sponsor but also as a driving force behind a genuine success story. After several years of hiatus, the cup has been revived – with an exciting new format that gives smaller clubs a chance to challenge the big ones. By sponsoring the reborn hockey event, Dr. Oetker Belgium celebrates team spirit, fair play and the will to win – values it shares with the hockey community.
Hungary: A run of remembrance around Lake Balaton
For the second year in a row, the organizers of Ultrabalaton – one of Hungary’s most iconic relay races – welcomed a team from Dr. Oetker Hungary. In 2025, 13 colleagues set off to run the 211-kilometre route around Lake Balaton, completing it in just 20 hours and one minute.
The team dedicated their achievement to the memory of their late colleague Zsolt Nagy, himself an avid runner. As is tradition, the company covered the entry fees, while the participants carried the message “You run on with us” on their shirts all around the lake.
This powerful gesture of unity touched many along the route and demonstrated how sport, in the truest sense, connects people – across generations, departments, and even beyond the boundaries of life itself.
India: Energy for champions
In India, Dr. Oetker combines a passion for sport with a focus on conscious nutrition. To launch its new High Protein Peanut Butter, the team initiated a campaign that authentically links fitness, nutrition and lifestyle.
The Indian Dr. Oetker team enlisted true sporting heroes as brand ambassadors – above all Neeraj Chopra, Olympic gold medallist in javelin throw in 2020 and only the second Indian individual athlete ever to achieve this feat. Alongside him, cricket stars Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana as well as footballer Rahul KP joined the campaign. Together with nutrition coaches, fitness influencers and emerging sports talents, they spread the message that mindful nutrition is a key part of athletic performance – and that protein power can taste great, too.
Whether in gyms, promotional events or on social media, the message is clear: Dr. Oetker India stands for movement, balance and enthusiasm.
Mexico: Sport, fun and a hint of chicken broth
In Mexico, D’Gari is present on multiple sporting stages. The company supports the basketball team Los Caballeros de Culiacán and the baseball club Los Leones de Yucatán – both with strong local fan communities.
In addition, D’Gari sponsors popular running events in various cities – including the charmingly chaotic P-Run, where humans and their dogs take to the starting line together. This year, the Dr. Oetker brand once again took part with tastings, goodie bags and even dog biscuits and gummies – sugar-free, of course, but with an irresistible chicken-broth flavour.
Another sporting premiere was scheduled for October 2025: D’Gari appeared as a refreshment sponsor at the Querétaro Marathon, accompanying runners along the 42-kilometre route. From fun runs to marathon milestones, D’Gari proves that sports engagement in Mexico is not only full of energy, but also full of heart.
Poland: Always on the move
In Poland, Dr. Oetker has long been a reliable partner in promoting activity and community. Numerous sporting events across the country benefit from its support – from the Gdynia Birthday Run in February to the Midsummer Night Run in June and the Independence Run in November.
Beyond city runs, Dr. Oetker also shows commitment in other areas: at Oliwski Ultras – Run Around Joy in Gdańsk, a family-friendly trail-running event, the company has been a partner for five years. In the Kashubia region, Dr. Oetker also supports the Stone Man Triathlon & Run, where children, young people and adults compete over various distances.
Another highlight is the city-wide initiative Cycle Kilometres for Gdańsk, which motivates residents to leave their cars at home and collectively log cycling kilometres. In this way, the company’s engagement combines activity, sustainability and team spirit – a movement that strengthens not just bodies, but communities.
Czech Republic: Fitness meets breakfast
In the Czech Republic, Dr. Oetker demonstrates how strategically sponsorship and product positioning can go hand in hand. The company partners with the Czech Aerobic and Fitness Association (FISAF), which organizes national and international competitions.
The sponsorship focuses on the Single-Serving Porridge segment – convenient portions perfectly suited to active lifestyles. At the major FISAF Championships 2025 – nationally in Kladno and internationally in Prague – Dr. Oetker will be present with its logo, tastings and an attractive prize: winners receive a six-month supply of Healthy Breakfast.
The campaign promotes balanced nutrition in an inspiring way – and smartly connects a strong brand with positive movement.
Movement connects
From marathons to team sports, from protein bars to porridge: sport is present throughout the Oetker world. It stands for fairness, team spirit and joy – values that have long defined the company.
Whether on the hockey field in Brussels, along the shores of Lake Balaton or at the finish line in Querétaro – wherever people come together through sport, they experience closeness and belonging. And perhaps that’s the sporting version of what Dr. Oetker means when it says: Creating a Taste of Home.