Netease Kaola is an importer which has been incorporated in the year 1997 by Ding Lei which is headquartered in Guangzhou, China. The latter launched its e-commerce site on January 2015.

The product categories of the company can be classified as:

• Sweet grocery
• Savory grocery
• Drinks
• Dairy Chilled
• Fresh
• Personal care
• Household
• Bazar

The firm has more than 5000 brands from more than 80 countries with an online sales channel along with 800 million users. The online users can have access to Netease Kaola services through the NetEase News App and NetEase Websites.

The company has branches and offices in the United States, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Services offered by the firm are (non exhaustive list) for instance:

• Channel sponsorships
• Sponsored special events
• Games contests

Its Global factory store was launched online in September 2017 and comprises of products like clothing, shoes and bags, household living goods, digital products and home appliances

The partnership standards of global factory store include the following:

• Manufacturer from different countries
• Self-owned brands
• Manufacturers wanting to develop self-owned brands
• Online and offline brand sales (unavailable on other platforms)
• Global general agent authorization
• Quality check in SGS factory
• Inspections of samples in laboratory
• Spot check of goods at warehouses

In 2007, the Grand Partner Meeting of Global Factory Store was firstly held and 200 firms had attended it. Factories in countries like United States, India, Italy, New Zealand and Japan seeks opportunities to establish partnerships with Global Factory Store.

In 2018, the firm took the decision of using an automated warehouse covering an area of 250,000 square meters. In addition,its warehouses are situated in different locations which allows shipping in 1 to 3 days only.

In the year  2016, NetEase generated a turnover of 4,9 billion Euros ($5.499 bn) with a market value of 45 billion Euros ($40 bn). As reported by the authoritative third-party statistics, the firm was ranked first amidst the e-commerce platforms. In addition, it has more than 20 000 employees.

In the first half of 2018, the company held 26,2% market share.

Jakobi import export is a family business which was established in the year 2002 and is headquartered in Cologne, Germany. The importer is engaged into B2B business.

The importer works with renowned wholesalers from Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus and has the potential to supply for other countries on request. Moreover, along with the Jakobi family, there are 8 dedicated people working towards the goal of the business.

Furthermore, the company is interested in dealing with German and European manufacturers and also the firm has a wide assortment of private label products with exclusive distribution rights.

Besides, the products that the importer offers are as follows:

• Household (laundry detergent, toilet paper, napkins, bathroom accessories, etc…)
• Drinks (beers, wines, spirits, sparkling wines)

In relation to its logistics facilities, the company has the potential to process deliveries through trucks, air freight and trains depending on its destination.

In fact, the aim of the company currently is to commerce with suppliers from other industries so that it may have the opportunity to offer its excellent quality service.

Golden Beach is an importer which was established in 1979 and is headquartered in Torrance, United States. The firm offers high quality products in the USA and Mexico.

Golden Beach distributes to grocery chains, mass merchandisers, drug stores, specialty companies, etc. 

Golden Beach achieved a turnover of € 21.3 million and the company has a team of 34 employees. 

The core products categories that the company imports are as follows:

• Savory Grocery: canned seafood, snacks, condiments, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: coconut milk and fruit jars
• Chilled & Fresh Food: fruit cups
• Drinks: coconut water

Furthermore, the importer developed its own brands that are:

• Green Acres: Under this brand, products such as fruit cups and fruit jars are sold.
• Caribbean Joy: The products that are available in this brand are coconut milk and coconut water.
• Sunny Sea: Its products include canned seafood.
• Sunny Harvest: Condiments such as greek pepper, italian pickled mixed vegetables are available in this brand.
• Munchrite: Its products consist of snacks such as chickpeas and peanuts.        

Golden Beach deals with manufacturers who are ISO, BRC, IFS and HACCP certified.

Concerning the logistics, Golden Beach has 3 main distribution centers which enables the company to deliver goods efficiently.

UPDATES ON GOLDEN BEACH ON 21/10/2020

Golden Beach is looking for products for the following categories: 

• Savory Grocery: herbs, spices, rice, oils, nuts, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: biscuits, seasonal confectionery, sweets, etc. 

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

Libretic is a retailer which has been established in the year 2001 and is headquartered in Minsk, Belarus. The firm has expanded the business and now manages over 100 stores across Belarus.

Libretic employs 4000 people and in 2016, the firm achieved a turnover of € 169 million. The company is one of the top 10 retailers in the country,

Furthermore, the products categories are as follows:

• Sweet Grocery: muesli bar, honey, cookies, etc.
• Savory Grocery: flour, condiments, ketchup, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: sausages, salami, ready meals, etc.
• Frozen Food: pizza, ice cream, meat, etc.
• Dairy: milk, cheese, curd, etc.
• Drinks: water, pomegranate juice, beer, etc.
• Household: detergents  and cleaning supplies
• Personal Care: wet wipes and other products

The firm attracts 6000 customers per hour in a day which gives an insight of its excellent customer service. Moreover, the company works with more than 500 suppliers.

The company is interested in products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: Rice, Pasta & Pulses, Pet food, Ready meals, Condiments & Dressings, Soups, Canned Food, sauces
• Sweet Grocery : desserts, sweet canned food, biscuits, confectionary, chocolates, pastries

The firm is looking for various brands but also wants to develop its private labels.

Libretic owns 3 brands which consist of:

• Smart Choice: A range of food and non-food items which includes pasta, vinegar, toilet paper, water, milk, sausages, ketchup, canned foods,  grains, juices, cheese, eggs and detergents

• Alvado: a portfolio of products such as tea, marshmallow, coffee, ice cream, sweet canned foods, pasta, olive oil,juices. Coffee, mayonnaise as well as green vegetables.

• Sudadski Mayentak: a brand that offers products such as dumplings as well as butter and milk. 

The business has its own distribution and logistics centre.

UPDATES ON LIBRETICON 06/10/2020

For 2020, Libretic is sourcing products for its own labels as well as branded products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: herbs, spices, rice, pasta, etc. 
• Sweet Grocery: hot drinks, seasonal confectionery, chocolate, etc. 
• Drinks: soft drinks, beers, juices, ciders, etc. 

Founded in 2005, Benckmar is a household and personal care importer which is based in Amersfoort, Netherlands. Benckmar distributes across the Netherlands as well as Belgium and Luxembourg. The business has over 550 references. 

Their clients include renowned companies in the Benelux countries such as retailers and supermarket chains such as Carrefour, Makro, Coop, Etos, etc…

Benckmar reached a turnover of € 1.6 million in 2017 and employs 9 people. The importer’s products categories include:

• Personal Care: hair care, hygiene, skincare, oral care, etc.
• Household: cleaners, dishwash, laundry care, etc. 

Benckmar offers products from brands like Alpecin, Blistex, Crackfree, Dr. Beckmann, etc. 

The firm provides 15 private labels under the household and personal care categories.

UPDATES ON BENCKMAR ON 02/10/2020

For 2020 Benckmar is looking for products in the following categories:

• Household: cleaners, air fresheners, laundry care, etc.
• Personal Care: nail care, hygiene, skincare, etc.

Benckmar is interested in working with suppliers that provide both branded items as well as products for private labels. 

Bidfood Slovakia is a wholesaler, importer, exporter, manufacturer and distributor which was established in 1996. The firm is owned by Bidcorp, which is the second largest distributor of gourmet food products in the world, since 2012. Bidfood Slovakia operates an online store and a mobile application as well. It is headquartered in Nové Mesto nad Váhom, Slovakia. 

Moreover, Bidfood Slovakia supplies to clients in the retail sector, businesses in the horeca sector, confectioneries and many more across the country.

Bidfood Slovakia set up a training academy named Gastro Studio in 2014. The studio offers culinary and counseling courses for its employees and locals.

Bidfood Slovakia organises seminars, lectures, presentations and workshops focusing on keeping up with the evolution in the gastronomy world. 

In the financial year 2020, Bidfood Slovakia achieved a turnover of € 90 million and employed 359 people.

Bidfood Slovakia provides a wide assortment of goods under the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: pastas, spices, oils, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: cereals, jams, honey, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: pizza, pancakes, fruits & vegetables, etc.
• Frozen Food: ice cream, lamb meat, fish, etc.
• Dairy: cheese, milk, yoghurt, etc.
• Drinks: wine, lemonade mix, syrups, etc.
• Household: liquid powder, cleanser kitchen, toilet paper, etc.

Bidfood Slovakia also offers several gluten-free and vegan products.

Moreover, Bidfood Slovakia is certified by IFS, BIO, ‘’Safe Company’’ and MSC.

Bidfood Slovakia works with brands such as Monin, Limacit, Frischli and many more.

Bidfood Slovakia is the exclusive distributor for several renowned brands in Slovakia

Bidfood Slovakia offers products from its private labels . Brands that are distributed by the wholesaler are as follows (not limited to):

• Nowaco: provides fresh, chilled and frozen products
• Prima: offers a range of ice cream.
• Gurmet: offers meat products.
• Coronet: provides a wide variety of jams, compotes, and sterilized vegetables.
• Meliko: offers fresh dairy products.
• Bagetier: offers fresh and frozen pastries.
• Petron: provides local game meat.
• Bravur: offers several types of sausages.
• DD: offers fresh poultry, semi-finished products, pork products, etc.

The firm imports its goods from Italy, France, Germany, etc.

Bidfood Slovakia is looking for quality products at a good price. The company buys from both local and international businesses.

Bidfood Slovakia owns warehouses in Nové Mesto nad Váhom, Viglas and Prešov, as well as its own fleet of distribution cars equipped with refrigerators and the proper equipment to maintain the quality of the products throughout the deliveries. The firm offers free delivery countrywide.

Bidfood Slovakia’s e-shop can be accessed on www.mojbidfood.sk

Scan Choco is an importer which has been established in the year 1972 by Jens Jacob Hyllested. The headquarters is based in Hinnerup, Denmark. The firm imports their products from Europe and distributes them on the Danish market.

The importer’s core product category is sweet grocery which include products such as:

• Chocolates
• Lollipops
• Candyfloss

Additionally, the firm launched their own brand and is currently developing the brand to expand the collection. The private label is known as:

• Astro kids - The brand is dedicated to kids and the products include sweet sprays, lollipops, candy floss, etc…

Scan Choco’s clients include:

• Sügro
• Supergros
• S-Wholesale
• Metro
• Supermarket
• Discount Stores

Furthermore, the firm operates a warehouse with climate and ventilation systems. The warehouse is equipped with 5000 pallets.

Valuemax Products is a general importer, based in the United States. The company is also a manufacturer which produces a wide range of products for its retail clients. 

The importer provides the following product categories:

• Household: Candles, incense, fragrance oils

• Personal care: cosmetics, body care, face care

• Sweet grocery: confectioneries

• Savory grocery: snacks

Furthermore, the company private label brands are :

• Bela - The products that are sold under this line are natural soaps, candles, fragrance oils, etc…

• Glowmax - Under this brand, products such as flashlights, headlamps, bike lights, etc. are sold

• Mossy Oak - Its product include keychains, flashlights and work lights.

• Pure natural soap - Premium soaps are available in this brand.

• Cellmax - Under this line, batteries are sold.

• Trust Naturals - The products that are sold under this brand are natural sprays which are used for skin irritation problems.

• 1812 Gourmet Beef Sticks - High quality beef sticks are available in this brand.

• Island snacks - Confectioneries are the specialty of this brand.

• California shades - Under this brand, various types of sunglasses are available.

• Wards Glove company - Different types of gloves are present in this brand.

