Holle: The Company Behind Holle Baby Formula
Holle has made organic food for babies since 1933, and in 1951 it became the first company to receive a Demeter processing contract. Today this Swiss family company is known for one thing above all: baby formula made with milk from biodynamic and organic farms, with a short recipe and nothing that does not need to be there.
We carry four Holle product types: Holle Cow, Holle Cow A2, Holle Goat German and Holle Goat Dutch. Every product is certified organic, every one is vegetarian, and most of the recipes are Demeter certified. We receive our Holle formula directly from Holle and ship it free from our European warehouse, arriving in 2 to 4 business days. Shop all Holle formula.
Who makes Holle baby formula?
Holle baby formula is made by Holle baby food, a family-owned Swiss company founded in 1933 as a biodynamic maker of bread, cereals, and baby porridges. Holle switched its infant formula to Demeter quality in 2009 and added organic goat milk formula in 2015. The formulas we carry use organic cow or goat milk, take their DHA from algae instead of fish oil, and keep lactose as the only carbohydrate in every Stage PRE and Stage 1.
- Founded: 1933, Switzerland, family-owned
- Demeter: first company with a Demeter processing contract, 1951
- Formula lines we carry: Cow, Cow A2, Goat German, Goat Dutch
- Vegetarian: yes, every Holle formula, with DHA from algae
Holle on video
Holle's story starts on the farm. This short video shows the biodynamic farming behind every Demeter box and can.
Video not playing? Watch it on YouTube.
Almost a century of organic baby food
- 1933: Holle is founded in Switzerland as a biodynamic maker of bread, cereals, and baby porridges.
- 1951: Holle becomes the first company to receive a Demeter processing contract.
- 2009: Holle converts its infant formula to Demeter quality.
- 2015: Holle adds organic goat milk infant formula.
- 2018: Holle becomes a public limited company and stays family-owned.
- 2025: Holle wins the German Sustainability Award for companies.
Read Holle's own story on the Holle website.
What Demeter means for your baby's formula
Demeter is the certification for biodynamic farming. A Demeter farm treats soil, plants, and animals as one living system, and it must first meet EU organic rules before the stricter Demeter standard is added on top. Every farm is inspected each year again to keep the mark.
- Cows keep their horns: Demeter does not allow dehorning, and the cows graze on pasture.
- Healthy soil first: no synthetic pesticides and no chemical fertilizers.
- Organic all the way down: the herd's feed is organic too, so the guarantee reaches back to what the animals eat.
- The other Holle recipes: the A2 line and both Stage 4 recipes are EU organic rather than Demeter, with year-round outdoor access for the animals.
These Holle formulas carry the Demeter mark: Holle Cow Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3; Holle Goat German Stage PRE, Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3; and Holle Goat Dutch Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3.
The Holle formulas we carry
Holle Cow
The classic Holle formula, made with Demeter milk from Germany on Stages 1 to 3 and EU organic milk on Stage 4. It comes in boxes with German labels and contains organic palm oil. Shop Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, or see all Holle Cow formula.
Holle A2
Made with milk from cows that produce only the A2 beta-casein protein, a gentle option without switching to goat. It is EU organic, not Demeter, with German and French labels. Shop Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3.
Holle Goat German
Whole goat milk from Germany, naturally A2 and made without palm oil, with the Demeter seal on PRE to Stage 3. It comes in boxes with German labels and is the only Holle goat line with a Stage PRE and a Stage 4. Shop Stage PRE, Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4.
Holle Goat Dutch
The same Demeter goat milk idea in 800 g cans with Dutch and French labels, usually better value per gram than a box, and also made without palm oil. Shop Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, or see all Holle goat formula.
What is inside a Holle formula
- Lactose only at the start: every Holle Stage PRE and Stage 1 uses lactose, the natural sugar in breast milk, as its only carbohydrate.
- Vegetarian DHA: Holle takes its DHA from algae instead of fish oil.
- A short recipe: Holle adds no prebiotics and no probiotics (live cultures).
- From Stage 2: every Holle recipe adds a little starch and maltodextrin alongside the lactose.
- Palm oil: Holle Cow and Holle A2 contain sustainably sourced organic palm oil, and breast milk contains the same palmitic acid. Both goat lines contain none.
Would you like prebiotics and a probiotic? Our HiPP COMBIOTIK recipes carry both. Compare every brand on our European baby formula page.
Which Holle formula is right for your baby?
Start with your baby's age, then the milk. Move up when the next stage's pack says so, not at the latest age printed on the current one, because the next recipe is built for the new age.
