Asteras Group is a supermarket chain which has been established in the year 1993 and is headquartered in Vrilissia, Greece. The concept is based on an alliance of several Greek retailers.

Various supermarkets joined forces to create this alliance in order to bring developments in the retail sector in the country.

The retailer provides a wide assortment of goods under the following categories:

• Sweet grocery
• Savory grocery
• Frozen
• Dairy
• Drinks
• Personal care
• Household

Asteras group also partnered with Spar for the latter to make a comeback on the Greek market. Spar which was beforehand under the management of Veropoulos since 1969 has now joined forces with the Greek group. Asteras is going to convert 200 of their existing stores to the Spar brand.

In fact, the objective of the firm is to achieve more than 1.2 billion euros in sales and gain a market share of 12% by the year 2021.

Hotusa France is the French division of the Spanish company Hotusa, a group that represents a number of hotels across the world. Hotusa France also manages Elysées Hôtels, a chain of hotels acquired by Hotusa Spain in 2008. 

Hotusa France works towards helping small independent hotels and small hotel chains compete with large hotel chains by providing them with the necessary tools and services to do so. 

In France, Hotusa Hotels has partnered with 230 hotels such as Hotel Ler Marcel, Hotel Grand Tonic Biarritz, Hotel Colbert, Hotel de L’Horloge, etc. The hotels are promoted in different distinct collections:

• Domus Colectia: a collection of small hotels such as boutique hotels, country houses, mansions, etc. These hotels are known for their charm. 
• Style: Modern hotels located in cities and holiday destinations. 
• Aqualis: hotels that are known for their spa and wellness facilities
• The Prestige Collection: prestigious hotels with exclusive offers and services
• Homeout Places: a set of luxurious apartments with all hotel amenities which are sought after by those who prefer spacious and independent settings

Established in 1962, Winterbotham Darby produces and supplies its own label chilled food products to retailers, supermarket chains, restaurants chains, sandwich outlets, food producers, and foodservice markets in Europe and internationally.

The company has 2 production sites in Europe:

Established in 2004, Deli solutions produces pasta, cubed pancetta, mini cooking chorizo, diced Iberico chorizo, pizza-topping olives, and antipasti olives.

Being established in 1995, Alatoni is the supplier of chilled olives and antipasti lines for pre-pack and foodservice professionals.

• Appetizers
• Bakery
• Delicatessen
• Chilled desserts
• Fresh pasta
• Frozen desserts
• Ingredients
• Olives
• Dough
• Sausages
• Seasonal
• Seafood
• Tapas
• Vegetarian

Jessy Diffusion is an importer and exporter which was established in 1988 by Maurice Namias. The company is headquartered in Morocco. Jessy Diffusion’s main activity is the importation and distribution of food products sourced from around the world on the Moroccan market. 

The company’s clients include general retail chains in Morocco such as Marjane, Aswak, La Belle Ville, Carrefour, Asima, etc.

Furthermore, Jessy Diffusion also exports its products to Libya and Sudan. Currently, the firm offers around 1,500 references. 

In 2021, Transmed Holding acquired 85% of shares in the company and consequently took control over Jessy Diffusion. 

In 2020, Jessy Diffusion employed 170 people and reached a turnover of €28 million. 

Furthermore, since 2009, Jessy Diffusion has been ranked among the 500 most important companies in Morocco and occupied the 406th place on this list. 

Various products are offered under the following categories:

• Savoury Grocery: snacks, sauces, canned food, pet food, etc. 
• Sweet Grocery: desserts, musli, biscuits, etc. 
• Wine & Spirits: a range of wines

The business endorses more than 45 brands, some of which are Tabasco, Royal Canin, Lorenz, etc. 

Jessy Diffusion imports products from several countries like India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, etc. 

Furthermore, the enterprise also offers several products under its own brand, Jessy’s. The latter provides goods such as canned products, sauces, noodles, etc. 

In terms of logistics, Jessy Diffusion owns 5 warehouses. The locations are as follows: located in the municipality HAD SOUALEM and spanning over a 7000 m² covered platform with 2 docks, and the last 4 are situated in the same municipality, spanning over an additional surface of 2,600 m2.

The company has a fleet of 15 trucks to conduct deliveries across Morocco. Furthemore, Jessy Diffusion imports 3000 containers per year and has around 110 warehouses around the country.

Comperio s.r.o., founded in 1999 and headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, is a prominent food importer and distributor specializing in FMCG products such as ambient and chilled foods. Initially focused on high-quality meat products sourced from small and medium-sized producers, Comperio has expanded its portfolio to include a variety of fine food products sought after by Czech consumers, including lard, pâtés, soups in glass jars, confectionery, biscuits, doughs, seasonings, dairy, bakery, and health foods.

The company's distribution network spans the Czech Republic and Slovakia, exporting to other countries as well. Comperio supplies over 5,000 stores across these markets, collaborating with more than 30 suppliers from over 15 countries, and catering to more than 170 customers including international retail chains, cash and carry outlets, and wholesalers. Their store presence comprises supermarkets, cash and carry shops, warehouses, and distribution centers.

Comperio manages a portfolio of over 200 original products including own private label brands such as Brick and TIXI, alongside well-known international brands like Arla, Vici, Rice Up, and Nestlé. It remains actively engaged in marketing initiatives through social media platforms, including consumer engagement via branded campaigns like the Brick Food Academy.

Financially, Comperio reported a turnover of approximately 10.9 million EUR in 2019. The company employs between 20 and 49 people within the Czech Republic, maintaining a focused yet versatile organizational structure to support its expanding operations in food distribution.

Sweet Life is a Russian food supplier to food companies, established in 2007. Headquartered in Nizhny Novgorod, the company is also spread in many areas of Russia: Chuvashia, Mari El, Mordovia, Penza, Vladimir, Ulyanovsk, Ivanovo, Kirov, Yaroslavl. Sweet Life has its own fleet and warehouses. They have 2 distribution centres of 12,000 m2 and 1,500 m2 respectively. Whereby their fleet of vehicles counts 121 equipped car with GPS systems, in addition to that, 2 temperature modes of low and medium cold. The foodservice always hires experienced drivers to ensure the proper delivery of goods. Sweet Life foodservice stocks 3500 SKU's in the ranges as follows: chilled and frozen meat seafood dairy products sausages conservation flour and groats bar products fresh vegetables and fruits edible fats and ingredients The latter works in partnership with famous brands such as Farmfrites, Heinz, Unilever, Hochland etc... The company deals mostly with cafes, bars, restaurants and other public establishments.

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is a retailer which has been established in the year 2012 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. The firm has expanded the business in the United States by opening 74 stores.

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market reached a turnover of € 1.21 billion in 2018 and now employs 6028 people. 

The products categories include:

• Sweet grocery: chocolate, coffee, bread,etc
• Savory grocery: pet food, oil, pasta, etc
• Chilled & fresh: fruits & vegetables, sausages, ready meals, 
• Drinks: wines, juices, water, etc
• Dairy: yoghurt, cheese, milk, etc…
• Frozen foods: seafood, meat, ice cream, etc
• Personal care: makeup, lotions, shampoos, etc

The firm has won various awards for the private label range such as:

• Gold Vertex Award (Natural Range)
• Silver Vertex Award (Organic Range)
• Gold Store Brand Award
• GDUSA Health + Wellness Award

According to a news article dated November 2016, Fresh Thyme private label lineup grew from zero to 900 SKUS in just two years.

Additionally, the company has its own distribution center of 320,000 square foot in Bolingbrook which helps support the growth and control costs of the company.   

In fact, the objective of the company is to open another store in Rochester, United States by 2019. The firm is determined to promote expansion. Also, the firm is passionate to provide customers with fresh and healthy food at low prices.

UPDATES ON FRESH THYME FARMERS MARKET ON 29/11/19

Fresh Thyme Farmers market has added 455 new products to the product range for its private labels. Furthermore, the firm also announced that more innovative sweet and savory grocery products will be introduced under its own brands. 

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market has launched a new website in 2018. 

The business has partnered with Instacart, thus facilitating shopping. Customers can now order online and their purchase will be delivered to them directly. 

Established in mid 1996, Emirates Snack Foods (ESF) operates in the marketing and distribution of premium food products in both retail and foodservice markets of the UAE. The foodservice owns modern temperature controlled storage facilities and its fleet of vehicles.