Valuemax Products also offers private label services to various businesses who wish to launch their own brand. The products it currently develops are batteries, home fragrances, flashlights and personal care products like bath bombs.  The company handles the logistics, warehousing as well as distribution. Furthermore, Valuemax is also able to guarantee high quality products.

Marionnaud Czech Republic is part of a French beauty retail chain named Marionnaud. The firm is owned by the world’s largest health and beauty retail group AS Watson. Marionnaud Czech Republic is headquartered in Prague. The company runs an online shop as well.

Additionally, Marionnaud Czech Republic operates 30 outlets across the country.

Marionnaud Czech Republic provides a wide range of products in the following category:

• Personal Care: skin care, perfumes, hair care, makeup, body care, etc.

Marionnaud Czech Republic offers various vegan, organic, and natural items.

Marionnaud Czech Republic provides famous brands such as Cacharel, Yves Saint Laurent, Lancôme, etc

Furthermore, Marionnaud Czech Republic’s own brand is known as Marionnaud and some of the products that are sold under this brand are cosmetic bags, eyebrow sets, skin cleansing brush, nail polish, etc. 

Marionnaud Czech Republic’s online store can be accessed on www.marionnaud.cz

Allied International is an importer, packer and distributor which has been established over 30 years ago. It is headquartered in Glen Burnie, United States.

Allied International offers over 400 references in the food category via its private labels exclusively.

At present, the firm provides its services in the US and 50 countries around the world. 

Allied international was reported to employ a total of 29 people and achieved a turnover of €4.18 million. 

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

• Sweet Grocery: coffee, candy, chocolate, etc.
• Savory Grocery: condiments, sauces, crackers, etc.
• Drinks: juices

Allied International deals with brands such as La Donna, Munch King, Muller, and many others.

Moreover, Allied International owns many private labels. A few of them are as follows:

• Forrelli: a brand of grocery products like dressings, oils, spreads, snacks, biscuits and cereals.
• Cambridge and Thames: a brand of cookies, biscuits, chocolates and tea.
• Instcafe: a brand of coffee.
• American Valley: a brand of pasta.

Allied International imports its goods from countries like Italy, Brazil, Russia and all over the world.

Medicare is a retailer established in the year 2001 in Vietnam when it launched its first store of 600 sqm in Ho Chi Minh City. The firm is known for its original products, rich assortment and reasonable prices in the health and beauty sector. 

A total of 150 stores are operated in Vietnam and Myanmar.

More than 6000 references are available in the food and non-food categories.  

Additionally, Medicare also launched its online store where customers can reserve products and receive their orders at specific pick up points.

Medicare handles all the related paperwork in order for brands to introduce their products on the market. They also handle the marketing, distribution and branding 

Products in the following categories are offered:

• Household: detergents and others
• Personal Care: skincare, baby wipes, cosmetics, etc
• Drinks: juice, soft drinks, and many others
• Savory Grocery: cheese snacks and many more
• Sweet Grocery: biscuits and more

Brands including Cerave, Vaseline, Cetaphil, etc, collaborate with Medicare.

Furthermore, 85% of their products are locally sourced and the remaining are imported from countries such as UK, Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Korea and Thailand.

 Medicare is the sole company which distributes the following brands in the country:

• Basicare: a line of beauty products are available in this brand
• Aloha: the products that are available in this brand are sunscreens
• Soft & Gentle: deodorants are available in this brand
• Luke: the products that are sold under this name are eyeliners, nose cleansing strap, hydrogels, etc

Its private label which goes by the name of the company itself was launched to provide shower cream, fragrances, tissue paper, hand sanitizer and many more.

The company has opened their own distribution center with temperature control devices since 2014. Checkups are done regularly in the warehouses to ensure that best quality products are being sold at Medicare.

Medicare’s online shop can be accessed on www.medicare.vn

Rasport is an importer which has been established in the year 1989 by Adel El-Sharkawy and Ahmed El-Tayebi. The headquarters is based in New Cairo, Egypt. Moreover, the firm’s 12 stores are located in 8 in Egypt.

In the financial year 2016, the importer amounted a revenue of 45 million euros and has 4800 employees working for the business.

Furthermore, the importer’s franchises are as follows:

• Levi’s
• Timberland
• Adidas
• Geox
• Gosport
• Quicksilver
• Roxy
• Rockport
• Reebok
• DC
• Brioche dorée

Besides, Brioche dorée is the only franchise that provides its services in the HoReCa sector

Concerning the delivery, the company has its own fleet in Egypt but abroad, they use third-party delivery 

Rebro Cosmetics is a personal care importer which has been established in the year 1996 and is headquartered in Alkmaar, Netherlands. The importer is engaged into B2B commerce as they sell exclusively to companies. Rebro Cosmetics also have their own online shop.

The firm’s clients include Etos, Kruidvat, Jumbo, Boozyshop, Douglas and Wehkamp. 

The importer provides a wide assortment of goods under the personal care category:

• Bath and shower products

• Perfumery

• Makeup

Rebro Cosmetics distributes products from brands such as Aapri, Ardell, Beanbody, Burt’s Bees, Duo, Inecto Naturals, Kamill and Rosalique.

Rebro Cosmetics’s online shop can be accessed on www.rebrocosmetics.nl

Country Life is an importer which has been established in the year 1991 and is headquartered in Czech Republic. The firm has established an organic farm since 1992. 

The firm has 10 organic food stores, 1 organic and natural cosmetics shop and 3 restaurants in Prague. Wholesale activities are performed by the company on the Czech market. 

In the financial year 2017, the firm achieved a turnover of € 19.1 million and has a team of 186 people working for the business.

The firm collaborates with more than 200 suppliers worldwide in order to fulfill consumer needs.

The categories encompass more than 3000 references. The products that are provided by the general importer are as follows:

• Personal care (toothpastes, creams, shampoos, deodorants, etc…)
• Household (dishwashing liquids, detergents, liquid soaps, etc…)
• Dairy (milk)
• Sweet grocery (cereals, pastries, jams, etc…)
• Savory grocery (oils, spices, canned goods, etc…)
• Drinks (ice water, juice, aloe vera drink, etc…)

Country Life’s own brands are organic and healthy and are listed below:

• Provamel
• Oatly
• EcoMil
• Jardin Bio
• Granovita
• Eden
• Molen Aartje
• Emile Noel
• Ecover
• Durance en Provence

The company supplies their products to more than 300 general retail chains among which include:

• Tesco
• Kaufland
• Ahold
• Globus
• Eurest
• Billa chains

The company has gained recognition through various awards such as E.ON Energy Globe Award of the Czech Republic, Golden Salima award for Wurzl Bruno Fischer broth, etc…

The importer acquired the ecological and EKO-KOM certificates.

The firm operates a modern distribution center and their own fleet hence ensuring the smooth running of the supply chain.

Coop is a retailer which came into existence in the early 60’s and is headquartered in Velp, Netherlands. The firm operates 268 stores across the country. A wide assortment of goods can be found in the supermarkets, however, the retailer has launched an online store which is a facility for customers.

The company is certified by Fairtrade, MSC, ASC, UTZ and has received the Shopper Marketing Award from Doekoe campaign in 2016.

In fact, the aim of the company is to promote sustainability and healthy lifestyle by developing the range of healthy and sustainable products. The firm is determined to reduce environmental impacts.

Groupe Flo is a food service which was established in 1968 and is headquartered in Courbevoie, France. Initially, the firm started as a Brewery. By 1980, the company started to diversify its activities. Groupe Flo runs its various banners as franchises. 

The firm welcomes more than 25 million customers yearly in its restaurants.

Groupe Flo operates its restaurants under the following banners:

• Hippopotamus: the restaurant chain was acquired by Groupe Flo in 1992 and operates 130 restaurants. 

• Les Grandes Brasseries: a chain of 6 restaurants

• Concessions Flo: a chain regrouping 13 restaurants

Groupe Flo reached a turnover of € 175 million in 2019, indicating a rise of 0.04% in its revenue. The company employs 3195 people. 

Groupe Flo aims to promote animal welfare by using eggs solely from alternative farms to cages by the year 2025.

NH Hotel Group is a hotel chain founded by Antonio Catalan in 1978 in Spain. The company’s headquarters is based in Madrid. NH Hotel Group was acquired by Minor Hotels in 2018. 

NH Hotel Group operates over 370 hotels in 29 countries including Italy, USA, Mexico, Germany, etc. The company expanded by acquiring other hotel chains such as Chartwell, Astron and Krasnapolsky. 

NH Hotel Group operates under 3 banners:

• NH Collection: for luxury hotels in destinations like Europe and America

• NH Hotels: 3 and 4 star urban hotels

• nhw: cosmopolitan hotels which stand out by being unique. These hotels are located within international cities. 

In addition to this, NH Hotel Group operates the NH University where all its employees receive training. 

Furthermore, NH Hotel Group also launched NH Stock Art in order to organise art exhibitions to support new artists. 

NH Hotel Group achieved a turnover of € 1257 million in 2019, indicating a rise of 5.7% in revenue compared to the previous year. 

NH Hotel Group has also been recognised as one of the top 10 European hotel chains and one of the world’s top 30 hotels chains. 

NH Hotel Group works with suppliers that are committed to being sustainable, especially regarding the environment. The company ensures that all suppliers take measures to reduce their carbon footprint and use recycled materials. 

NH Hotel Group has also taken measures to cut its energy consumption by changing its lighting, air conditioning and heating equipment and investing in new technologies. Furthermore, all furniture which will no longer be used by the group after the renovation of hotels is donated to charities and NGOs. 

NH Hotel Group also supports different NGOs. For instance, the firm developed a hotel-school in Ethiopia with Manos Unidas and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

Multipharma operates a pharmacy retail chain which was founded in 1921 and it is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. 

With regards to its distribution channels, Multipharma has a high-tech distribution center and 2 innovative IMV centers for individual packaging of medicines tailored to patients in residential care centers and other healthcare institutions.

The company operates over 250 Multipharma pharmacies in the country and an online store. In addition, it runs 22 stores under the banner iU drugstores.

In its financial year 2021, Multipharma achieved a turnover of €472.8 million and it employs more than 1800 employees. 

The core products categories that the company offers are:

• Savory Grocery: 
• Personal Care: supplements, makeup, skincare, etc.

Around 500 brands are offered by the company such as Avene, Bioderma, Mustela, Eucerin, etc.

The firm provides its own brand which is known as:

• Multipharma: chewable tablets, foaming bath, baby products, etc.  

Multipharma manages its own depot where 100, 000 orders are handled everyday. Free delivery is offered to pharmacies and orders exceeding €55.

Multipharma’s online shop can be accessed on www.multipharma.be

Dripol is a general importer which has been established in the year 1990 and is headquartered in Trzciana, Poland.

Dripol imports from several European countries such as Hungary, Italy, Greece, Spain and Czech Republic and is also introducing products from other countries outside Europe such as Thailand, China and Argentina. 

Dripol exports to its target markets in countries such as in Ukraine, Hungary, Spain, Belarus and Russia.

Dripol employs 34 people and in 2018, the firm achieved a turnover of € 10.7 million. The company is also recognised as one of the largest importers in Poland. 

The products categories include:

• Savory grocery: canned goods, vinegar, olive oil, spices

• Sweet grocery: sweet canned food, beet sugar

• Frozen food:  fruits & vegetables

The products which are available are not genetically modified.

Brands available include Novi and Mocitos. 

Dripol also offers products under its private label,’Dripol’ which consists of canned foods.

Sobeys is a retailer which was established in 1907 in Canada by John W. Sobey. The company is fully owned by the Canadian conglomerate company, Empire Company Limited. Moreover, the firm operates 1415 stores across the country which includes franchisees.