- Newborn, the classic: Holle Cow Stage 1.
- Newborn, the lightest start: Holle Goat Stage PRE.
- A2 protein without goat: Holle A2 Stage 1.
- Goat milk from birth: Holle Goat Stage 1 or Holle Goat Dutch Stage 1.
- From 6 months: Holle Cow Stage 2, Holle A2 Stage 2, Holle Goat Stage 2, Holle Goat Dutch Stage 2.
- From 10 months: Holle Cow Stage 3, Holle A2 Stage 3, Holle Goat Stage 3, Holle Goat Dutch Stage 3.
- Toddler, from 12 months: Holle Cow Stage 4 or Holle Goat Stage 4.
Still not sure? Our Formula Finder suggests a match in five short questions.
Why order Holle from Organic Formula Shop
- Direct from Holle: every box and can is 100% authentic and sealed.
- Free, fast shipping: from our European warehouse to the US in 2 to 4 business days. See shipping.
- Fresh batches: at least six months before the best-before date, carefully packed for the journey.
- English help: full English instructions for every Holle product, and a team that answers from US and European time zones, with a 4.9/5 star average from thousands of US parents.
Holle baby formula FAQ
Who makes Holle baby formula?
Holle baby formula is made by Holle baby food, a family-owned Swiss company founded in 1933. In 1951, Holle became the first company to receive a Demeter processing contract, and it converted its infant formula to Demeter quality in 2009.
Is Holle formula Demeter certified?
Most of it is. Holle Cow Stages 1 to 3, Holle Goat German PRE to Stage 3, and Holle Goat Dutch carry the Demeter mark. Holle A2 and the two Stage 4 recipes are certified EU organic instead.
What does Demeter mean?
Demeter is the certification for biodynamic farming. A Demeter farm meets EU organic rules first, then adds stricter rules on soil, feed, and animal welfare: no synthetic pesticides or chemical fertilizers, organic feed, and cows that keep their horns. Every farm is inspected each year.
Is Holle baby formula organic?
Yes. Every Holle formula we sell is certified organic under EU rules, and most of the range is Demeter certified on top.
Is Holle baby formula vegetarian?
Yes. Holle takes its DHA from algae instead of fish oil, so every Holle formula is vegetarian.
Does Holle formula contain palm oil?
Holle Cow and Holle A2 contain sustainably sourced organic palm oil. Holle Goat German and Holle Goat Dutch contain no palm oil at all.
Does Holle formula contain probiotics or prebiotics?
No. Holle adds no prebiotics and no probiotics, and keeps the recipe deliberately short. If you would like both, our HiPP COMBIOTIK recipes carry them.
Which Holle formula is best for a newborn?
Most parents choose Holle Cow Stage 1. For goat milk, choose Holle Goat Stage PRE, Holle Goat Stage 1, or Holle Goat Dutch Stage 1, and for A2 cow's milk, Holle A2 Stage 1. Every Holle Stage PRE and Stage 1 uses lactose as its only carbohydrate.
What is the difference between Holle Goat German and Holle Goat Dutch?
Both use whole goat milk from Germany and no palm oil, with the Demeter seal on most stages. Goat German comes in 400 g boxes with German labeling and adds a Stage PRE and a Stage 4. Goat Dutch comes in 800 g cans with Dutch and French labeling and costs less per gram. The nutrition panels differ slightly, so stay with the same product type from stage to stage.
What is the difference between Holle A2 and Holle Cow?
Holle A2 uses milk from cows that produce only the A2 beta-casein protein, a gentle option without switching to goat. Holle Cow uses Demeter milk on Stages 1 to 3. Holle A2 is EU organic but not Demeter certified.
How do I prepare a Holle bottle?
Pour in half the water first, add the powder, and shake. Then add the rest of the water, shake again, and cool the bottle to drinking temperature, about 37°C or 98°F. Please find the full English instructions and label information here: instructions page.
Where can I buy Holle baby formula in the US?
Organic Formula Shop receives its Holle formula directly from Holle and ships it free from our European warehouse to the US in 2 to 4 business days, with customs and duties included. Every pack is sealed, 100% authentic, and has at least six months before its best-before date.
Questions? Contact our dedicated customer support team or email support@organicformulashop.com. We're here to help.
More to read: goat milk formula guide, Holle vs Bobbie, Holle vs Similac.
This page is for information only and is not medical advice: breastfeeding is recommended where possible, and for all medical questions, contact your pediatrician.