Founded in 2012 by Philippe Bramedie, Les Comptoirs De La Bio is an organic retailer of exclusive organic products. Its headquarters is based in Montauban, France. The company was created from the desire to motivate consumers to consume healthily. 

Presently, the business operates 150 stores across the country and an e-commerce platform as well.

In the financial year 2021, Les Comptoirs De La Bio achieved a turnover of € 311 million reporting an increase of 5.4% as compared to the previous year. Currently, the retailer employs 1,000 people. 

 Furthermore, the enterprise offers a wide assortment of products in the following categories: 

• Chilled & fresh: pasta, desserts, seafood, etc. 
• Savoury grocery: flours, yeasts, rice, etc. 
• Sweet grocery: sugars, cereals, cookies, etc. 
• Drinks: juices, water, soft drinks, etc. 
• Wine & spirits: wines and beers. 
• Personal care: perfumes, toothpastes, makeup, etc. 
• Household: toilet rolls, candles, detergents, etc. 

Brands such as Bonneterre, Lima, Natali, Celnat, Bisson, Evernat, Terra Sana, Borsa, Moulin du pivert, Cattier, Weleda, Cosmo naturel and many others are endorsed by the firm. Besides, the retailer also offers gluten-free, lactose-free, vegan and many other dietary products in its portfolio. 

Moreover, the company developed its own brands under the following names:

• La sélection des comptoirs: A line of products such as sugar, rice, pastas, etc. 
• Butterflies of the world: A line of products such as condiments, chia seeds, almonds, etc. 
• My Organic treasures: A line of products such as coffee, pulses, meat, etc. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, Les Comptoirs De La Bio operates its own distribution centres and partners with delivery service companies to manage its deliveries. 

In 2018, Groupement Les Mousquetaires took a minority stake in the capital of Les Comptoirs De La Bio. 

Moreover, in 2021, the enterprise acquired two “Monde Bio” stores to expand its network. Further in 2022, Les Comptoirs De La Bio bought Din’en Bio which is located in Cote d’Armor. 

Concerning sustainability, the firm reduces its carbon emissions by pooling of transport, floor sharing and rationalisation of storage space. 

The company’s online shop can be accessed on: https://www.lescomptoirsdelabio.fr/ 

Launched in 2010 in France, Vapiano is a German restaurant chain which started operating in 2002. Vapiano now has several restaurants across the world. In 2020, the Czech company, Love & Food Restaurant, took over the Vapiano business following which Salvatore Perri bought 100% of the shares of Vapiano France and Luxembourg.

Moreover, Vapiano currently owns 32 restaurants in France and plans to double its presence countrywide. In August 2021, the company opened an outlet in Bordeaux Lac. 

With around 756 employees, the firm achieves a turnover of € 133.11 million. 

Additionally, in 2020, Vapiano France won the HR Creativity award. 

The restaurant offers various Italian meals such as salads, pizzas, risotto and soups. Every meal is freshly prepared.

Furthermore, Vapiano France is looking for suppliers that can cater for the firm’s private labels. Vapiano is interested in products in the following categories:

• Frozen Foods: salmon, seafood
• Dairy: Italian cheese, milk, whipped cream
• Chilled Food: fruits, vegetables, bread, charcuterie

The firm has also shown an interest in those suppliers which provide innovative and clean packaging.

Maison Rouquette is a family-owned distribution company specialized in delicatessen and drinks.

Indeed since 2004, Rouquette group also owns the company Jacquier which is one of the oldest delicatessen distributor in Paris.

Their services ensure all aspects from commercialisation to J+1 delivery and after sales.

The company delivers the finest food to well known restaurants and French chefs thanks to thousands of suppliers worldwide.

The group has a wide products portfolio (9 755 references) and supplies 7858 clients.

The group's target is mainly :

• Gastronomic restaurants
• Traditional restaurants
• Brewery
• Hotel chains

Their range of products include:

• Soft drinks
• Hot drinks
• Water
• Beers
• Wines
• Cocktails
• Syrups
• Spirits

The company also provides various services such as:

• Commercialisation
• Telesales
• Logistics
• Delivery
• SAV

Rouquette owns its fleet and recently invested in hybrid trucks!

Founded in 1995 in Spain, MAP (Marketing Alternative Product) is an importer and distributor of snacks and beverages.

The company's clients include supermarkets, hypermarkets, organic stores and restaurants. Some of them are Auchan, Systeme U, Carrefour, Aldi, etc.

In 2020, MAP was reported to have achieved a turnover of €4.29 million.

Products in the following categories are offered:

• Sweet Grocery: chocolates, biscuits, jams, etc.
• Savory Grocery: pasta, snacks, rice, etc. 
• Frozen Food: desserts and ice-cream

Moreover, MAP is IFS, Organic, Max Havelaar, RSE, FEEF, SSCC, GS1 France and EDI certified. 

MAP has over 30 partners which include both small businesses and large ones from France and abroad. Every year, the company introduces over 20 references in its portfolio.

Branded goods are imported from countries like France, Italy, Canada, Germany, etc. 

The distributor ensures EDI orders and direct delivery or warehouse picking. MAP can handle ambient, chilled and frozen storage. 3 warehouses in Spain allow the company to distribute efficiently nationwide.

MAP’s logistic service caters for the needs of each client. To ensure that the products are delivered in the proper conditions, temperature controlled delivery vehicles are used. 

Bestway Group was founded in 1956 and is based in the UK. The company is present in the following sectors

• Wholesale

• Pharmacy

• Banking

• Cement

• Real estate

Wholesale

In the wholesale sector, Bestway Group operates the chain Bestway Wholesale since 1976, offering food and drinks. The company supplies over 70000 retailers and 40000 food service businesses.

Bestway Wholesale operates 62 depots under the banners Bestway and Batleys. 

Bestway Group also operates Best-one, a chain of convenience stores with over 1113 retailers.

Bestway Group also launched Xtra Local which regroups around 3000 independent retailers. 

Bestway Group also launched Bestway Export, its export business which is known for selling products at competitive prices.

Bestway Group started the business BestPets, a wholesaler offering products for pets. 

Pharmacy

Bestway Group also owns the chain Well Pharmacy that regroups over 770 pharmacies in the UK.

Cement

The cement is manufactured and then exported to other countries like Sri Lanka, South Africa, India, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Banking

In addition, banking services is provided to customers in the Asian sub-continent hence developing new investment and this includes used warehouses, office spaces, industrial estates, large warehouse units, large retail shops, and residential properties in various british cities.

In 2019, Bestway Group achieved a turnover of € 3.8 billion. The company employed 33600 people. 

Bestway Group also developed its own brand of ethnic food, White Pearl  which includes products such as flour, spices, canned food, oil, etc. 

Furthermore, Bestway Group also launched the BestPets brand which consists of pet food and toys.

Established in 1957, Sugat first started as a factory to refine sugar produced from beets grown in the southern fields. The company later closed its refinery and switched to importing white sugar. Its headquarters is based in Kiryat Gat, Israel. Today, Sugat is the only company in Israel that owns sophisticated sugar packaging lines. 

Concerning its distribution channels, the business distributes its products to the professional market such as retailers, hotels, restaurants, catering services and industry. It is noteworthy that Sugat has more than 1,000 clients. 

Sugat achieves an annual turnover of over €50 million and employs more than 350 people. 

Moreover, the enterprise offers a variety of goods in the following categories:

• Savoury grocery: rice, flour, couscous, etc. 
• Sweet grocery: sugar, cereals, popcorns, etc. 

The firm offers all its products under its own brand “Sugat”. 

Sugat maintains the highest quality standards as it is certified by ISO 9001:2015, ISO 22000:2018, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, Kosher, etc. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, the business operates its own warehouse and has a fleet of vehicles to manage its deliveries. Sugat serves its customers 24 hours a day. 

Taste Distribution is an importer which started operating in 2015 and is based in Paris, France. It specialises in the sourcing and expansion of premium products willing to grow in the French market.

The distributor of premium snacks and beverages distributes its products over 2000 points of sales across the country. Moreover, Taste Distribution has a dedicated team of sales representatives who visit each store once a week, consequently, providing an efficient customer service.