Sobeys's turnover rose by 5.77% as the achieved a turnover of € 22.5 billion in 2020 and employed 123000 people.

Also,the firm operates under the following banners:

• Sobeys: A chain of stores that offers food and drinks as well as personal care products. 
• FreshCo: FreshCo is a chain of stores offering food and drinks 
• Chalo Fresh: a chain of grocery stores specialising in South Asian food items
• Safeway: a grocery chain which was acquired in 20013
• IGA: A Grocery store chain which also has a branch specialised in catering
• IGA Extra: a chain of supermarkets
• Lawtons Drugs: a chain of 76 pharmacies that offer personal care products and various health care products
• Foodland: a group of 10 stores offering grocery products
• Price Chopper: a store chain offering low prices
• Thrifty Foods: a grocery chain that offers fresh products
• Foodland & Co-op: grocery stores where one can find a variety of food items.
• Needs Convenience: a chain of convenience stores
• Les Marches Tradition: a chain of grocery stores
• Rachelle-Bery: a chain of health stores

Many of these banners also manage their own online shop and smart phone application which facilitates shopping. 

The products categories include:

• Sweet Grocery: pastries, cookies, breads, etc.
• Savory Grocery: ketchups, pastas, condiments, etc.
• Frozen Food: ice cream, pizza, beef meatballs, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: meat,fish, delicatessens, fruits & vegetables, etc.
• Dairy: cheese, yoghurt, milk, etc
• Drinks: juice, beer, wine, etc.
• Personal Care: body lotions, foam bath, tampons, etc.
• Household: laundry detergents, toilet papers, dishwashing liquids, etc.

Sobeys also offer nut-free, lactose-free and vegetarian.

Sobeys has developed its own label, Compliments which include jam, butter, coffee, condiments, sauces, etc.

Additionally, the firm has a national network of 27 distribution centres.

UPDATES ON SOBEYS ON 14/07/2021

In 2021, Sobeys teamed up with Infarm, a German company in order to set up greenhouses in various stores in Canada. Through this method, Sobeys will be able to grow and sell fresh herbs and vegetables. Moreover, these products quill require less fertilizers. 

Horesca Netherlands is a wholesaler based in the Netherlands and started operating in 1973. The firm is a member of Maxxam which is the biggest buying organisation of wholesalers in the country. The group provides products and services to businesses in the HoReCa sector. The company was previously known as Topclass Group until it merged with Horesca. 

Topclass Group reunited 8 wholesalers while previously Horesca regrouped 5 wholesalers. The new merger, now known as Horesca Netherlands, now counts 13 wholesalers and some of them operate several locations. Thus, Horesca Netherlands now counts 17 locations. 

Horesca Netherlands provides products under the following categories:

• Frozen food: ice cream, meat, seafood

• Savory grocery: dried fruits, spices, snacks

• Sweet grocery: bread, apple pie, coffee

• Dairy: cheese

Horesca Group not only offers products from the top-class brands but is also willing to work with smaller businesses who provide regional specialities. Offering high quality products is important for the Horesca Netherlands.    

Horesca Netherlands also develops its own private labels which include the following:

• Horesca: a brand of margarine, ready meals, biscuits, burgers and more

• Topclass: a brand offering pastries, salads in jars, burgers, canned foods, ice cream and more

• Pain Ami: a range of various types of bread

• Cafe Ami: a brand of biscuits and candies

• Kremers koffie: a brand of coffee

• Glace d’Or: a brand of ice cream

• Pain Gourmand: a brand offering an assortment of breads 

Horesca Netherlands operates several subsidiaries which are all wholesalers

• Brouwer Horeca

• Combigro

• Food Partners 

• Gepu

• Hagu

• Horesca Até

• Horesca Horecavo

• Horesca Lieferink Twello

• Horesca Meppel

• Horesca Smulders Goirle

• Jansen Foodservice Doetinchem

• Leijtens

• Schiava

• Field farmer Unicorn

• Zegro Center Rotterdam

Furthermore, Horesca Netherlands has a flexible logistics to ensure the smooth running of the supply chain. 

ISPC International is a wholesaler which was established in 1966 by Guus Roffelsen.  The company specialises in supplying food service businesses. The headquarters is based in Ghent, Belgium. 

The business imports a wide range of products from France. Sligro Foods acquired the company in 2017. At present the company operates under the name Sligro ISPC. The firm offers a range of 36000 references.

Sligro ISPC reached a turnover of € 59 million in 2017.

Sligro ISPC offers products in the following categories: 

• Drinks: champagnes, wine,non-alcoholic drinks, etc.

• Chilled & Fresh Food: meat, poultry, seafood, charcuterie, etc.

• Frozen Food: fruits, vegetables, ready meals, etc.

• Dairy: cheese, milk, cream, butter, etc.

• Savory Grocery: olive oil, sauces, canned food, crisps, etc.

• Sweet Grocery: pastries, chocolate, coffee, jam, etc.

Sligro ISPC offers products from brands such as Forging, Ocean Maree, Kaldenberg, etc. 

Sligro ISPC also developed its private labels which are 25% cheaper compared to A-brands. Some of these brands are:

• Alex Meijer: a brand offering coffee pods

• Bonfire: a brand featuring barbecue accessories and equipment

• O’life: a range of marinades, sauces, chutneys, etc

• Grand Gerard: a brand of canned food

• Olitalia: a brand that offers olive oil

• Sanissimo: a range of ice-cream, sorbets and frozen yoghurt

Vereenigde Hollandsche Compagnie (VHC) is a wholesaler which was established in 1999 and is headquartered in Hendrik Ido Ambacht, Netherlands. The firm provides its services in the HoReCa sector. VHC regroups several independent wholesalers serving customers in the Netherlands. 

VHC’s clients include catering businesses, company restaurants, institutions, etc.

VHC Group manages the following subsidiaries:

• VHC Actifood: VHC Actifood is a wholesaler which supplies food service businesses like bars, cafeterias, restaurants, hotels, catering  and sports canteens. 
• Hocras: Hocras is a wholesaler that specialises in supplying businesses in the hospitality sector and the wholesale sector. 
• VHC Jongens: The company is involved in the wholesale of food items which are supplied to businesses in the HoReCa sector. VHC Jongens also launched its butcher shop, Ragazzi. 
• VHC Kreko Groep: The company offers food, drinks and non-food items targeted at the hospitality industry. The firm also manages the Experience Centre where they carry out workshops, training and tasting events. 

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

• Sweet Grocery: bread, pastry, coffee, etc.
• Savory Grocery: olive oil, biscuits, pastas, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: fruits & vegetables, delicatessens, desserts, etc.
• Frozen Food: ice cream, meat, fish, etc.
• Dairy: milk, cheese, yoghurt, etc.
• Drinks: beer, soft drinks, wines, etc.
• Household: toilet paper, cleaning detergents, dishwashing liquids, etc.

VHC not only offers products from various brands but also developed its private labels which are:

• Mescoo: a brand of coffee and coffee machines
• Chaupain: a range of artisan breads and pastries
• CoolBreak: a range of frozen desserts 
• TastyBreak: a range of waffles

VHC conducts deliveries within 12 hours. The firm operates warehouses and trucks which can accommodate products at different temperatures. 

Furthermore, the firm has been certified by EKO, Fairtrade and HACCP.

Founded in 1876, Henkel has been on the market for over 140 years and has 53,700 employees globally. The headquarters is based in Düsseldorf, Germany.   

Henkel is a popular company having operations globally especially in sectors like Adhesive Technologies, Beauty care and Laundry & Home care. With its enriched portfolio, the company has established a strong position in both industrial and consumer businesses. The company is well known for continuous innovations, strong brands and keeping up with latest technologies.

The adhesive technologies through the Loctite brand unit accounts for 9,387 million euros (2017) representing 47% of its total sales.

The Beauty care unit through the Schwarzkopf is responsible for 3,868 million euros sales (2017) representing 19% of its total sales. And finally the laundry & home care unit through the brand Persil hit 6,651 million euros of sales in 2017 which represents 33% of total sales.

In relation to logistics and transport, the firm operates distribution centers, warehouses and production sites.

In fact, the company is determined to reduce their emission for their transport and logistics concepts by the year 2020.

In the financial year 2017, the firm amounted a revenue of 20 billion euros.

Updates on Henkel

29/05/2018

Henkel’s portfolio is composed of over 200 suppliers with their own database. The company is active in various expos such as PLMA, cosmetics Munchen, Cosmotrof and uses data tools as well as data websites. Henkel is interested to work with challenging suppliers who innovates as per market demands. The suppliers might as well be startups but must have knowledge with supplier management tools.

Lilly Bulgaria is a retailer, importer and exporter which was established in the year 2010 and is headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria. Moreover, Lilly Bulgaria has expanded the business by opening over 85 stores across Bulgaria. It is part of Lilly Drogerie, Serbia. 

Lilly Bulgaria has a dedicated marketing department which promotes the business by conveying information about the use, quality and value of products. In fact, the objective of Lilly Bulgaria is to develop the product categories constantly to provide customers with even better services.

Lilly Bulgaria also exports products manufactured under its private labels.

Lilly Bulgaria offers loyalty programs named Mamma & Baby Club and Lilly Loyalty Club where its customers can benefit from various sales and promos.

In the financial year 2019, Lilly Bulgaria achieved a turnover of € 47 million and has a dedicated team of 853 people working for the company. 

Lilly Bulgaria provides a wide assortment of goods under the following categories:

• Personal Care: deodorants, body scrubs, soaps, etc
• Household: detergents, washing powders, napkins, etc

A range of organic products is also offered by Lilly Bulgaria.

Lilly Bulgaria partners with several companies such as Aroma, Artes Commerce, AXXON, etc. 

Additionally, Lilly Bulgaria has developed products under its own brands which are dermatologically tested and made mainly from natural resources. Lilly’s private labels are listed below:

• Dent-a-Dent: provides toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash, etc.
• LLUMS: offers blush, eye pencils, nail polish, etc.
• Velnea: offers shower cream, cotton buds, hand & nail balms, etc.
• Mamma & Baby: its products include baby wipes, diapers, baby cream, etc…
• Watte Watte: cotton buds and pads are the specialty of this brand.
• Lilly: provides wet wipes, hair mask, shampoo, etc.

All of Lilly Bulgaria’s products have been certified by ISO.  The firm manufactured its products according to EU safety and quality control regulations.

Lilly Bulgaria has its own warehouse and fleet of vehicles hence ensuring the smooth running of the supply chain. 

Fabulous Original Foods (FOF) is an importer of foods and drinks based in China. FOF imports products from France and other European countries, thus helping foreign suppliers wiling to sell on the Chinese market.

At present, FOF works with 30 European producers. The business manages its online shop under the name My Delice.

The company has a sales team and its offices are based in Shanghai and Shenzhen. 

FOF offers products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: soup, sauces, condiments, canned foods

• Sweet Grocery: chocolate, confectionery

• Drinks: sparkling water, juices, beer

• Frozen Foods: desserts, ready meals. 

Some of the brands available include Saint Jean, Chrisitian Potier, Paris Caramels, Dely, Rieffel, Sauce Bistrot and Hugo Reitzel.

FOF also announced in 2019 that it will be setting up a separate division dedicated to wines and spirits only. For the smooth running of this subsidiary, the firm will recruit a team of 20 professionals gathering wine professionals, trainers, marketing and e-commerce experts. The targeted clients will be hotels, restaurants, online shops and retailers. 

My Delice's online shop can be accessed on www.mydelice.com

Founded in 1996 by Wang Donglin and based in Beijing, China, Justmart is an importer and exporter of food items. Currently, the company manages 5 offices across the country and offers more than 3,000 references. 

