# RATIONAL

Summary updated: 2026-10-04T15:22:09.963908Z
Canonical: https://finbar.com/research/companies/rational

## Overview

RATIONAL AG is a German commercial-kitchen equipment company focused on thermal food preparation in professional kitchens. Its core products are the iCombi combi oven and iVario multifunctional cooking system, supported by accessories, spare parts, care products and services. [1](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P40499624)[2](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P83417997)[3](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P12810023) The company’s stated mission is to provide the greatest possible benefit to people preparing food thermally in professional kitchens around the world. [4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P21247296)

RATIONAL serves customers in more than 120 countries through its own sales companies and independent partners. [5](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P61734092) It reported FY2025 revenue of €1,259.6 million and had 2,887 employees worldwide as of 31 March 2026. [6](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2246617)[7](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P6401164)
[1](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P40499624)[2](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P83417997)[3](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P12810023)[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P21247296)[5](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P61734092)[6](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2246617)[7](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P6401164)

## Products & services

RATIONAL’s core cooking appliances include the iCombi combi-oven family and the iVario multifunctional cooking system. The iCombi Pro combines steam and hot-air cooking, using sensors and cooking intelligence to adapt the process to the food; the iCombi Classic offers manual operation for trained chefs. The China-market iCombi One is a manual, price-performance model. [8](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P4182098)[9](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P36201492) The iHexagon combines steam, convection heat, and microwave energy across six levels, with RATIONAL reporting average cooking times reduced by 30%. [10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P14859057)[11](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/ihexagon/)

The iVario uses direct contact heat and liquid for applications including boiling, frying, deep-frying, and pressure cooking, and is designed to replace equipment such as tilting pans, kettles, and fryers. [2](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P83417997)[12](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P104098155)[13](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/ivario-pro/models/) RATIONAL also offers ConnectedCooking, a cloud-based solution for connecting and monitoring appliances, remote control, software updates, and transfer of cooking programs; its digital offerings include recipe management and hygiene/HACCP documentation. [14](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P49729494)[15](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P5167971)[16](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/digital-solutions/connectedcooking/) Related offerings include accessories, spare parts, care products, and services. [3](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P12810023)

In FY2025, appliances accounted for 69% of revenue and accessories, spare parts, care products, and services accounted for 31%. The FY2025 investor presentation reports revenue shares of 59% for iCombi, 10% for iVario, and 31% for aftersales. [3](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P12810023)[17](https://www.rational-online.com/media/investor-relations/2025/q3/rational-ag---ir-presentation-fy-2025.pdf)
[8](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P4182098)[9](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P36201492)[10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P14859057)[2](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P83417997)[12](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P104098155)[14](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P49729494)[15](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P5167971)[3](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P12810023)[11](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/ihexagon/)[13](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/ivario-pro/models/)[16](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/digital-solutions/connectedcooking/)[17](https://www.rational-online.com/media/investor-relations/2025/q3/rational-ag---ir-presentation-fy-2025.pdf)

## Geographic presence

RATIONAL sells worldwide through its subsidiaries and independent distribution partners; its 2025 annual report lists 32 subsidiaries, including 22 sales companies, and says its sales network reaches almost all world regions. Its reportable regions are DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), EMEA, North America (United States, Canada and Mexico), and Asia North (China, Japan and South Korea); South America and Asia South are included in “other segments.” [18](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P17035233)[19](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P56462748)[20](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P5079546)

In 2025, revenue was €129.3 million in Germany (10%); €536.1 million in Europe excluding Germany (43%); €304.4 million in North America (24%); €84.6 million in Latin America (7%); €135.3 million in Asia (11%); and €69.9 million in the rest of the world (6%). [21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3139850) At year-end, RATIONAL employed 2,815 people: 1,546 in Germany, 640 in Europe excluding Germany, 255 in North America, 67 in Latin America, 291 in Asia and 16 in the UAE. [22](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P32255663)[23](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2739309) Production and development sites include Landsberg am Lech, Germany, and Wittenheim, France; construction of an additional production and development site in Suzhou, China, was completed in January 2026. [19](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P56462748)[18](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P17035233)
[18](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P17035233)[19](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P56462748)[20](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P5079546)[21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3139850)[22](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P32255663)[23](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2739309)

## Business segments

RATIONAL’s FY2025 report identifies geographic operating segments: DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), EMEA, North America (United States, Canada and Mexico), and Asia North (China, Japan and South Korea). “Other segments” aggregates South America and Asia South, which are not separately reportable. Each segment sells equipment, accessories, spare parts and care products and provides services; the report states there are no inter-segment sales. [20](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P5079546)[24](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P30839441)