Clients include general retail chains, companies, online stores, restaurants, etc. Some of them are Carrefour, Monoprix, Franprix, Auchan, Maison Plisson, etc.

The importer offers premium products under the following categories:

• Sweet Grocery: Chocolates, honey, tea, cookies, etc.
• Savory Grocery: olives, olive oil, crisps, etc.
• Drinks: iced tea, soda, energy drinks, coconut water, etc.

The company also offers organic and gluten-free products.

Taste Distribution offers brands such as Juste Bio, Vita Coco, Snackgold, Vit Hit, Superbon, Waterworks, Little pleasures and more. The firm imports its products from Spain, Belgium, Greece, UK, Switzerland and many other countries.

Furthermore, Taste Distribution has developed several private labels which consist of:

• Carré Suisse: a brand of premium chocolates manufactured according to traditional Swiss methods of production. The range include chocolate tablets, mini tablets and boxes which comprise of 5 tablets.
• Zyos: a brand of sweet and savory grocery products which include olive oil, olives and honey.
• Selman: a brand consisting of a range of teas

In relation to logistics, the firm operates with their own centrally located warehouse hence contributing to a lower inbound distribution costs. Taste Distribution operates its own delivery fleet consisiting of trucks. 

Kaumy is an importer specialised in sweet grocery and confectionary. The importer has established its presence in the Czech market through products like:

• Chocolates
• Sweets
• Bazar
• Gluten-free
• Themed products like Christmas, Valentines day, etc.

Brands represented by Kaumy are composed of the following:

• Ricola
• Trolli
• Natra
• Chocolaterie
• Dietorelle
• Cavalier
• Casalini
• Huxol
• Schneekoppe
• Fascini
• Frankonia
• BBB
• Bolero
• Baron
• Dixi

Kaumy can also initiate private label products upon its clients requests.

Since 2013, the chocolate producer Heinz has also started to collaborate with Kaumy. Kaumy works with 23 producers hence representing 23 brands.

The importer also provides services such as:

• Sales & marketing
• Promotion
• Support (point of sale)
• Tastings & PR operations

Kaumy’s revenue are shared as follows:

The types of clients that the company focusses on are:

• International chains (3000 stores)
• Traditional market (2000 customers)
• Retailers
• Specialised shops
• HoReCa sector

Kaumy delivers several chains from around the world:

• Albert
• Makro
• Globus
• Tesco
• Kaufland
• Billa
• Penny market
• JIP
• Coop centrum
• Dm
• Rossman
• Teta

Kaumy Logistics uses:

• Own fleet of vehicles
• Use of EDI system
• Air con

Momentum Services operates the catering part mainly on trains (high-speed ones). Indeed, the foodservice is recognised as the caterer for Eurostar trains.

Founded in 2000, Momentum services is a subsidiary of Cremonini group and the company's business operations entail in the retail sale of prepared foods and drinks.

In 2006, 1.5 million meals were served by the caterer for business class and leisure while the standard class have ready meals, drinks and meals available on purchase.

Momentum Services works through a joint venture between Cremonini Spa (51%) and the SSP Financing UK Ltd (49%) to deliver catering services to the high-speed trains (Eurostar) encompassing the following destinations:

• London
• Ebbsfleet (from November 2007)
• Ashford
• Paris
• Brussels
• Lille
• Calais
• Disneyland Paris
• Avignon
• French Alps

Established in 1997, Bagel Factory is a foodservice company operating a restaurant chain mostly at major travel hubs. Its headquarters is based in London, United Kingdom. The company is a subsidiary of Italy’s largest meat products group, Cremonini S.p.A. 

Presently, the business operates 18 outlets across the country and manages an e-commerce platform as well. 

In the financial year 2020, Bagel Factory achieved a turnover of € 1.6 million and currently employs more than 51 people. 

In addition, Bagel Factory offers a variety of products in the following categories:

• Chilled & fresh: cakes, bagels, coffee, etc. 
• Drinks: soft drinks, juices, water. 

Brands such as Innocent, Coca Cola, Lavazza and many more are endorsed by the firm. Besides, the enterprise caters for consumers with specific food needs as it offers a line of vegan, vegetarian, lactose-free, gluten-free and many other products. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, the foodservice partnered with Uber Eats in order to manage its food deliveries for the online shop. 

The company became the first UK chain to offer bagels with vegan cream cheese in 2017. 

Additionally, the business joined forces with food app “Too Good To Go” in November 2020 in order to fight food waste. 

Furthermore, in March 2022, Bagel Factory partnered with Sprint Group to improve the flow and design of the counter in the recently-acquired site at Arndale Centre. 

Bagel Factory announced that it will be opening a new outlet in 2022 at Eldon Square which will create at least 8 jobs. Moreover, with this new opening, the firm aims to attract young people, students, office workers as well as families around the centre of Newcastle. 

Concerning sustainability, Bagel factory makes use of biodegradable and recyclable materials in its business operations in order to reduce its carbon footprint. 

The company’s online shop can be accessed on: https://www.bagelfactory.co.uk/order 

Since 1981, Maison Mavrommatis has remained faithful to its ambition: to illustrate and make discover the flavors and scents of the Mediterranean. Patiently, the three Mavrommatis brothers drew from their Cypriot roots the generosity and the taste for sharing that have built an authentic and indisputable culinary identity. With its success, Maison Mavrommatis has become a signature.

PINOT Sp. z o.o. sp. k. is a leading Polish importer and distributor specializing in a broad portfolio of unique, crafted, ultra-premium alcoholic beverages. Established in 2005 and headquartered in Łódź, Poland, the company has grown dynamically into one of the most prominent enterprises in its field within the country.

PINOT operates one of the largest selections of spirits in Poland, featuring several hundred varieties of whiskey from both renowned and boutique distilleries, an extensive range of the world's finest rums, premium gins, uniquely crafted vodkas, and wines sourced from the best vineyards globally. Their portfolio comprises nearly 10,000 items, catering to diverse market segments including specialist stores, retail chains, wholesalers, as well as the HoReCa (Hotel, Restaurant, Catering) sector.

The company maintains three logistic warehouses located in Warsaw, Łódź, and Kraków, ensuring reliable and timely delivery across Poland with relatively low logistical minimum order quantities. PINOT emphasizes tailored product offerings and flexible service models to meet the specific needs of various business clients, including special orders and limited edition spirits.

PINOT is known for its commitment to quality and authenticity, with a mission to awaken customers' desire to discover new taste profiles and experiences. This passion is reflected in their selection criteria, focusing on the quality, nobility, history, and origin of products. The company supports brand development and market positioning through extensive distribution channels combined with strategic marketing and consumer brand-building activities.

In recognition of their contribution to the promotion of Scotch whisky, founders Ewelina and Michał Stanisławczyk were inducted in 2019 as Keepers of the Quaich, a prestigious international honor.

Financially, PINOT reported a turnover in the range of EUR 10 to 50 million in 2023, with 22 employees recorded in 2020. They operate approximately eight brand stores in Poland, alongside multiple physical selling points across supermarkets, convenience stores, distribution centers, warehouses, and cash and carry formats, collectively numbering between 10 to 49 locations within the country.

Overall, PINOT stands as a significant and reliable partner for manufacturers and suppliers seeking distribution and market access in Poland's alcohol beverage segment, especially in food, drinks, and beauty-related retail channels.

Plugwine, an online platform launched in France in 2013 by France Gourmet Diffusion, enables wineries and clients to trade directly. Plugwine provides over 3000 references. 

Plugwine supplies merchants, restaurants, online stores, distributors, etc. 

Plugwine’s clients include Amazon Prime, Cdiscount, La Lettre des Vignerons, La Wine Tech, Sacre Fleur, Le Petit Commines, Les P’tits Potes, etc. There are 10000 professional buyers, including 2000 foreign buyers. 

Wineries benefit by operating their own e-commerce shop via Plugwine and by dealing directly with the clients without going through a middleman. 

A wide range of wines and spirits is available on the platform. Organic wines are also available. 

Some of the brands available include Bacardi, Allegria, Château Pesquie, Château Trapaud, etc. 

Plugwine works with over 800 winegrowers.

Plugwine runs a logistics centre of 10000 m2 and handles all deliveries. 250000 shipments are affected each year. 