Justmart helps foreign brands reach the Chinese market by connecting them with different online and offline sales channels. 

Moreover, the enterprise partners with international companies such as Wal-Mart, Metro, RT-Mart, etc as well as local companies such as Yonghui, Hualian, China Resources, etc. Online partners such as JD.com and Tmall as well as breweries such as Eichbaum Brewery. Kaiser Simon Brewery, Kaiserdom Brewery, etc, are also present. 

Justmart distributes to small and large supermarket chains as well as e-commerce platforms. Some of its clients include Wal-mart, Tmall, Metro, Tesco, JD, etc.

Currently, the firm has a workforce of around 300 employees. 

Various products are offered in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: olive oil, seasoning, snacks, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: oatmeal, biscuits, and many more
• Drinks: beer and other drinks
• Dairy: milk powder, and many more

Additionally, brands such as Drifter, Royal, Bisca, Gokal, etc, are also offered. 

Justmart also provides services such as online and offline multi-channel sales, marketing planning, after-sales service, etc. 

At present, Justmart imports its products from over 20 countries including Belgium, France, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Germany, etc.

Justmart handles all the logistics and transportation of its clients. The firm operates 5 logistic centers, covering a total area of over 20000 m2. Furthermore, the company’s annual export volume exceeds 100 million cans. 

Shanghai Kaixi Imp & Exp is an importer and exporter of food and drinks based in Shanghai, China. Shanghai Kaixi Imp & Exp works with several dealers and e-commerce businesses. 

Shanghai Kaixi Imp & Exp provides products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: baby food, nuts, snacks,oil, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: jam, chocolate, biscuits, etc. 
• Drinks: juice, mineral water, wine, etc.

The brands which are provided by Shanghai Kaixi Imp & Exp include Zodiac Baby, El Picador, Gourmet, Fuente de Vida, etc. 

Shanghai Kaixi Imp & Exp operates its own warehouse and its logistics supply chain.

City Super is a retailer based in Shanghai which was incorporated in the year 1996. Presently,the Group operates 21 Hong Kong stores, 7 Shanghai stores as well as 7 stores in Taiwan known as City'super.

The company specialises not only in food and beverages but also in wine products and lifestyle products.

The group owns 3 stores brands which are:

• City’s super which is their supermarket chain

• LOG-ON which offers a range of non-food items which include beauty products

• CookedDeli, a food service

Companies that are affiliated with City Super Group are City Super Japan Ltd created in 1999 in Tokyo, an importer and wholesaler of food as well as alcoholic products and City Super Taiwan Ltd, founded in 2001, an importer and exporter in Taiwan.

The importer has more than 800 employees and a turnover of more than  €64 million.

The company offers a range of products for its product categories which include sweet grocery, savory grocery, chilled & fresh foods, frozen foods, dairy, drinks and personal care. City Super wishes to work with French and Belgian chocolate suppliers and niche products.

City Super tests suppliers’ products before deciding whether to to partner with them. The company wishes to bring high quality premium products. Furthermore the firm is looking for those suppliers who can provide products for its private labels but also wishes to work with other brands as well.

Dinea is a food service which has been established in the year 1995 and is headquartered in Cologne, Germany. The firm operates as cafes and restaurants in which free internet access is available for the customers.

The products categories include:

• Drinks (soft drinks, mineral water, wines, etc…)
• Chilled & fresh (muffins, desserts, cream cakes, bread, salad, pasta, etc…)

Moreover, the company operates under the following banners:

• Dinea Café & Restaurants
• Leonhard's Café & Restaurants
• Petersilie

The firm has 1400 employees working for the ultimate goal of the business. Furthermore, the company has expanded its business by opening 57 outlets across Germany.

In fact, the objective of the company is to build trade relations in the European food supply chain by promoting fair business practices.

Updates on Dinea

29/05/2018

Dinea is currently working with Chefsculinar for logistic purposes - www.chefsculinar.de ensuring that the food is delivered to each of its restaurants. They are now willing to work with German manufacturers or firms which have already work in the German market.

Sirowa Group is an importer, wholesaler and distributor of cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. The company has been present in the market for almost 30 years and is headquartered in Riga, Latvia.

Sirowa Group was founded by Dr Jurgen Warzecha in 1990 in Lithuania and now operates branches in 9 European countries such as Finland, Poland, Estonia, Hungary, Germany and many more. The firm has over 4500 points of sales.

The company offers various services such as brand management, marketing, PR editorials, point of sales activities and communication for the different brands and adapts various strategies for each market specifically.

Sirowa Group also organises off-shore launch events to present new products brought to the market.

The firm provides tailor-made products according to clients’ requirements  in each market.

Furthermore, Sirowa Group set up a training centre known as Sirowa HairPro Studio where haircare training is offered to professional clients. The company also organises training, seminars and workshops for both implant dentistry and hairdressing, where local and international experts take part as well. 

Sirowa Group also holds an annual hairdressing competition named Wella Professionals Trend Vision which was launched in 2013 and is attended by beauty representatives across the Baltics. 

Moreover,  Sirowa Group attracts more than 4500 customers through its services. Sirowa Group distributes to wholesalers and retail chains including  perfumeries, hair salons, drugstores, pharmacies, supermarkets, e-commerce platforms, etc. Some of the clients include Marionnaud, Rosmann, DM Drogerie, Carrefour, Hebe, Notino, Maxima, Tesco, Prisma, etc. 

Sirowa Group employs 500 people and its turnover is around € 137.6 million.

The firm’s core product category is personal care which includes oral care, fragrances, skincare, etc.   

Sirowa Group partnered with over 30 producers including Coty, Ruig, Dentsply Sirona Implants and many more that provide products from more than 80 brands such as Revlon, Kamill, Rimmel, Paco Rabanne, Burberry, Londa, etc. 

Sirowa Group is the exclusive distributor of several brands like Wella Professionals, System Professional, Londa Professional, Sebastian Professional and Nioxin in the Baltic States, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.

Sirowa Group provides products which are imported from the UK, USA, Spain, etc.

Sirowa Group operates a central warehouse for cosmetics in Estonia and a central warehouse for pharmaceuticals in Germany. The items are then transported by trucks to its warehouses in Vilnius, Warsaw and Helsinki. The company also owns a fleet of thermo insulated trucks to make sure the quality of its products remain intact throughout deliveries. 

Sirowa, a Lithuanian company, established its presence in Czech Republic in 2017. The company’s head office is based in Praha. 

The leading cosmetics distributor focuses on the cosmetic and professional hairdresser market, distributing to hair salons, drugstores, retail stores, etc. 

Sirowa Czech Republic achieved a turnover of € 18.8 million and employed 63 people. 

Sirowa Czech Republic provides products in the personal care category such as skincare, hair care, fragrances, etc.

Sirowa Czech Republic partnered with international companies such as COTY, Puig and Shiseido which provide products from 47 well-known brands including Gucci, Hugo Boss, Max Factor, Lacoste, etc.

Roberto Food is an importer and exporter. It is an Israel based company founded by Gabi S in 1998. Roberto Food specializes in supplying the Israeli food and beverage market with the best European and American brands. The company is headquartered in Holon.

Roberto Food owns and operates a commercial Bakery Goods Manufacturing Company. The company manufactures granola and grain based products for export. It also offers private labels development.

Roberto Food deals exclusively with local wholesalers and retailers such as convenience stores, health stores, supermarket chains, etc.

Roberto Food employs a total of 10 people and achieved a turnover of € 2.27 million.

Roberto Food offers various products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: cereal, sauces and many more.
• Drinks: lemonade, vodka, juices, etc.

Roberto Food works with 15 leading European and American brands like Vitalia, Giglio, TukTuk, etc.

The firm imports its products from around the world. Macedonia, Italy, Finland are some examples of countries Roberto Food deals with. 

Roberto Food is Kosher certified and holds the ‘’Kashruth’’ certification.

In addition, Roberto Food takes care of the whole importation process including licenses and permits

The Castle Pantry is a wholesale gourmet food company which has been established by George McGee and Jane in the year 2015. The headquarters is based in Midleton, Cork, Ireland. The wholesaler distributes both private labels and international brands to their clients which include Horans Healthcare, Eugies Fine Foods, Garveys Supervalu and Ryans Centra Supermarket.

The core products categories are:

• Sweet Grocery: cookies, cereals, pastries, green tea

• Savory Grocery: pickles

• Personal Care: soaps

There is a wide range of gluten free products as well.

The company offers products from Wild Irish Honey, Simpli Homemade, Sea of Vitality and Elsie’s Jams. 

The company has also launched its own label under the name: ‘The Castle Pantry’ which consists of products such as honey and pickles

Founded in 2016 in China, Unison Group is a general importer and specialises providing supply chain management solutions. The firm has its own online shop.  

Unison Group operates the following subsidiaries:

• Alpha Fresh
• G7

Unison Group’s clients include manufacturers, material suppliers, distributors, retailers, restaurant chains, etc. Some of them are MC Donald’s, Hilton, Costa Coffee, Pizza Hut, etc. Some of its e-commerce partners are JD and T-mall.

Unison Group achieves an annual turnover of €2 million and employs over 20 people. 

The business offers products in various categories:

• Drinks: soft drinks
• Personal Care: skincare, face care
• Savory Grocery: pet food, snacks, crisps,etc.
• Sweet Grocery: biscuits, cookies, chocolates, etc.
• Dairy: milk, butter, cheese, etc. 

Some of the brands offered include Royal Canin, Pepsi, Alcon, etc. 

Unison Group imports its products from countries like Spain, Switzerland, France, etc.

Unison Group manages around 26 warehouses which consist of 639600 m2 dedicated to ambient products and 166200 m2 for frozen and chilled goods. The company operates a fleet of 1315 vehicles that delivers across China.

Shanghai Echo Trading is an importer and exporter of beauty products which was founded in China in 1995. The business distributes to department stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets. Some of its clients are Tesco, Metro, Wal-Mart, Carrefour, etc.

Shanghai Echo Trading offers products in the personal care category such as skincare, hair care, makeup accessories, etc.

Some of the brands available include AXE, Disney, Resha RELACHEE, Unilever, etc.

Shanghai Echo Trading operates its own warehouse and handles the delivery of products to its clients. 

Founded in 2013 in China, NFTZ Zhengzhen is an importer which manages its own cross-border platform. In addition to this, NFTZ Zhengzhen also manages on online platforms like Tmall, Suning, JD, etc. for various foreign brands and businesses.

Some of the clients include Costco, Woolwoths, Kingpower, etc.

NFTZ Zhengzhen operates 9 subsidiaries:

• Zhejiang Zhengyi Deep International Supply Chain
• Zhenghan Investment Management Partnership in Ningbo Free Trade Zone
• Ningbo Zhenghao Electronic Commerce Service
• Ningbo Free Trade Zone Jiayupite Trading
• Ningbo Zhengzheng Supply Chain Management
• Ningbo Zhengteng Network Technology
• Zhengzheng International Trade
• International Supply Chain

NFTZ Zhengzhen employs over 120 employees. In 2015, the company won several awards including the China Quality and Integrity Enterprise and the Cross-Border E-Commerce Enterprise Service Innovation Award. 

Pertaining to warehousing and logistics, the company operates several warehouses.  It has a 25000 m2 warehouse for its cross-border business and a 3000 m2 warehouse for ambient good . 15000 m2 of storage were added in 2020.

NFTZ Zhengzhen also handles customs declarations. 