Based on FY2025 segment sales of €1,274.4 million, approximate contributions were EMEA €519.5 million (40.8%), North America €338.2 million (26.5%), DACH €179.9 million (14.1%), Other segments €137.5 million (10.8%) and Asia North €99.3 million (7.8%). These percentages use the total of segment sales; the report separately reconciles that total to Group revenue. [25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3082640)

RATIONAL also reports product groups: iCombi and iVario, both cooking systems for thermal food preparation. FY2025 sales were €1,108.4 million for iCombi and €151.2 million for iVario—approximately 88% and 12%, respectively, of Group revenue of €1,259.6 million. [3](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P12810023)[25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3082640)
[20](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P5079546)[24](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P30839441)[25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3082640)[25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3082640)[25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3082640)[25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3082640)[25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3082640)[25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3082640)[25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3082640)[3](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P12810023)

## Company history

Founded by Siegfried Meister in 1973, RATIONAL introduced its first combi oven, the CD 101, in 1976. The company reached production of its 100,000th combi oven in 1996 and introduced the ClimaPlus Combi in 1997. [26](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P46419446)[27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P9388635)[28](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P57271592)[29](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/company/history/)

RATIONAL shares began trading publicly on 3 March 2000. The company launched the SelfCookingCenter in 2004, followed by the SelfCookingCenter whitefficiency and VarioCookingCenter MULTIFICIENCY in 2011. [30](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/company/investor-relations/25-years-ipo/)[31](https://www.rational-online.com/media/investor-relations/annual-reports/gb-2011-en.pdf) Founder Siegfried Meister died in 2017. In 2018, the FRIMA brand was integrated into RATIONAL, including the VarioCookingCenter brand; in 2020, the company introduced the iCombi and iVario. [32](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P108463900)[33](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P77641410)[34](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P21990456)[35](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P86656265) RATIONAL marked its 50th anniversary in 2023 and announced iHexagon, a new product category combining steam, hot air and microwave technology, in 2024. [36](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P86073338)[37](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/news/rational-introduces-a-new-product-category.php)
[26](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P46419446)[27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P9388635)[28](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P57271592)[29](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/company/history/)[30](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/company/investor-relations/25-years-ipo/)[31](https://www.rational-online.com/media/investor-relations/annual-reports/gb-2011-en.pdf)[32](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P108463900)[33](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P77641410)[34](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P21990456)[35](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P86656265)[36](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P86073338)[37](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/news/rational-introduces-a-new-product-category.php)[29](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/company/history/)[30](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/company/investor-relations/25-years-ipo/)[31](https://www.rational-online.com/media/investor-relations/annual-reports/gb-2011-en.pdf)[37](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/news/rational-introduces-a-new-product-category.php)

## Sources

1. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p40](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P40499624)
2. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P83417997)
3. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p117](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P12810023)
4. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P21247296)
5. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P61734092)
6. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p6](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2246617)
7. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2026 Q 1), p5](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P6401164)
8. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P4182098)
9. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p5](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P36201492)
10. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P14859057)
11. [www.rational-online.com](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/ihexagon/)
12. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P104098155)
13. [www.rational-online.com](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/ivario-pro/models/)
14. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p40](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P49729494)
15. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p5](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P5167971)
16. [www.rational-online.com](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/digital-solutions/connectedcooking/)
17. [www.rational-online.com](https://www.rational-online.com/media/investor-relations/2025/q3/rational-ag---ir-presentation-fy-2025.pdf)
18. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p106](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P17035233)
19. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P56462748)
20. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p140](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P5079546)
21. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p117](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3139850)
22. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p40](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P32255663)
23. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p40](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2739309)
24. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p140](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P30839441)
25. [RATIONAL — Full financial report (2025 Y), p141](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3082640)
26. [RATIONAL — Presentation (2025 Y), p2](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P46419446)
27. [RATIONAL — Presentation (2025 Y), p2](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P9388635)
28. [RATIONAL — Presentation (2025 Y), p3](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P57271592)
29. [www.rational-online.com](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/company/history/)
30. [www.rational-online.com](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/company/investor-relations/25-years-ipo/)
31. [www.rational-online.com](https://www.rational-online.com/media/investor-relations/annual-reports/gb-2011-en.pdf)
32. [RATIONAL — Presentation (2025 Y), p4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P108463900)
33. [RATIONAL — Presentation (2025 Y), p4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P77641410)
34. [RATIONAL — Presentation (2025 Y), p4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P21990456)
35. [RATIONAL — Presentation (2025 Y), p5](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P86656265)
36. [RATIONAL — Presentation (2025 Y), p5](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P86073338)
37. [www.rational-online.com](https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/news/rational-introduces-a-new-product-category.php)

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