For 2020, Plugwine is looking for branded products for its drinks category such as spirits, wines, sparkling wines and is also focusing on champagnes. 

Amazon Europe is a subsidiary of Amazon, one of the world’s leading E-commerce platforms. The company is an online retailer and its European headquarter is located in Luxembourg.

Amazon entered Europe in 1998 by launching 2 E-commerce platforms in the UK and Germany. Nowadays, the company is recognised as one of the biggest e-commerce companies countrywide. Moreover, Amazon Europe is now present in many countries which include UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, as well as Sweden which was established in 2020. The following year, Amazon Europe launched in, Poland.

Recently, Amazon has launched Amazon Prime in Luxembourg which is a payable service (monthly fee) that gives access to next day delivery as well as unlimited streaming. It was reported that Amazon Prime Video has nearly 5.96 million subscribers in the United Kingdom.

In addition, the firm also launched AmazonFresh, a food delivery service in Europe, starting from the UK in 2016, then Berlin, Potsdam and Hamburg a year later and finally in 2021,  Italy and Spain.

In 2017, Amazon Business, a marketplace, was established in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

Half of the items sold on Amazon's website are from SMEs that offer their products on Amazon Marketplace.

Moreover, Amazon Europe shipped over 1 billion items to its clients across the continent.

The company achieved a turnover of €44 billion in 2020. Currently, Amazon Europe employs over 250 000 persons and during the festive season when customers shop more, the company employs temporary staff in order to manage the warehouse effectively.

Amazon Europe has been awarded with the Top Employer 2021 certificate.

Amazon Europe offers various categories of products and wishes to partner with suppliers for the following categories:

• Sweet Grocery: chocolate, jams, cereals, etc
• Savory Grocery: oil, vinegar, pasta
• Drinks: water, juice, health and energy drinks.
• Personal Care:  baby care products, hair care, skin care, fragrances, etc

The company also sources products which are gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, organic, sugar-free and works with suppliers who abide by fair trade guidelines.

Amazon Europe has partnered with various brands which include L’Oreal, Dove, Nivea, Neom,LaVazza, Belvita, Doritos and Heinz.

The firm is sourcing products for its own labels for products such as herbs, crisps, ready-meals, oils, etc. The focus is on organic items. 

Amazon Europe has a network of 31 logistic centres across Europe.

Moreover, Amazon Europe is determined to promote sustainability as they launched the Frustration-Free packaging program. Through this action, it is easier for customers to remove their products from the packaging. Till date, this particular program has benefited the planet as over 50 million pounds of excess packaging has diminished.

Since the company has started to use double decker trucks rather than conventional trucks, they were able to reduce traffic by 250 runs a year thus reducing 40% of ejected gas emissions.

Glutee free was founded by 2 friends; Sabrina & Jessie. The former is a chef and the second is gluten sensitive. The duo launched Glutee free to provide Gourmet gluten free food which are also:

• Dairy free
• Egg free
• Corn free
• GMO free
• Vegan

The products includes all kinds of pastas:

• Penne
• Macaroni
• Fusilli
• Spaghetti
• Shells

As well as risottos, quinoa, and condiments such as: Truffle oil Olive oil Sea salt

Nitrazdroj can be defined as a food network within the wholesale and retail food sector in the Slovakian market. Owned by CBA, the general retail chains has over 500 collaborators and has its business activities across 8 towns in Slovakia.

The company is segmented into retail and discount stores wherein several ranges of products and brands can be found.

The products available at Nitrazdroj are comprised of:

• Chilled and fresh
• Grocery
• Frozen
• Dairy
• Drinks
• Personal care
• Organic

The supermarket chain provides brands such as:

• Dr Oatker
• Nutella
• Fa
• Maggi
• Tento
• Bambino
• Nescafé
• Pepsi
• Magnum
• Jack Daniels

The company also supports local companies hence local products also can be found on the shelves.

Founded by Miroslav Labas in 1992, Labas is known as the largest domestic food wholesaler in Slovakia. However, the company is engaged in retail operations as well. Labas is considered as a reliable partner for serving almost 3500 unique customers per year. 

Labas manages 33 stores under the FRESH Plus banner across the country. Moreover, the company operates an e-shop for its wholesale activities as well. 

In the financial year 2020, Labas achieved a turnover of € 301.20 million and employed around 1500 people. 

Labas provides a wide range of more than 8000 products of food and non-food assortment under the following categories: 

• Savoury grocery: canned goods, pasta, rice, etc. 
• Sweet grocery: chocolates, biscuits, coffee, etc. 
• Frozen: ice creams, meat, ready meals, etc. 
• Chilled & fresh: meat, soups, ready meals, etc. 
• Dairy: milk, cheese, butter, etc. 
• Drinks: juices, energy drinks, water, etc. 
• Wine & spirits: wines, gin, brandy, etc. 
• Personal care: deodorants, moisturisers, body wash, etc. 
• Household: detergents, toilet papers, air fresheners, etc. 

In addition, the company endorses multiple brands such as Chupa Chups, Nuk, Fa, Chardonnay and many others. It is noteworthy that Labas also offers an organic, bio, gluten free, lactose free, DIA and vegan assortment for consumers with specific food needs. 

Labas has developed its own brand in almost all product categories. The private labels are as follows: 

• Bio fresh 
• Fresh healthy living
• Fresh exclusive 
• Fresh 

Furthermore, Labas maintains the highest quality standards as it possesses certifications such as Eko-Kontrol SK and Tuv Sud ISO 22000.  

In relation to its logistics solutions, the firm operates 4 depots and its own fleet of vehicles as well. 

Concerning sustainability, Labas makes use of closing refrigeration products, LED lighting, heat recovery units and photovoltaic panels in its organisation. 

The firm’s online platform can be accessed on: https://shop.labas.sk/ 

Gastro Coop is an importer which has been established in the year 1991 and is headquartered in Galanta, Slovakia. The firm achieved a lot of success by introducing international brands on the Slovak market.

The importer’s products can be categorized as:

• Drinks
• Sweet grocery
• Savory grocery
• Household

Besides, the firm partnered with the following foreign suppliers:

• Hanwha Foods Hungary
• Natural Par
• Egri Csillagok
• Buda-Mont
• Microse
• Henkell & Sohnlein Hungaria Ltd
• Vitapress Ltd

In relation to the logistics network, the enterprise operates their own fleet of vehicles and freight forwarders.

In the financial year 2016, the company amounted a revenue of 4.25 million euros and employed 15 people to work for the success of the business.

Mansour Group is a retailer which has been established in the year 1992 by Loutfy Mansour. The headquarters is based in Cairo, Egypt. The company’s core business activities include manufacturing, distribution and retail.  

• Manufacturing - The company operates the Mansour manufacturing free zone factory based in Alexandria with an area of 13,000 square meters. The purpose of this factory is to manufacture cigarettes and tobacco through its own brands and international brands. The firm also acquired the Seclam dairy facility in Alexandria with an area of 33,000 square meters. A range of dairy products are manufactured. The Hayat factory based in Siwa Oasis, manufactures pure natural water.

• Distribution - All the distribution procedures are handled by the Al Mansour for trading & Distribution company. The distribution network allows the company to distribute its assortment of products to more than 21,000 retailers, 200 supermarkets and more than 1500 wholesalers.

• Retail - The firm operates its stores under the following banners: Metro, Mini-Metro, Kheir Zaman and fresh food market.

Mansour also exports its products to countries such as: USA, Canada, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Syria and many others.

The retailer cooperates with the following suppliers in order to satisfy the Egyptian market: Henkel, Ferrero Rocher, Loreal, Bonjorno and Red Bull.

Since the company fulfills the quality standards, Mansour achieved certificates such as ISO 9001, 22000, 18001 and HACCP.

Pertaining to the logistics solutions, Mansour operates 23 distribution centers with an area of more than 70,000 square meters.

In fact, the goal of the firm currently is to target 25% increase in market share in the automotive section in 2018. Also, the company is looking at the education, healthcare and food & beverages sectors so that it can identify successful businesses to introduce to the markets in which it has a strong presence.