Shenzhen Vila’s Pharmaceutical Technology also known as Shenzhen Mei’anjian Pharmaceutical Technology is a family business founded in 1975 in China and specialises in the import of beauty products.

Shenzhen Vila’s Pharmaceutical Technology employs 70 people. With a dedicated team of buyers, market planning teams and terminal sales responsible, the company has grown in experience by building professional relationships with international companies like DKSH or even Johnson & Johnson.

Shenzhen Vila’s Pharmaceutical Technology provides products in the personal care category such as oral care, skincare, face care, etc. 

The company continues to aim for a larger market share by working with brands like Hiruscar, Neogence, Kissme, Aveeno, Club, Listerine etc.

Shenzhen Vila’s Pharmaceutical Technology imports products from Australia, Japan, USA, etc. 

Shenzhen Vila’s Pharmaceutical Technology is looking to partner with major brands in the personal care industry which includes face and skin care products. The firm wishes to work with brands from the USA, Europe and Asia.

The company is highly selective of the brands it partners with. These brands must comply with international laws and regulations and satisfy the needs of consumers. Furthermore, they must abide by current market trends and hold the necessary international quality certifications and patents. Most of the brands must be in operation for at least 5 years as well.

Next Beauty is a Chinese online retailer and wholesaler established in 2016 by Yu Lu and Gregoire Grandchamp. The company specialises in the distribution of international beauty products and operates offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Paris.

Next Beauty focuses on 3 main channels including:

• Service
• Distribution
• Co-Investment

Next Beauty distributes different products to different stores and Tmall, another e-commerce platform, also partnered with the firm. 

Over 10 brands such as Davines, Evidens, Swiss Smile and Sarah Chapman, collaborate with Next Beauty. Its products are imported from Switzerland, France, UK and many other countries.

The company is looking for premium brands with great marketing tools, for products under the personal care category which consists of hair care products, face care products and oral care. Next Beauty wants to work with partners who want to venture in the beauty industry in China.

Imporium City was established by Pinghu·International Import Commodity City in 2009 in China. The aim is to turn this company into the biggest import commodity trading platform. In fact, the firm’s sales target is €13 billion.

Imporium City is looking for products in the personal care, sweet grocery, savory grocery and drinks categories. The company is looking for foreign brands in America, Europe, Australia and Asia. It wishes to work with those suppliers who can provide products of high quality at low prices.

Imporium City’s clients are domestic wholesalers and distributors such as supermarkets, hypermarkets and convenience stores.

One of the brands it works with is Germade.

DB Foods is a meat importer and exporter based in the UK and was founded in 1991. The company is a wholesaler which supplies restaurant groups, airlines, cruise ships, high street butchers, catering butchers and online businesses.

DB Foods imports high quality meat, from Africa, South America and Australasia. 

In 2017, DB Foods achieved a turnover of € 180 million and employs 425 people. The business received several awards including the Business of the Year and the Supply Chain Initiative of the Year.

In the chilled & fresh food category, DB Foods offers a range of charcuterie, red meat, poultry, veal, beef, pork, lamb and game. The company also imports exotic products such as kangaroo, camel, boar and fresh ostrich to the UK. 

In addition to this, DB Foods also offers a variety of cheese and margarine in the dairy category and in the savory grocery category, the firm offers mustard, mayonnaise, olive oil.

Organic and Halal products are also available.

DB Foods also launched Muscle Food in 2013. The brand offers meat, high-protein foods and sports supplements.

DB Foods is accredited by organisations like Q Guild, RSPCA Assured, Good Pig Award, Soil Association Certification and Good Calf  Commendations which guarantee that the company maintains high standards concerning the quality of meat but also abide by animal welfare and food safety standards. 

Aldi is a chain of supermarkets founded in the US in 1978. It operates a total of 2149 stores across 38 states countrywide including Texas, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, etc, which are owned by Aldi Süd. Aldi US owns a mobile app as well.

More than 50 million customers visit Aldi US’s stores every month.

In 2021, Aldi US achieved a turnover of €15.6 billion, experiencing an increase of 9.36% compared to 2020. Currently, the firm employs 25 000 employees.

In 2021, Forbes named Aldi US as one of the country's Best Large Employers, and in 2018 the business was named as Best Employer for New Grads.

Aldi US offers organic, gluten-free products as well as items free from synthetic colourings.

Several private labels are owned by Aldi US which are as follows( not limited to):

• LiveGFree: offers gluten-free items
• Earth Grown: supplies vegan food
• Simply Nature: offers organic products
• Barissimo: provides coffee

Over 30 000 of products were tested in 2020 to ensure only the best products are available on the shelves of Aldi US stores.

The firm established ALDI Smart Kids which partners with several organisations to improve children’s health and provide food security. 

Furthermore, Aldi US is planning to reduce its waste by 50% by 2030 and in 2020, more than 29 million pounds of product were donated instead of going to landfills. Nearly 300 000 tons of material such as plastics and cardboards were recycled in 2020. Aldi US is also expecting to reduce its carbon emissions by 26% and packaging by 15% by 2025.

Aldi US’ online store can be accessed on www.aldi.us/en/

Prostore is a retailer which operates a hypermarket chain and has been established in the year 2006. The headquarters are based in Minsk, Belarus. It is interesting to know that the firm always provides weekly discounts and constant promotions in the hypermarkets. Moreover, the company has 5 hypermarkets in Belarus.

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

• Chilled & fresh (fruits & vegetables, ready meals, sausages, etc…)
• Drinks (soft drinks, mineral water, juice, etc…)
• Frozen (fish, meat, ice cream, etc…)
• Savory grocery (canned goods, oils, pastas, etc…)
• Sweet grocery (chocolates, sweets, cereals, etc…)
• Personal care (deodorants, shampoos, baby products, etc…)
• Household (detergents, liquid soaps, toilet papers, etc…)

Furthermore, the firm produces their own food such as bakery products, sushi, meat and fish dishes, etc… The retailer makes sure that the products are of the highest quality and are prepared in a clean and hygienic way. The best recipes are always used and the meals are tasted before displayed.

Moreover, the company has gained recognition through various awards for their excellent quality of hypermarkets from the Minsk City Executive Committee, the Ministry of Trade, and the district administrations of the city. Also, the employees were honored as “Minsk Master” and “Seller of the Year”.

Updates on Prostore

29/05/2018

Prostore is interested in private label pasta, bars similar to A-brands but less expensive. They will also be focussing on top brands and non-alcoholic drinks like juices & water as well as cheese. The company wants to import big brands in less quantity. Pertaining to non food items, toilet paper will be the main concern.

Established in 1963 by Abe, Acme Food is an importer and distributor of food and specialty products. Its headquarters is based in Seattle, United States. The company sources its products from the food industry in the US and from 30 different countries across the world.

Moreover, Acme Food operates an office in Bangkok to coordinate its sourcing and quality control across the Far East. 

Concerning its distribution channels, the business distributes its products to the retail and HoReCa sector as well. 

Acme food achieves an annual turnover of around € 9.5 million and employs 36 people.   

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

• Savoury grocery: canned goods, oils, vinegars, etc. 
• Sweet grocery: cookie rolls, jams, chocolate sauces, etc. 
• Frozen: nuggets, banana rolls, avocado, etc. 
• Drinks: juice, water, aloe vera drinks, etc. 

It is noteworthy that the importer also offers organic, dairy-free and gluten-free products in its portfolio. 

Moreover, the enterprise offers its own brands under the following names: 

• Festival: A range of products such as cookie rolls, coconut water, canned fruits, etc. 
• Danish Orchards: A line of premium spreads. 
• Pacific Crest: A line of seafood products. 
• Imperial Choice: A line dedicated to canned fruits and vegetables. 

In addition, the company maintains the highest quality standards as it is certified by IFS, BRC, BSCI, USDA Organic, Kosher and many others. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, Acme Food operates its own distribution centres which are over 80,000 square feet.

Furthermore, in 2021, the firm launched a wide range of plant-based tunas, jackfruit and many other products for private label production. 

Prostor is a retailer which was established in 2005 and its headquarters are located in Shahumyan, Ukraine. The retailer provides products under beauty care, hygiene and household products. The firm attracts approximately 2 million customers monthly.  

The firm has expanded its business in Ukraine where it operates 346 stores.

Prostor employs 3000 people and achieved a turnover of € 44 million in 2016.

The products categories include:

• Personal Care: makeup, shampoo, perfume, etc.
• Household: toilet paper, detergent, dishwashing liquids, etc.

There are over 20 brands which are available at Prostor such as Garnier, Nivea, Maybelline New York, Bourjois, Doris, etc. 

Moreover, the company’s private labels include (but not limited to):

• Violetta: a brand of makeup and personal care accessories
• Glam Collection: a cosmetics brand for women
• Pixcell: a range of hair care products
• NEO: a brand featuring lip care, oral care, skincare, etc.
• Super Diya: a range of household products

Prostor's online shop can be found on www.prostor.ua

Ambra Impex is an importer and exporter founded in 1996 in Ukraine. The company deals with local products and foreign products. Ambra Impex is an honorary member of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. 

Ambra Impex’s turnover is around € 3.3 million and the firm employs 23 people.

Ambra Impex deals with products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: spices, oils, grains, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: dried fruits
• Dairy: milk powder, butter
• Chilled & Fresh Food: citrus fruits, vegetables

Ambra Impex imports from and exports to countries in the Middle East, Meditteranean, Africa and America. The company also collaborates with Ukrainian suppliers. 

Regarding shipping, Ambra Impex adheres to the following terms of delivery for imports: CIF and CNF. For its export activities, the firm complies to FAS, FOB, CNF and CIF. 

Founded by Ibrahim Alfardan in 1954, Alfardan Group is one of the leading family owned conglomerates in Qatar. Its headquarters is based in Doha, Qatar. The company is known for delivering luxury products and services through its wide range of industries. 

Alfardan Group’s business consists of various divisions namely:

• Alfardan Jewellery: A network of jewellery stores spread across Qatar offering Europe’s well-known watchmakers and jewellery designers’ products. 
• Alfardan Exchange: A network of branches spread across Qatar to provide financial services. 
• Alfardan Property & Hospitality: This division includes residential and commercial properties. In the hospitality sector, the business provides catering services for renowned companies such as St.Regis, Guerlain SPA, Jeeves of Belgravia, etc. 
• Alfardan Automotive: Brands such as BMW, Ducati, Piaggio, Vespa and many others are endorsed by the firm. 
• Alfardan Investment: An investment company which manages the Group’s local shares. 
• Alfardan Marine Services: The product portfolio consists of boats, engines, electronic and marine parts and accessories. 
• Alfardan Medical: An ambulatory care centre providing high-quality medical care. 

The Group achieves an annual turnover of more than €600 million and employs over 1,000 people. 

It is noteworthy that the company won the NexGen Innovation Award in November 2021. 

Alfardan Group maintains the highest quality standards as it is certified by ISO 9001:2015. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, the enterprise operates its own distribution centre and has a fleet of green vehicles to ensure deliveries. 

Moreover, in 2019, the business partnered with Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine to launch Alfardan Medical which offers various ambulatory care services. In the same year, Marriott International, Inc announced that it joined forces with Alfardan Group to launch the St. Regis brand in Oman which is supposed to open in 2022. 

In October 2021, the Group revealed a new brand identity and revamped its logo and tagline. Its revamped tagline has become “Exclusive Experience” as all its products and services are associated with the highest standards of quality and exclusivity. 

In June 2022, the company joined the United Nations Global Compact initiative for the implementation of responsible business practices. 

With regards to community service, the firm donated AED 1 million to 1 Billion meals to support the underprivileged and undernourished people across 50 countries. 