Metro Markets Egypt is a prominent retail chain headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, established in 1998. It operates as a subsidiary of the Al Mansoor Trading group, one of Egypt's major conglomerates with a strong presence in the retail industry. Metro Markets Egypt has grown to become one of the largest food retail chains in Egypt, with a network of approximately 48 stores across several governorates including Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Mansoura, Ismailia, Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh, Port Said, and North Coast. The company also operates an online shopping platform, offering customers convenient access to its wide product range.

The stores under Metro Markets cater to a broad spectrum of consumer needs, with offerings spanning savory and sweet groceries, frozen foods, fresh and chilled items, dairy products, beverages, household cleaning products, and personal care items. Additionally, the company provides a selection of organic products under various brands such as Isis (tea), Imtenan (turmeric powder, olive oil, peanut oil), and Rude Health (dairy milk variants). Metro Markets has also developed its own private label, including products like juices, olives, fries, pepper, and salt, aiming to deliver quality and value. 

Metro Markets Egypt manages its own logistics through a central warehouse and a fleet of delivery vehicles, ensuring efficient supply chain operations. The company targets expanding its footprint by planning to open over 96 stores worldwide, reinforcing its leadership in the Egyptian retail market.

Sinounion Beijing International Trade is an importer of dairy products for the Chinese market. The aim is to cater for domestic customers in the long term.

Sinounion Beijing International Trade works with retail chains like Walmart, RT-Mart, Metro, Ole, etc. Sinounion Beijing International Trade distributes to around 800 point of sales. 

Sinounion Beijing International Trade achieved a turnover of € 6 million in 2016 and employs 15 people. 

 Sinounion Beijing International Trade imports dairy products from Europe. Some of the brands it offers are: 

• Unilac Holland: Netherlands dairy producer
• Grand’or
• Prestige: Dairy producer from Germany

Sinounion Beijing International Trade operates 1 warehouse and has its own delivery fleet. 

Agecore was founded in 2015 and is an alliance of 6 companies from different countries:

• Colruyt (Belgium)
• Conad (Italy)
• Coop (Switzerland)
• Edeka (Germany)
• Eroski (Spain)
• Intermarché (France)

These 6 companies have joined forces to form a new strategic alliance in Switzerland. The 6 purchasing groups are totally independent and account for a revenue of € 140 billion . The buying alliance is present in 12 European countries through 22,000 points of sale.

Agecore was created to respond to the emerging needs in Europe pertaining to food distribution. The alliance also enables the members to provide competitive prices to their customers.

Leon Vanlancker group manages the restaurant ‘Chez Leon’ which has become a reference in the Belgium cuisine. It is also the most important restaurant in the country with regards to revenues and collaborators.

The group was founded in 1893 and is specialised in ready meals and drinks. The company targets mainly the tourism market.

The group’s restaurant has developed into franchise and now counts 78 restaurants in France and has even establish itself in London.

Ibersol along with its subsidiaries is a company that manages restaurant chains in the following countries:

1. Portugal
2. Spain
3. Italy
4. Angola

The group’s core business are segmented into the following operations:

• Restaurants
• Counters
• Service areas
• Catering
• Airports
• Kiosks & concessions

Via a portfolio of brands, the company operates restaurant units:

• Pizza hut
• Pasta Caffé
• Pans & company
• Ribs
• FresCo
• SantaMaria
• KFC
• Burger king
• O’Kilo
• Roulotte
• Quiosques,
• Pizza Móvil,
• Miit
• Sol
• Sugestões e Opções
• Silva Carvalho Catering
• Palace Catering
• Coffe counters

Founded in 2010 in France by Gregory Clement, Michael Cohen and Rachid Ez-Zaidi, Bagel Corner is a chain of restaurants operating as a franchise. Bagel Corner menu is centered around bagels.

At present, Bagel Corner manages 47 restaurants and aims to open up to 100 restaurants by 2022 in France and 700 in Europe. 

Bagel Corner is also operating in Luxembourg and Belgium and aims to launch in the UK, Morocco and Scandinavia. 

Bagel Corner operates under the following formats:

• Full restaurants
• Kiosks 
• Shop-in-shop 

The kiosks and shop-in-shop restaurants can be found in malls, stations, airports, etc.

Bagel Corner has partnered with Galeries Lafayette, Google France and Accor Hotels to launch pop-up restaurants. 

In order to support its development, Bagel Corner has launched its own training centre in 2019. 

In 2019 Bagel Corner registered an increase of 37 % in its turnover. Bagel Corner was voted as one of the 5 Restaurant Franchises to closely follow in 2018. The Observatoire de la Franchise elected the company has the Brand with The Strongest Development in 2017. 

Bagel Corner has developed an extensive menu featuring organic and vegan products. The company publishes the list of allergens in each dish so that customers are aware of each product.

Bagel Corner is very selective when it comes to sourcing its ingredients. For instance, the business ensures that it purchases organic and fair trade certified coffee only. 

The restaurant chain is concerned about the environment and has taken several measures to reduce its carbon footprint. Customers’ orders are delivered by foot or by bicycle. All cleaning products are eco-friendly and 88% of its packaging is made from recyclable materials. The business has partnered with NGOs like Too Good To Go and Phenix.

UPDATES ON BAGEL CORNER ON 03/02/2021

For 2021, Bagel Corner is interested in products in the frozen food category such as desserts, bakery, snacking, ice-cream, etc. The company is looking for branded products as well as products for private labels.

Founded by Alexander Scharf in 1959, Scharf Group is a food service company specialised in the coffee and catering sector. Its headquarters is based in Neustadt, Austria. Over the years, the business developed and expanded its activity range into espresso machines. From 2021, Scharf Group transferred its business activities to TQSR Group. 

Scharf Group operates the international Scharf Academy where employees are trained. Besides, the firm manages more than 160 coffee shops worldwide. 

Moreover, in 1980, the company received the “national coat of arms” award by the Ministry of Commerce. It is the official award of the Republic of Austria which is considered as the highest award that a company in Austria can receive from the government. 

Scharf Group provides a range of products in the following categories: 

• Chilled & fresh: coffee, chocolate latte, tea, etc. 
• Soft drinks: lemonade, syrups, creamy shakes, etc. 
• Sweet grocery: hot sauces and coffee. 

It is noteworthy that the firm provides sugar-free and organic products for consumers with specific food needs. 

Furthermore, Scharf Group maintains the highest quality standards as its products are certified by renowned independent international institutes and research laboratories. 

Scharf Group sources its coffee directly from farmers, guaranteeing the highest coffee quality.

Founded in 1987, Robert’s coffee can be defined as Coffee roaster and café chain of Finnish origin. A first coffee shop opened its doors in 1992 in Helsinki and over the years the company expanded hance having over 100 Roberts Coffee Shops. The food service is even present in countries such as:

• Finland
• Sweden
• Estonia
• Turkey
• Japan

The company plans to establish in more countries. Presently the company counts approximately 20 coffee shops franchisees and over 400 baristas.

The company also has an ice cream factory (Robert’s coffee gelato factory) where ice of different flavours are made and then sold at Roberts’s coffee points of sale.

Etqa is a wholesaler which has been established in 2008 and is headquartered in Stochowa, Poland. The firm provides its services in the HoReCa sector.

Etqa’s turnover grew by 15.3% in 2018, reaching € 16.4 million. 

The wholesaler provides a wide assortment of goods which can be categorized for instance as:

• Dairy: cheese, milk, yoghurt, etc.

• Sweet grocery: tea, cake, bread, etc.

• Savory grocery: pasta, ketchup, oils, etc.

• Drinks: soft drinks, juices, water, etc.

• Chilled & fresh food: soups, delicatessens, etc.

• Frozen food: fruits & vegetables, fish, pizza, etc.

Furthermore,the wholesaler gained partnership with various companies and some of the partners are listed below:

• Abel

• Abramczyk

• Adrian

• Ag foods

• Unilever

• Nestle

• Diamant     

The firm operates its own fleet of vehicles hence controlling the storage and flow goods. Etqa is constantly improving its fleet to be constantly effective. 2 distribution centers are owned by the wholesaler.      

Founded in 1991, Speed rabbit pizza is a French restaurant chain specialised in pizza. The company also provides resources for a person to create his or her own franchised pizza shop. Speed rabbit pizza provides only products which are not genetically modified.

Its product assortment includes:

• Pizza
• Salads
• Pastas
• Desserts
• Drinks

Presently the restaurant chain can be found mainly across in Ile de france (66), totalising 120 locations in France.

Founded in 1990 by Alain Coumont in Belgium, Le Pain Quotidien is a chain of bakeries that offers a wide range of breakfast, lunch and dine-in options. Furthermore, the company also has a catering service whether it's for small or large groups.

Initially selling a range of breads, the firm has expanded its range to feature coffee beverages, pastries, salads, etc. 

Le Pain Quotidien opened its first shop in the US in 1997. Nowadays, the company has set up its headquarters in New York and has opened bakeries in various countries including Brazil, Argentina, India, Chile, etc. 

By 2018, Le Pain Quotidien had opened 98 shops in the US.

Le Pain Quotidien achieved a turnover of € 158 million in 2018. 

Le Pain Quotidien is known for its extensive range of products that feature organic ingredients. In fact, the company sources chicken which is GAP, free-range and organic certified. 

Le Pain Quotidien also publishes its list of allergens for each dish in order to help customers in choosing appropriate meals based on their dietary restrictions. 

Founded in 1992, Eurest Hungary is managed by Compass group. Eurest is known for its catering services which can be found in various institution types such as:

• Hospitals
• Offices
• Educational organisation
• Social institutions
• Factories
• Sports facilities
• Older people institutions

The firm is able to serve 25,000,000 guests yearly and 40,000 portion of hot food a day. To put forward their food and services quality, Eurest owns the following certifications:

• ISO 9001
• ISO 14001
• ISO 22000
• OHSAS 18001

Services they provide are segmented into 2:

1. Meals
2. Facility management

Meals includes the following components:

Restaurants, cafés, in room service and event organisation, breakfast organisation, pantry, moving buffet, machine operation, food delivery, guidance and investment.

While facility management is composed of the following services:

• Horticulture
• Outdoor cleaning
• Internal cleaning
• Technical operation
• Plant care
• Reception service
• Posting
• Waste management

Latin American Distributor Group handles the importation, distribution, and marketing of various food products. The firm is based in the United States and was founded in 2017. Latin American Distributor Group helps different brands enter new markets throughout Latin America.

Latin American Distributor Group’s clients include wholesalers, distributors, tobacconists, etc.  

The company’s products can be divided into the following categories:

• Drinks: a variety of drinks
• Savory Grocery: snacks, sauces, condiments, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: a range of sweet snacks and confectionery
• Dairy: an assortment of dairy products
• Frozen Food: a range of ready-meals and other frozen products

Some of the brands available include Roland, Angela Mia, Hunt’s, Kari, etc. 

Products are imported from the US, Spain, China, Peru, Chile, etc. 

Concerning the logistics, the firm works with third party shipping companies to import and export products. Latin American Distributor also operates its own distribution centre in Barranquilla Port. 

CIPA is known as an importer of general goods. Founded in 1992, the company has grown to be a reference in the purchase, sale and wholesale of food. The company’s network lies from domestic to foreign suppliers. The headquarters is based in Prague, Czech Republic. The firm provides its services in the HoReCa and retail sector. 

The importer provides a portfolio of more than 3000 SKUs under the following categories:

• Savory grocery
• Sweet grocery
• Chilled & fresh
• Frozen

The firm also operates a Cipa Store where delicious food from around the world are available at reasonable prices.

Some examples of world foods are as follows:

• Meat from the United States
• Lobster from Canada
• Tuna from Sri Lanka
• Lamb from Australia & New Zealand

The brands the importer works with, can be found below:

• Bonduelle
• D’amico
• Vittel
• Open seas
• Heinz
• Bridor
• Amacore
• Anova
• Etc

Their clients are composed of over 2000 hotels and restaurants in both Czech republic and Slovakia such as:

• Hilton hotel
• Four seasons
• Alchymist
• NH
• Keminsky
• Marriot
• Intercontinental
• Hotel Ventana
• Hotel Diplomat
• Kampa group
• Finestra
• Sasazu
• Oysters bar
• Buddha bar
• Grosetto group
• Argentina house
• Vini di vino
• Etc

Furthermore 10% of the importer’s revenue comes from other clients like Macro, Kaufland, Carrefour etc.

Having a dedicated team for purchase, the distribution is effectively done by their own transport means. In fact, CIPA has 25 fleets catering for Czech republic and Slovakia. 

In the financial year 2017, the company generated a total turnover of 18.4 million euros. The firm has a dedicated entrepreneurial team of 75 employees working towards the ultimate goal of the business.

Szega Foods is an importer which was established in 1998 and is headquartered in Diosd, Hungary. Prior to that, in 1994 the company traded as a cheese store. Szega Foods offers over 3000 references. 

Szega Foods offers its services in the HoReCa and retail sector. The firm sources its products from almost 15 European countries. Szega Foods’s clients include Tesco, Spar, Metro, Coop, Auchan, CBA, Real, etc. 

As of 2012, the company started export activities and exclusive representation in Croatia and to offer more confectionary products after acquiring Multikon Ltd.In 2018, the company achieved a turnover of € 6.97 million. The firm has a dedicated entrepreneurial team of 24 employees working towards the ultimate goal of the business. 

Szega retail is composed of 2 stores located in Budapest while Szega wholesale occupies the distribution process to trading chains (over 200).

Szega foods operates the following subsidiaries: 

• Szega Camembert: Chilled and frozen goods sold to hungarian retail chains
• Szega Market: logistics and administration
• Szega Sajt Sonka:retailing
• Szega Dalmacija: croatian subsidiary
• Multikon: grocery sold to hungarian market

The importer offers products in the following categories: 

• Frozen Food: desserts, fish, meat, bakery, ice cream, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: meat, fish, pates, cold cuts, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: ambient desserts, sugar, bakery products, etc. 
• Savory Grocery: ready-meals, condiments,soups, nuts, cooking sauces, etc.
• Dairy: cheese, yoghurts, butter, desserts, margarine

The importer has developed its private labels and also deals with the following brands: Kerrygold, Biraghi, Entremont, Valio, Sacla and Ajinomoto.

Szega Foods is looking to partner with various brands but in Hungary itself, the company is looking for suppliers who can provide the company with products for its private labels.

The logistics processes are taken care of by Szega foods. which is IFS certified. The company has its own vehicles which can transport products in the proper conditions. 

Since 2004, Szega Foods operates its own logistic center which allows it to store products in the proper conditions. The warehouse can handle room temperature as well as chilled and frozen items.

The logistic centre meets the standards established by HACCP, BBQ, AQAP, ISO IFS. Furthermore, Szega Foods has its own fleet of delivery vehicles. 

In 2010, Szega Foods launched its slicing and packing plant which meet EU requirements. 

UPDATES ON SZEGA FOODS ON 23/09/2020

Szega Foods is looking for products in the following categories for  2020: 

• Dairy: yogurts, desserts, cheeses, butter, margarine, etc. 

The firm is interested in branded items as well as products for private labels.

UPDATES ON SZEGA FOODS ON 28/10/2020

For 2020, Szega Foods is sourcing products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: herbs, spices, rice, soups, snacks, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: ambient desserts, chocolate, sweets, etc. 

Szega Foods is looking for branded products and products for private labels. 

UPDATES ON SZEGA FOODS ON 21/01/2021

For 2021 Szega Foods is sourcing products for frozen food such as fish and seafood. THe company is focussed on sourcing salmon products such as smoked and filet salmon.

Szega Foods is interested in both branded products and products for private labels. 

König-trade is an importer which has been established in the year 1995 and is headquartered in Balmazujvaros, Hungary. The company is indulged in import and export activities.

The product categories include:

• Savory grocery
• Sweet grocery
• Frozen
• Chilled & fresh
• Dairy

Various brands such as Arrighi, Carchelejo, Vallejo, Ahmad tea, etc,.. are provided by the importer.

The firm’s distributes their products to well-known general retail chains such as Tesco, Auchan, Metro, Coop, Real, etc.

Since the company fulfills the quality standards, Konig-trade achieved numerous certificates such as ISO 9001:2001, ISO 9001:2009 and HACCP.

In relation to the logistics solutions, the firm operates a warehouse measuring 6000 square meters and their fleet of 30 trucks.