Concerning sustainability, the enterprise started importing electric cars in 2019in order to reduce its carbon emissions in Qatar. Furthermore, Alfardan Group is also promoting recycling in the country as it joined forces with Elite Paper Recycling in 2022. 

Shanghai Ocean Shipping Supply is an importer which has been established in the year 1957 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China. The company is fully owned by the largest commercial and trading company in China named Balian Group.

In the financial year 2016, the company achieved a turnover of € 43.7 million   

The firm imports and exports products under the following categories:

• Chilled & fresh food: eggs, beef filet, chicken

• Savory grocery: oils, rice, wheat

• Sweet grocery: cereals

Furthermore, the firm possesses the following certificates:

• ISSA Quality
• ISO 9001

In fact, the objective of the company is to meet the needs of the customers with the products that the firm provides.

UPDATES ON SHANGHAI OCEAN SHIPPING SUPPLY ON 02/12/19

Shanghai Ocean Shipping Supply’s turnover grew by 43.1% in 2017, reaching € 62.6 million. 

The firm manages its own logistics, consisting of warehousing and transportation facilities which it provides to customers at a low cost. 

Plenus & MK is a restaurant chain which has been established in the year 2011 and is headquartered in Marina area, Singapore. The firm operates Japan’s largest takeaway bento chain Hotto Motto and a Japanese set-menu restaurant chain called Yayoiken. The Group operates about 8000 restaurants around the world offering delicious cuisines and freshly made tasty meals.

Plenus entered into a secure partnership with MK Restaurant Group which is a food service based in Thailand. Through this agreement, the Plenus and MK Group was established with the purpose of expanding the business in Singapore.

The Yayoiken Japanese restaurant operates over 270 restaurants in Japan, more than 140 restaurants in Thailand and countries including Taiwan, Australia and USA. In Singapore, there are 7 Yayoiken restaurants. As for Mk Restaurant, the latter operates more than 400 restaurants in Thailand and more than 30 outlets in Japan. Mk Restaurant started its operations in Singapore in the year 2013.

Unilever is a co-packer which has been established in the year 1885 and is headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey. The product range consists of over 400 brands and 2.5 billion consumers use the firm’s products daily.

Some of the brands that are available in the company are listed below:

• Axe
• Becel
• Domestos
• Dove
• Hellmann’s
• Lipton
• Lux
• Magnum
• Rexona
• Signal

Moreover, it is noteworthy that in the year 2017, Unilever’s home and personal care products factory achieved the gold and platinum LEED certificate for the green buildings.

In the year 2015, the firm was elected as the most popular company by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.

In fact, the objective of the company is to promote sustainable growth and is determined to reduce environmental impact by 2030.

In the financial year 2016, the firm amounted a revenue of 1 billion euros.

Lanao Wine is a drinks importer which was established in 2006 and is based in China.

The company distributes to over 8000 clients including supermarkets, convenience stores, hotel chains, catering businesses, etc. as well as online shops. Some of its clients include Auchan, 7-Eleven, Walmart, Metro, Tmall, etc.

Lanao Wine specialies in the drinks category, offering products such as beer, wine, spirits, etc.   

Some of the famous brands that are imported by the company are Heineken, Snow Beer, Jarlstow, Pernod Ricard, etc.

Lanao Wine imports from countries like Denmark, Ukraine, Spain, Belgium, France, etc.

Established by Mr Jose Nelson Gomes Abreu in 1970, J. Nelson Abreu is an importer and distributor of food and non-food products. Its headquarters is based in Funchal, Portugal. The company sources its products from countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, United States and many more. 

Concerning its distribution channels, the business distributes its products to hotels, restaurants, commercial areas and shops. Having more than 1,850 clients, its main customers are Grupo Jeronimo and Sonae. 

It is noteworthy that the company has been among the 100 largest companies in the Autonomous Region of Madeira several times. 

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

• Sweet grocery: chocolates, coffee, biscuits, etc. 
• Savoury grocery: biscuits, soups, seasonings, etc.
• Chilled & fresh: vegetables, delicatessens, fruits, etc. 
• Dairy: yoghurts, margarines, creams, etc. 
• Frozen: fish, bread, meat, etc.  
• Personal care: makeup, body lotions, shampoos, etc.  
• Household: air fresheners and cleaning supplies. 
• Drinks: water, soft drinks, juices, etc. 
• Wine & spirits: gin, tonic, vodka, etc. 

Brands such as Philadelphia, Pescanova, Kerastase Paris, Maybelline, Knorr, Triunfo, Toblerone, Oreo, Trident, Milka, Tuc and many others are endorsed by the firm. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, J. Nelson Abreu operates 4 distribution centres and has a fleet of more than 40 vehicles to manage its deliveries. 

Founded in 1990, Billa Cezch Republic is a retailer which is owned by REWE International AG Group. Its headquarters is based in Prague, Czech Republic. With an average sales area of 900 square metres, the firm offers a wide selection of products including well-known and private brands. 

Currently, the company operates 240 stores across the country and an online shop as well. 

Additionally, the firm achieves an annual turnover of around € 900 million and employs 6,000 people. 

Billa Czech Republic offers a wide assortment of products in the following categories:

• Frozen Food: ready-meals, meat, pastries, vegetables, ice-cream, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, etc.
• Savoury Grocery: rice, pasta, seasoning, canned food, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: jam, dried fruits, chocolate, cookies, etc.
• Drinks: water, wine, juice, soda, etc.
• Wine & spirits: wines, beers, champagnes, etc.  
• Dairy: milk, cheese, eggs, cream, yoghurt, etc.
• Personal Care: face care, skincare, oral care, baby care, etc.
• Household: detergent, dishwashing powder, laundry care, etc.

Furthermore, in order to cater for consumers with specific food needs, the retailer provides a range of bio and organic products. 

The enterprise provides its own brands which are as follows (non-exhaustive list):

• Billa Bio: a range of bio products.
• Billa Easy: a range of ready-meals. 
• Billa Premium: a range of top quality products such as chocolates, milk, cookies, etc. 

Moreover, the retailer maintains the highest quality standards as it possesses certifications such as RSPO, Fairtrade, RTRS, ASC, Organic farming, UTZ, etc. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, Billa Czech Republic operates its own distribution centre with over 400,000 square metres which has a controlled temperature system. 

Concerning sustainability, the business started minimising its carbon footprint by offering reusable bags in the range of fruits and vegetables and carrier bags made of recycled and recyclable plastic.  

Currently, the firm is making investments in modernising its stores by the end of 2022. 

Billa Czech Republic’s online shop can be accessed on: https://www.billa.cz/

Founded in 1987, Flying Pizza is a German pizza chain that operates as a franchise. Flying Pizza is known for its delivery service. The company currently operates 53 stores in Germany and there is also an online ordering system. Flying Pizza serves around 95000 customers.

Flying Pizza’s menu features pizza, pasta, burgers, salads, drinks, ice-cream, etc. There are also several vegetarian meals. The business publishes all allergens and additives present in each dish so that customers can choose their meals appropriately.

Flying Pizza’s turnover is around € 5 million. 

Flying Pizza also offers products from the following categories:

• Drinks: soft drinks and alcoholic drinks

• Chilled & Fresh Foods: a range of ice-cream

Products from brands such as Ben & Jerry’s, Beck’s Gold Coca Cola, Hasseroder, etc. are available.

Flying Pizza sources fresh ingredients and only uses high quality products purchased from reputable manufacturers. The pizza chain prepares fresh pizza dough each day. 

Coperama is a buying alliance regrouping hotels, restaurants and event locations with the purpose of sourcing food, beverages and equipment. Coperama was founded by NH Hotels Group in Spain in 2010.

The buying alliance sources products for around 380 NH Hotels but also for other hotels, restaurants as well as event venues. 

Coperama counts over 900 members from 16 European countries as well as in Colombia and Mexico. 

Concerning the hotels that joined the buying alliance, there are both hotel groups and independent hotels. The hotels are between 3 stars to 5 stars.  

Coperama operates an online platform where its clients have access to around 900 suppliers. At present Coperama offers over 30000 references. 

Coperama experiences, on average, an annual growth of 48% in its turnover.  

Furthermore, the firm also operates several business units, each with a local team that focuses on the requirements of their clients. 

Coperama is constantly looking for new suppliers and new products and services. Thanks to the online marketplace, suppliers have the advantage of reaching more clients and entering new markets without having to be physically present in these countries. 

Founded in 2007, Coffees.gr is an import/export company which has been one of the longest running online shops in the Greek market. Its headquarters is based in Athens, Greece. The company has operations in the retail and wholesale sector as well. 

Currently, the business operates 2 e-commerce platforms and 1 physical store across the country and Cyprus as well. Moreover, Coffees.gr has various wholesale customers such as hotels, cafes and catering businesses. 

Coffees.gr achieves an annual turnover of more than €5 million. 

It is noteworthy that the firm won the Bronze Award at the e-volution awards 2021 in the “Food & Drink” Category. 

Moreover, the enterprise offers a wide variety of products in the Sweet Grocery Category such as coffees, cookies, sweetener liquids, waffles, etc. besides, Coffees.gr also offers different types of coffee machines and coffee equipment. 

Brands such as Delizia, Lovit, Royal Drink, Druzbice, Barista Pro, Stevia Life, Holy Lama, Violanda, Papadopoulou, Gran Mulino and many others are endorsed by the firm. 

It is noteworthy that Coffees.gr has exclusive distribution rights for Espresso brands such as New York, Sant’ Eustachio and Caffe Lab. 

Coffees.gr maintains the highest quality standards as its products come either from its production companies or from certified distributors. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, the business operates its own warehouse and partners with courier service or transport companies to ensure deliveries. 

The company’s online shop can be accessed on: https://www.coffees.gr/ 

Planet Parfum is a personal care retailer which has been present in Belgium for almost 50 years. Planet Parfum became a subsidiary of the French company, Groupe J.Bogart,  after it acquired Distriplus in 2018. It is headquartered in Bruxelles.

Planet Parfum Belgium operates 100 points of sale and 40 beauty institutes across the country. The company owns an online store as well.

Planet Parfum Belgium achieved a turnover of € 91 million in 2019 and currently employs over 460 people.

Planet Parfum Belgium provides a variety of products in the following category:

• Personal Care: hair care products, lotions, fragrances, cosmetics, etc.

The retailer works with renowned brands such as Anastasia Beverly Hills, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Cacharel, Davidoff, Dior, Hermes and many more.

Moreover, Planet Parfum is the exclusive distributor of the following brands in Belgium:

• Close: The products offered include nail polish, lip balm, makeup palette, etc…
• Vita Liberata: Under this brand, products such as serum and autobronzant are sold.
• Ikks: Perfumes are the specialty of this brand.
• Caron: Perfumes are available in this brand.    

In addition, Planet Parfum Belgium offers free delivery countrywide.

Planet Parfum Belgium supports and sponsors several charity organisations such as Pink Ribbon, Viva for Life, FOND ERASME and KickCancer.

Planet Parfum Belgium's online shop can be accessed on www.planetparfum.com

Founded in the UK in 2013, Finesse Beauty offers a wide range of high quality airbrushing makeup products and accessories. The firm runs an online shop and has emerged as one of the leading online retailers for cosmetics in the UK.

Finesse Beauty has partnered with Skin by Sterex in order to offer traditional and modern makeup courses. 

Finesse Beauty offers several makeup products under its own label, Finesse Airbrush, consisting of foundation, blush, correctors, etc. 

Finesse Beauty manages its own warehouse and logistics. 

Finesse Beauty’s online shop can be accessed on www.finesseairbrush.com

UPDATES ON FINESSE BEAUTY ON 30/09/2020

For 2020, Finesse Beauty is sourcing products for its own labels in the following categories: 

• Personal Care: hygiene, makeup, skincare, health, etc.
• Household: cleaners, cleaning supplies, detergents, etc. 
• Savory Grocery: crisps, nuts, condiments, oils, etc. 
• Sweet Grocery: biscuits, breakfast, chocolates, etc. 
• Drinks: water, ciders, champagnes, sparkling wines, etc. 

Established in 1996 by Ray Faraee, iHerb is an online retailer that sells more than 30,000 natural products across 1,200 popular brands. Its headquarters is based in California, United States. The company delivers its products to people around the world with 16 languages, 86 currencies and 38 payment options. 

Moreover, its e-commerce platform has attracted over 11 million customers and more than 24 million authentic reviews. 

In the financial year 2021, iHerb achieved a turnover of € 979 millions and currently employs more than 4,000 people. 

It is noteworthy that the e-retailer was awarded the certificate “Great Place To Work” in 2021. 

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

• Savoury grocery: snacks, oils, condiments, etc.  
• Sweet grocery: honey, tea, chocolate, etc. 
• Drinks: fruit juices and coconut water. 
• Personal care: makeup, body lotions, shampoo, etc. 
• Household: air fresheners, detergents, laundry soaps, etc. 
• Pet: food and supplements. 

Brands such as Country Life, Aura Cacia, Neocell, Ultamins, Nature’s Way, K-Beauty, Gerber, Muscletech, Vitables and many others are endorsed by the firm. Besides, iHerb also offers vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, organic, kosher, non-Gmo, cruelty-free and keto products as well. 

Moreover, the firm developed its own brands under the following names (non-exhaustive list):

• California Gold Nutrition: This brand consists of products such as vitamins, lactobif probiotics, omega-3 premium fish oil, etc. 
• Lake Avenue Nutrition: This brand consists of products such as magnesium complex, biotin, hydrolyzed collagen, etc. 
• Mild By Nature: This brand consists of products such as hand creams, shampoos, soaps, etc. 
• Radiant Seoul: This brand consists of products such as sheet masks, cleansing oils, moisture essence toner, etc. 

In addition, iHerb maintains the highest quality standards as it is certified by Fairtrade, Kosher, USDA Organic and many others. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, the business operates 9 climate- controlled fulfilment centres and partners with shipping companies such as UPS and DHL Express to conduct its deliveries. 

Concerning sustainability, iHerb makes use of recyclable packaging instead of plastic in order to reduce its carbon footprint. 

The company’s online shop can be accessed on: https://mu.iherb.com/ 

Founded in 1937, Export Packers is an international importer, exporter and distributor of food commodities. Its headquarters is based in Ontario, Canada. The company sources its products from countries such as China, Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand and many more. 

Moreover, the firm’s activities are divided into 5 segments such as International Trading, Domestic Food Service, Retail, Asian and Fresh Seafood. 

Concerning its distribution channels, the business distributes its products to the retail as well as the HoReCa sector. Its clients include supermarkets, restaurants, wholesalers and many others. 

Export Packers achieves an annual turnover of €69 million and currently employs more than 200 people. 

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

• Chilled & fresh: fish and seafood.   
• Frozen: fruits, vegetables, meat, etc. 
• Dairy: cheese and milk. 
• Drinks: a variety of juice concentrates. 
• Savoury grocery: lentils, peas, chickpeas, etc. 

It is noteworthy that Export Packers is the exclusive distributor of brands such as Phillips, Anova, Hillman, Tuna Sooner and Pana Pesca. 

Moreover, the enterprise also developed its own brands under the following names (non-exhaustive list: 

• Ocean Jewel: This brand includes seafood products. 
• Family Delight: A line dedicated to seafood products. 
• Milky: A brand dedicated to milk. 

In addition, Export Packers maintains the highest quality standards as it is certified by FDA, USDA, NOP, PCQI and many more. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, the importer operates its own distribution centre and a transportation network is available to ensure deliveries. 

With regards to sustainability, the company partnered with Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to avoid fishing illegally as far as possible. 

Sem + Ya  is a retailer which offers a wide range of products. Its headquarters is based in Samara, Russia. 

The company welcomes over 500,000 buyers annually. 

It operates more than 100 shops.  

Sem + Ya offers a selection of products in the following categories:

• Personal care: shampoo, conditioner, dental care, etc.
• Savory grocery: croissant, gingerbread, 
• Sweet grocery: cake, chocolate, protein bars, etc.
• Household: air fresheners, liquid detergents, dirt cleaner gloves, etc.

Moreover, its portfolio consists of brands such as:

• Domestos: cleaning detergents. 
• Larun: hand care, body care. 
• L’oreal: hair care. 

Sem + Ya also has developed its private labels including:

• Eco Room: cleaning supplies.
• Sova: a brand of napkins, sponges.
• Babiko: a range of cosmetics.

It is noteworthy that the business sells over 10,000 products from all over the world. 

Founded in 2014 by Michal and Martin, Arufel is an importer of FMCG products. Its headquarters is based in Presov, Slovakia. The company sources its products from countries such as the United States, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom and many others. Moreover, Arufel is indulged in export activities as well. 

Concerning its distribution channels, the business distributes its products to the mass market, retailers and wholesalers around the world. 

In the financial year 2020, Arufel achieved a turnover of € 16.28 million.

Arufel offers more than 1,900 references in the following categories: 

• Sweet grocery: chocolates and coffee. 
• Savoury grocery: snacks and biscuits. 
• Drinks: soft drinks, juices,energy drinks, etc.

Furthermore, brands such as Pepsi, Fanta, Nutella, Lipton, Pringles, Tuc, Mirinda, Ferrero, Orangina, Red Bull, etc, are endorsed by the firm. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, the firm operates a warehouse which has 12 loading trays and stores up to 3,500 pallets. Moreover, Arufel also offers transport solutions by road, sea and air as well.  

In addition, the company has decided to expand its portfolio and welcome new brand partners in 2022. 

Apotek 1 is a chain of 380 pharmacies based in Norway. Apotek 1 was founded in 1999  The chain is owned by Phoenix Group. Apotek 1 also runs an online store. 

The company offers a range of medical products as well as personal care products and healthy food items. Apotek 1 currently offers over 10000 references. 

Apotek 1 controls 48% of the market. The firm employs over 3500 people. 

Apotek 1 offers products in the following categories:

• Personal Care: oral care, baby care, pet care, supplements, etc.

• Sweet Grocery: infusions and sugar-free candies

• Drinks: a range of protein beverages

Apotek 1 offers products from brands such as La Roche Posay, Avene, Aptus, Nuxe, Payot, Aco, etc. 

Apotek 1’s online shop can be found on www.apotek1.no

Gudfood is an importer which provides its products to clients in the Horeca sector and it is headquartered in Noida, India. 

Some of its clients include Dominos, Pizza Hut, Taj Hotels, Intercontinental, etc.

The firm imports its products from Spain, Italy, Peru, Mexico, Ecuador, Thailand Indonesia.

Gudfood also supplies 6786 point of sales across India and its turnover reaches around  €5 to €10 million.

Furthermore, the firm also provides its own brands which are:

• Pink Diamond: nuts and dried fruits
• Gourmet Specialties: olives, balsamic vinegar and other specialty foods
• Chef solutions
• Golden Spicery

Gudfood is looking for products in the savory grocery category such as herbs, spices, rice, crisps, nuts, snacks, etc. The company is interested in branded items as well as products with its own labels.

Activpharma is an online retailer of health and beauty products in the French market. Its headquarters is based in Bordeaux, France. The company specialises in the sale of products made of natural origins.

The firm offers a variety of goods in the Personal Care Category which are as follows (non-exhaustive list):

• Body lotions
• Foot scrubs 
• Sunscreen 
• Slimming products 

Brands such as Biothalys cosmetics, Coreme Paris, Nutravie and Laboratoires Phytogenese are endorsed by the firm. 

Moreover, the e-retailer provides a range of products under its private label known as “Netlab Pharma” which encompasses the personal care category. 

Activpharma maintains the highest quality standards as it is certified by ECOCERT (FR-BIO-01). 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, Activpharma partnered with a courier service company, Colissimo to manage its deliveries. 

With regards to sustainability, the business contributes towards the well-being of the planet by using eco-friendly materials.

The company’s online shop can be accessed on: https://www.activpharma.com/ 

Orbico Ukraine is an importer of professional cosmetics which has been established in 2015. The company is a subsidiary of Orbico Group. The headquarters is based in Kiev, Ukraine.

The core products category is personal care and the products are as follows:

• Cosmetics

• Perfumes

• Haircare

The company is interested in natural products as well. 

The partners of Orbico includes various international companies and the brands that are available are listed below:

• Wella

• Londa Professional

• System Professional

• O.P.I

• GHD

It is noteworthy that the firm’s represented brands have high market value and are recognised globally.

The objective of the company is to continue to be the leading distributor of cosmetics products in the Ukrainian market.       

UPDATE ON ORBICO UKRAINE 28/08/19

The firm is looking for brands that offer hair care, nail care and various beauty products. Furthermore, in the household category, Orbico Ukraine is also interested in items such as cleaning products and detergents.

BevMo is a retailer which has been established by Steve Boone and Steve McLaren in the year 1994. The headquarters is based in Concord, United States. BevMo currently operates 163 stores in the country and an online shop.

Bevmo achieved a turnover of € 7.80 million in 2018 and employs 40 people. 

The core products category is drinks but the retailer provides products under other categories also such as:

• Drinks: wine, spirits, beer, cider, sparkling water, energy drinks, etc.

• Savory grocery: chips, crisps, popcorn, crackers, etc.

• Sweet grocery: chocolate, sugar, spreads, biscuits, etc.

• Dairy: Cheese, etc.

• Chilled & fresh food: charcuterie, etc. 

Brands currently available in BevMo stores are Christian Brothers, Dolin De Chambery, Pringles, Beer Nuts, Alouette, Ile De France, Cabot, Yancey’s Fancy, etc.

BevMo also launched its private collection that consists of a range of premium and exclusive wine, spirits and craft brews. Experts and the company’s tasting team carefully select the products featured and deal directly with the producers from different parts of the world.

Some of the brands available under the private collection are Unruly Wine, Challis Lane, Main & Geary, etc. 

BevMo has partnered with Drizle, an alcohol marketplace based in the US. 55 stores can now, though Drizle, deliver to customers in less than 60 minutes. 

BevMo’s online store can be accessed on www.bevmo.com

The Beauty Success Group englobes 6 chains and was founded by Philippe and Christophe Georges as a family business in 1995 and the firm specialises as a perfumery in France.

By 2000, the company was operating 100 franchises. In 2007, the group launched its own brand; Beauty Success and in 2013, it started the Beauty Success Institute Concept. The company became the franchisor of Tanguy Pharmacie in 2015 and acquired Esthetic Center in 2016.

3 new branches were opened in 2019 including Esthetic Center brand and a Beauty Success perfume store.

In 2020, Beauty Success Group acquired Beauty One Paris which operates 140 beauty centers and institutes. 

Nowadays, there are 310 stores operated by Beauty Success Group.  

The company also started Beauty Sisters, a concept store that specializes in makeup and Parfumerie Nicole, a perfumery inspired by Nicole George, the mother of the founders of the Beauty Success Group.

The idea behind Parfumerie Nicole is to bring back the authentic way of perfume manufacturing and offer premium brands like Hermès and Prada. The group now has over 400 product references.