In the financial year 2017, the company amounted a revenue of 8 million euros. The total workforce of the firm is 42 employees.  

Reaton is a Latvian importer, distributor, wholesaler and retailer founded in 1993. The company is a leader in the high quality food trade sector in Latvia. It started expanding to the Baltic market in 2000. Reaton provides complex products to the Lithuanian and Estonian markets. The enterprise has an online store where all of its products are available. It is headquartered in Riga.

Reaton operates 2 branches named Reaton UAB and Reaton OU. Reaton UAB is situated in Vilnius and was launched in the year 2000. Five years later, Reaton OU was established in Tallinn.

Reaton offers over 4500 references in different food categories. The firm also provides about 250 organic references. Reaton adds approximately 150 references to its product portfolio each year.

Reaton’s clients consist of local retailers, large grocery chains, supermarket chains and the HoReCa sector such as Stockmann, RIMI Baltic, Maxima, SKY Baltic, Prisma, IKI, Top and many more. Reaton supplies 3500 HoReCa customers on a regular basis. In addition, the company is a market leader in the HoReCa sector with 30 years of experience.

Furthermore, Reaton handles meal preparation and individual order fulfillment at its factory. The firm offers facilities such as filing, vacuuming, grinding, re packing and many more. 

Reaton provides marketing support and offers various brand development programs to its customers.

 The company frequently organises educational seminars and events for professionals in the industry.

Reaton is also present in the construction industry.

Reaton achieved a turnover of € 53.27 million in 2019, which rose by 10% compared to a year earlier. The company’s team currently consists of 431 employees.

The company is also considered as one of the top seafood suppliers in Latvia.

Reaton provides various items in the following food categories:

• Savory Grocery: oil, vinegar, bread, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: cakes, jams, cookies, etc.
• Fresh and Chilled Food: ready-made meals, fresh seafood, and many more.
• Drinks: water, juices and many more.
• Dairy: cheese, yoghurt, fat blend, etc.
• Frozen Food: pizzas, vegetables, seafood, etc.

Realton also freatures lactose free and gluten free products.

Reaton received numerous certifications from FARMED, FRIEND OF THE SEA, WILD FISH, NORGE and many more, for the high quality of the raw material of the workshop’s product. Its food production and processing plant is ASC and MSC certified.

Reaton brings in its products through various brands such as Kanaki, Delicius, Casademont, De Cecco, etc. The enterprise deals with brands like BelSun, Risso, Brimi, Walkers, St Michel, and many more. 

Furthermore, Reaton also operates its private labels, Rseafood & Rseafood Gold. It manufactures the highest quality of fresh seafood products that is produced using the finest raw materials available worldwide. The private labels offers products such as fish in light brine, boiled octopus, and many others.  

These products are brought in from 90 different countries which are as follows: Korea, Australia, Thailand, Brazil, Belgium, etc.

Reaton currently operates 2 extensive warehouse complexes and a fleet of refrigerated vehicles. One warehouse is situated in Vilius and the second one was opened in 2020 in Riga. The new warehouse is furnished with the latest technology; It consists of 5 temperature zones in an area of 5000 m2. 

Reaton is looking for companies that are interested to develop prospects in the Baltic markets.

The company avoids using freon as refrigerant in an attempt to stay eco friendly. All plastic containers and packaging are replaced with green options such as dishes made of sugarcane fibres, koka, paper, bamboo, etc.

Reaton is the main sponsor in the Latvian Chef of the Year. It is also the initiator of the travelling award Reaton Golden Chef.

The online store can be easily accessed on this website: www.e-food.reaton.lv

Marathon Distribution Group is a wholesaler which was established in 1991 by Levent Atin and Aifun Suliman. Its headquarters is based in Bucharest, Romania. The company operates 16 branches across the country. 

With regards to its distribution channels, the business distributes its products to the retail and HoReCa sector as well. Some of its clients are KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Carrefour, Kaufland, Selgros, Auchan, Billa, Lidl, Metro and many others. 

In the financial year 2020, Marathon Distribution Group achieved a turnover of € 113 million and currently employs more than 700 people. 

Furthermore, the firm offers a selection of over 3,500 references in the following categories: 

• Frozen: potatoes, pastry, meat, etc. 
• Savoury grocery: vinegars, oils, salt, etc. 
• Sweet grocery: chocolates, coffee, tea, etc. 
• Dairy: butter, yoghurts, cream cheese, etc. 

Moreover, the wholesaler distributes over 400 references in its own brand “Olympia” which contains natural ingredients.   

In addition, the business maintains the highest quality standards as it is certified by ISO 9001, ISO 22000, IFS and MSC. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, Marathon Distribution Group operates 2 distribution centres and has a fleet of over 550 cars to manage its deliveries. 

Concerning the community, the firm distributes hot meals to needy people via the Marathon Welfare Association. 

Moreover, in 2021, the company introduced a new vehicle fleet of Citroen Dispatch XL vans to conduct its deliveries. As a result, the vehicles are larger and has an increased payload and cubic capacity. 

Shanghai Yonghui Yunchuang Zhongcheng Network Technology is a subsidiary of Yonghui superstores a retail group based in China. The company is specialised in supply chain and logistics services, dealing with all fresh produce of Yonghui superstores.

It was recently announced that Tencent an investment company, will have 15% stake in Yonghui supply chain and logistics.

Froz China is a company specialised in exporting frozen products to china. The company is also focussed on outsourcing commercial aspects for the Chinese market in terms of:

• Communication
• Strategic development
• Prospecting and portfolio management of prospects or clients
• Human resource (intercultural)
• Distribution network management
• Logistic management

In fact, Froz china supports all aspects related to brand implementation on the Chinese market.

Froz China provides the following advantages:

• Its own logistic system
• Multicultural team
• Showroom
• Distribution network across China
• Tailor made business solutions

Moreover their network is composed of the following channels:

• Internet (Amazon, JD.com)
• Retail (Walmart, Auchan, City shop, CIty super)
• Food service (Hilton, Hyaat)
• TV Shopping (Happi) 

Ryba Zilina is an importer founded in 1992 and based in Slovakia. Ryba Zilina’s focus is on the distribution of frozen goods. The company has been under the ownership of Preto Group since 2013. Ryba Zilina and Preto Group also founded Preto Ryba, one of the largest producers of fish and salads in Slovakia. 

The importer’s client base covers the HoReCa sector, traditional market, national and international retail chains in Slovakia. 

Furthermore, the company is also a major distributor of frozen goods such as frozen fish, frozen vegetables, semi-finished products, meat products, etc. 

Ryba Zilina has also been exporting products to countries like Czech Republic and the UK. 

With a workforce of around 86 people, the firm achieved a turnover of € 73.08 million in 2020. 

Additionally, Ryba Zilina won the Slovak Superbrands Award in 2017 and 2018.

Several items are offered in the following categories:

• Frozen Food: seafood, vegetables, meat products, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: salads, etc.

A line of vegan products is also available.   

Several products are offered under its private labels and those developed under Preto Group:

• Preto Ryba Zilina: fish products, fish salads, etc.
• Preto: cold salads, spreads
• Radoma: frozen fish, soup, ice cream, mayonnaise and frozen vegetables  

The items are certified under the BRC GLOBAL STANDARD certificate for FOOD SAFETY ISSUE 7 as well as ISO 9001 quality certificate.

Moreover, Ryba Zilina uses 40% less additives in the manufacturing of its cod products under the brand Preto. Moreover, the company has stopped using sodium benzoate and is using less preservatives.

The company is looking for products in the following categories:

• Frozen Food: desserts, ice cream, seafood, Startere, fruits & vegetables, meat,ready meals, etc.
• Dairy: eggs and many more
• Chilled & Fresh Food: ready meals, and many more

In addition, Ryba Zilina is looking for brands but is also seeking suppliers for its private labels.

With regards to logistics, the firm has recently rebuilt its facility where it packs Alaskan cod which it sources from the North Pacific ocean. In relation to the supply chain, Pretolog has a modern fleet of vehicles conducting deliveries for Ryba Zilina throughout Slovakia.

Fega frost  is a frozen importer whose activity started in 2001 in Slovakia. Indeed the company is mainly in the distribution field pertaining to frozen and cold foods. Its products are comprised of brands like:

• Ardo
• McCain
• Lambweston
• Algida

The products are distributed through 40 vehicles which are fully equipped in terms of storage and refrigeration needs. Since 2011, the company has expanded its activity range by starting to produce its own frozen semi-finished products known under the private label:

1. Misove skary
2. Misny eel

The product ranges include the following:

• Frozen
• Chilled and fresh
• Dairy
• Grocery

Naturali Food Ltd is a UK-based company founded in 2014 by Davide Toffoli, specializing in the distribution of Italian food and non-food brands primarily for retailers. The company acts on behalf of some of the most important European food brands and is recognized as a leader in the healthy food, ready meals, cured meat, cheese, hot drinks, sweet confectionery, and wine & spirits sectors.

Headquartered in London, Naturali Food operates with a strong emphasis on importing quality Italian FMCG products to the UK market. Their business model revolves around building long-term relationships with retailers and importers and providing consumers with high-value Italian products at a fair price. The group includes some of the largest Italian FMCG factories, with a collective turnover exceeding EUR 7 billion globally, enabling Naturali Food to leverage extensive international export networks.

Though the company itself is relatively small within the UK market—with an estimated turnover under 1 million euros and employing approximately 10 to 19 people—it maintains a focused portfolio centered on premium Italian products. It operates a limited number of physical points including distribution centers and warehouses to service clients efficiently. Naturali Food’s presence stretches beyond the UK through subsidiaries, including Naturali Food Russia, enhancing their reach across Europe and other regions. 

The company is registered in England & Wales under company number 11855150 and maintains a professional service standard committed to supporting key retailers and importers internationally. Their expertise lies in FMCG distribution, particularly within food, beverage, and beauty product categories, intended to facilitate suppliers and manufacturers seeking to penetrate the UK market with Italian brands.

The Drinkshop.com was founded in 1999 and is specialised in drinks. Indeed, the company is an online shop providing a vast drink assortment.

The drinks assortment includes:

• Beers
• Wines
• Spirits
• Gifts
• Barwares
• Soft drinks

The online shop is used by 10,000 customers including corporate customers. The company is also the supplier of the HoReCa sectors across the United Kingdom.

The clients can choose from more than 6000 SKUs having brands like:

• Red leg
• Gosset
• Camden
• Pills - Hellas
• Fentimans & hollows
• Metaxa
• Cayo grande
• Einstok
• Keo

Clients who deal with drinkshop.com are as follows:

• BSkyB
• Microsoft
• Sony
• Cisco
• Diageo
• Barclays
• K Swiss
• Virgin Records

Bistrocash is a drinks wholesaler with 6 stores across France. Its products are meant for the HoReCa sector. The stores also help the client to meet various Bistrocash’s suppliers. The new products are put forward and tasting before sale can also be performed.

The drink wholesaler provides a portfolio of brands:

• Granini
• El jimidor
• Lipton
• Johnnie walker
• Russian standard
• Jim beam
• Bulleit bourbon
• Sauza
• Monkey shoulder

Bisto cash is also the first to provide a website dedicated to drinks sale to professionals. The purchaser can choose among 2600 references, pre-order the products and take their products with the help of Bistrocash’s team.

The suppliers on the other side has a private access whereby they can provide informations on their products and present new products, following which they can view their sale statistics.

Bistro cash presently provides 600 basic references and 2000 SKUs. These includes 350 beers and 100 in barrels. The company is expanding its product category by starting to include:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Chocolate
• Milk powder

The firm also proposes small equipments and consumables.

Distriboissons is a network of 145 drinks wholesalers based in France. The company offers around 1400 references. Furthermore the business also creates drinks menus and handles events operations.

Distriboissons works with Distech to offer professional training courses such as logistics and marketing of drinks..

Distriboissons has around 60000 clients in the HoReCa sector. The firm’s clients include Accor Hotels, SNCF, Barriere, Best Western, etc. 

Distriboissons reached a turnover of € 990 million in 2015. 

Distriboissons offers products in the following categories:

• Drinks: soft drinks, wine, beer, etc.

• Sweet Grocery: a range of coffee products 

Distriboissons also offers products from brands like Filol, Francette, Gianello Caffe, etc.

Distriboissons has developed its own brand, Open Beer which is a brand of specialty beer. 

Concerning the logistics, Distriboissons operates 147 warehouses and a logistics platform network. The firm also has a fleet of 1000 delivery vehicles.

Professional dairy importer.

Types of clients: Retailers, e-commerce, catering

Figures: 348M RMB sales revenue in 2016

The leading foodservice provider, Eurest Poland is a proud subsidiary of the International Compass Group which has over 70 years of expertise in the restaurant and catering services. The company was founded in 1993 (Poland), and has approximately over 900 employees. Its aim is to become world-class contract food services, which is why it strives towards healthy eating lifestyle and flexibility towards food delivery.

Eurest Poland offers high standard of food quality which meets the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good Hygiene Practice (GHP), and follows the HACCP system. Consequently, it has attracted many customers from office buildings, industrial plants, educational institutions and hospitals. Currently it serves over 25,000 dinners on a daily basis.

     The company excels in providing a wide range of dining services, notably:

• Sandwich to desk service
• Breakfast and coffee service
• Restaurant and kitchen management
• Catering services for business meetings, conferences, banquets and team bonding event
• Nutrition in schools and hospitals

     In addition, the food service provider assists in:

• Minor maintenance and repair
• Designing kitchen facilities and dining area
• Green areas maintenance
• Potted flowers maintenance
• Service desk and mailroom
• Advising on the form of co-financing meals

Plodine can be described as a retail group in Croatia. Having a chain of supermarkets across the country to be closer to its customers, Plodine also provides a wide food range focussing on budgeted items.

Already boasting 81 points of sale, the company has expanded quickly since its foundation in 1993. Combining different product range and customer service, the retail chain continues its full expansion. Indeed Plodine’s food accounts for 65% of the products while non-food accounts for 35%.

Plodine has also developed its own brand under the name Plodine which consists of more than 700 SKUs as well as the following categories:

• Sweet grocery
• Savory grocery
• Chilled and fresh
• Drinks
• Bazar
• Household

Some of their other own brands are as follows:

• Dix - cleaning detergent brand
• Softy - toilet paper or rolls as well as liquid detergent
• Evergreen - aromatic teas
• Friends - pet food
• The valley - dairy products
• B&B - sweet grocery items
• Gric - salty snacks & chips
• Barba - frozen seafood
• Frizo - frozen vegetables
• Esens - personal care
• Campo - canned food
• Fresh garden - canned food and condiments
• Green fields - pickled food

Doctor’s associate is the food service that operates under the Subway brand. Founded in 1965, the food service has operations across the world offering food and catering menus.

The company also offers franchise opportunities and is based Connecticut. In fact, the American fast food has 45,000 stores. Having established their presence in over 100 countries among which more than half can be found in the United States.

Subway also offers catering services which are categorised into:

1. Catering menu
2. Catering planning

The catering menu is composed of the following ranges:

• Classic combo platter - 15 portions of sandwich combination made up of ham, turkey breast, tuna, and italian BMT
• Flavor craver platter - 15 portions of roast beef, italian BMT and tuna
• Subway fresh fit platter - 15 portions of ham, turkey breast, subway club and roast beef
• Giant subs - either 3 foot or 6 foot
• Subway to go meals - individual meal that includes one 6 inch sub with side chips or apple slice and cookie
• Desserts - baked cookies platter, including flavors of oatmeal & raisins, chocolate chip, white chip macadamia nut

The company markets its products though its private label under the same name i.e Subway and also serves other international brands.

Globally Subway is one of the largest single brand fast food chain in the world. The first store was opened in 1968 and is now present across the globe. Each franchise must give 8% of their revenue to Doctor’s Associates.

Subway is a franchised restaurant specialised in submarine sandwiches and salads. Subway is present through approximately 2000 stores in the United Kingdom.

The firm achieved a turnover of €575 million in 2016.

Their menu offers a wide choice including:

• Breakfast
• Side drinks & extras
• Salads
• Bread
• Toppings

The quick service restaurant plans to have 3000 stores in both the United Kingdom and Ireland by 2020. Moreover the 2500th store was recently opened in the United Kingdom which has strengthen the latter’s position on the market.