In 2022, Beauty Success achieved a turnover of €250 million and it employs 2,700 employees. 

Beauty Success is currently ranked in the 4th position in the French market for perfumery according to Premium Beauty News and won the Best Chain of Stores 2017/2018 France in the category Cosmetics and Perfumery.

Natural and green products are available as well.

Beauty Success Group manages the following private labels:

• Beauty Success: a range of cosmetics, perfumes, accessories, etc.
• Esthetic Centre: a brand of cosmetics

The Beauty Success Group handles weekly delivery for all the brands it offers and manages the stock for its different chains.

The e-commerce website of Beauty Success is available on www.beautysuccess.fr

Natura is a personal care manufacturer and retailer which was founded in 1969 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The company is certified as a B-Corporation, a certification that is awarded to companies which meet high standards according to specific criteria. The organisation is now the largest cosmetics company in the country. Natura is for the use of local ingredients in its products. 

Natura achieves an annual turnover of  € 2.3 billion and employs 18000 employees. 

The company won several awards which include the World’s Most Ethical Companies award 5 times as well as the UN Champions of the Earth Prize in 2015.

The company has set up many physical stores as well as an e-commerce website. Furthermore, the firm sells its products in South America through 1.7 million consultants. Natura is present in 72 countries. 

Natura developed its own brand, Natura, which includes a range of subsidiary brands which are:

• Aguas - a range of products such as shower gels

• Aquarela - a range of makeup products

• Amo - a variety of perfumes and fragrances

• Chronos - a range of face care products

• Ekos - a product line consisting of skin care products

• Una - a range of perfumes and makeup products

The company sources its ingredients in the Amazon region and works with early 30 local communities. Natura also owns factories in Cajamar and Benavides and works with third party production centres in Argentina, Colombia and Mexico.

The firm also set up 8 distribution centres in Brazil and 5 distribution centres in Latin America. Natura also owns Research & Development centres in Sao Paulo and Benevides.

Natura acquired the company Aesop in 2013 and The Body Shop in 2017. 

Natura has also launched Instituto Natura in 2011, a non-governmental organisation who works to improve public education. 

Natura’s online shop is accessible on www.natura.com

Catena is a retailer dealing in products from the personal care category and was established in 1999. The company is a subsidiary of Fildas, a Romanian company involved in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry.  Headquartered in Romania, the firm is the leading pharmaceutical retailer in the country and has been operating for more than 20 years in the market. 

Catena caters to over 4.5 million clients and has 850 pharmacies across the country. 

Additionally, the company also allows the possibility to book its products online. Catena also owns a mobile application, Catena Pharmacy. 

With a workforce of 5,000 employees, the company achieved a turnover of € 949.5 million in 2020 and became the leading pharmaceutical company in Romania. 

Over the years, Catena has won various awards such as the Best Buy Award for the best quality/price ratio in Romania. The company was selected as the leading pharmacy in Romania by Superbrands Romania based on the votes of customers as well as specialists. In 2015, Catena also won the “Special Award for the quality of services provided to families and children” by Forbes. 

The retailer offers various products in the personal care category such as hair care, skincare, makeup, etc.

Catena endorses brands such as Movial, Vedixin, Transpiblock, Kadermin, etc

Additionally, the firm offers a line of bio and natural products which are as follows:

• Nutritional supplements
• Organic powders
• Vitamins

With regards to logistics, the Fildas-Catena Group owns 14 logistics centers for the storage and distribution of pharmaceutical products. Moreover, the firm works with more than 150 suppliers. 

Concerned about the welfare of its community, Catena has been involved in many health campaigns in Romania and sponsors various charities such as Save the Children! Romania and the Light into Europe foundation. In addition to that, the company also supports Art and sports campaigns.

Amazon is an online retailer which has been present in Germany since 1998 and the company has been evolving since then. The headquarters is based in Munich. Germany is considered Amazon’s second largest market after the United States in terms of turnover. Amazon is listed among the companies which dominate e-commerce in Germany.

Amazon Prime, a payable service that gives access to next day delivery as well as unlimited streaming is also available in Germany.

Amazon Fresh is also established in the country and offers 85 000 references in the food and non-food categories.

For 2020, the company achieved a turnover of €25 billion, making Germany the second largest market for Amazon. Currently, around 16 000 associates are employed by the firm.

As of 2018, the company occupied 28.7% of the German market share.

The company received the NRW.INVEST Award from the NRW’s Economics Minister Andreas Pinkwart.

The product categories offered by Amazon Germany include:

• Personal care: makeup, shampoo, perfumes, baby products, etc
• Household: detergents, paper towels and many more
• Sweet Grocery: coffee, chocolate, sugar, etc
• Savory Grocery: canned goods, oil, rice, pasta, etc
• Drinks: whisky, champagne, wine, soft drinks, etc
• Dairy: milk, cheese, yoghurt, etc
• Frozen Food: ice cream, meat, seafood, etc

Amazon provides its own brands among which some of them listed below:

• Presto: tissue papers and dishwasher detergents are sold under this brand.
• Amazonbasics: the products that are sold under this brand are dumbbell pair, towel, pillow bed, etc
• Happy belly: under this brand, products such as walnuts, banana chips, almonds, etc, are sold.
• Wickedly Prime: in this line, products such as olive oil, condiments, vinegar, etc, are available.
• Pinzon: towels and bathrobes are sold under this name.

There are currently 16 logistic centres across Germany equipped with robots. Moreover, a modern logistics center in Gera will be launched in 2021 creating over 1000 jobs for locals. The company operates a low-emission fleet to conduct deliveries and opened an inbound cross dock distribution center in Dortmund for outbound deliveries.

Concerning sustainability, Amazon Germany launched Climate Pledge, a program that is committed to become zero carbon by 2040 and use only renewable energy by 2030. The firm is aiming on reducing, reusing and reselling products to reduce waste.

Amazon Germany’s online shop can be accessed on www.amazon.de

Coin is an Italian upmarket department store chain dedicated to the worlds of apparel, home decorations, accessories and beauty which has been established in the year 1916. The headquarters is based in Mestre, Italy. There are 85 stores dispersed across Italy In addition to that, Gruppo Coin has expanded internationally and operating 65 stores in various parts of the world.

The firm has launched its e-commerce platform hence giving customers the opportunity to purchase goods online from the comfort of their home. The firm attracts 24.7 million customers every year.

The stores are operated under different banners such as :

• OVS: a chain of clothing departmental store

• Coin: a department store with a wide range of clothing, accessories and more

• UPIM : a chain of departmental stores offering clothing, accessories and household products

• Coin Excelsior: a premium departmental store 

The products categories are as follows:

• Personal care: baby products, perfumes, face masks, clothing, etc

• Household: kitchen accessories, bathroom accessories,etc

Some of the brands that are available in the shop are listed below:

• Armani jeans

• Calvin klein

• Hugo Boss

• Mango

• Parfois  

Coin also manages several warehouses throughout Italy.

Protek is a Russian distributor of personal and pharmaceutical products that was founded in 1990 by Vadim Yakunin and Grigor Khachaturov. The company distributes to around 20000 companies including Apmakonenka, Oneka, Camcoh Dapma, etc. 

Protek distributes products from Russian pharmaceutical producers as well. At present, the company works with 619 suppliers.

Protek was awarded as the distributor of the year in 2000 and is also recognised as one of the 20 most successful companies in Russia. It is also one of the Russian leading importers. 

Protek achieved a turnover of € 1.5 billion in 2019 and employs around 15000 people. 

Protek offers a wide range of personal care products such as skin care, hair care, face care, etc. 

Brands such as L’Oreal, Johnson & Johnson, Roche, Pierre Fabre are distributed by Protek.

Concerning the logistics, Protek operates 8 interregional logistic centres and 39 depots. There are also 15 representations with depots and 9 branches which have their own fully-equipped warehouses. A new logistics center will be built in 2020. 

Protek launched the Protek Charitable Foundation in 2006. The charity has created the Health to People Program which provides financial and medical support to needy people in Russia. 

In 2019, it was announced that Protek has entered a joint venture with Sechenov University in order to work on telemedicine technologies development. During the same year, Protek also launched a distance learning project called University PRO enabling those who pass the program to follow a free module at Sechenov University. 

Founded in 2002 in Switzerland, DKSH is an importer which helps FMCG brands enter the Asian market. The company offers marketing and sales support, retail solutions and logistic services and regulatory support services to various brands. 

DKSH distributes brands to countries like China, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, etc. 

DKSH works with 1900 clients including supermarkets, specialty stores, department stores, hotels, convenience stores, bakeries, restaurants, e-commerce platforms, etc. 

DKSH achieved a turnover of € 10.8 billion in 2019 and during that same year, the company employed 33350 people. 

DKSH distributes an array of items in various categories including:

• Savory Grocery: sauces, canned food, dressings, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: biscuits, sweet canned food, chocolate, etc.
• Drinks: syrups, fruit mix preparations, liqueurs, etc.
• Dairy: milk, cheese, egg, yoghurt, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: products such as chilled fruit puree and coulis
• Frozen Food: products like coulis and fruit puree
• Personal Care: a range of cosmetics

DKSH distributes products from different brands such as Angus, Even, Buttercup, Lotus, Cru, Canary, Alomar, Cadbury, Lindt, etc. 

DKSH collaborates with 1900 suppliers.

The business operates 150 distribution centres across the world.

DKSH is ISO 9001, ISO 13485, GMP and GDP certified. 

The business manages 44 innovation centers.

Druni is a retailer of personal care products based in Spain. Founded in 1987 by the Casp family, Druni operates 330 stores in the country as well as an online shop. The company offers both luxury products and low-budget products. Druni has been providing innovative products as well. 

Druni acquired the beauty chain Gilgo in 2015. Furthermore, Druni also took over the chain Atalaya. 

At present Druni operates its 330 stores under the following banners:

• Druni

• Gilgo

• Atalaya

In 2017, Druni attained a turnover of € 288 million and employs around 2000 people.

Druni offers products in the personal care category including skincare, hair care, hygiene, fragrances, etc.

Brands such as Ecoderma, Escada, Loewe, L’Oreal, Clarins, Soul, etc. 

Druni also developed its own label, DRN, consisting of products such as face care, skincare and so on. The brand is available only in Druni stores. 

Druni’s online shop can be accessed on www.druni.es

Founded in 1947, Autogrill is a catering company operating food service establishments in airports, stations and on motorways.

Initially the company was known as Pavesi which offered biscuits and gradually started operating as a local bar in the 1950s. In 1977, following a merger between Pavesi and 2 other motorway catering businesses: Motta and Alemagna, Autogrill was founded. The state-owned company was privatized in 1995. 

Autogrill ventured on the international market by opening food service establishments under the same banner in France and Spain in 1993. 

In 1995, the business was acquired by the Benetton family and in 1997, Autogrill was listed on the Italian Stock Exchange. During that year, Autogrill entered Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Germany. 

1999 was an important period for Autogrill which acquired HMSHost,entering the travel retail industry including airports, railway stations, museums and motorways. By 2000, the company started to expand its business in the travel retail sector in 2 areas: Duty Free and Restaurants. 

Autogrill continued to expand by acquiring several businesses over the years in the travel retail sector. In 2002, it took over SMSI Travel Centers which operate catering services in Ontario, Canada and Receco in Spain which operates in railway stations. In 2003, it acquired Anton Airfood, establishing its presence in North America. 

In 2005, the firm took over Steigenberger Gastronomie in Germany and in 2008 it acquired Aldeasa, a Spanish travel retail and duty-free company as well as World Duty Free, a travel retail company as well. 

In 2013, Autogrill separated its 2 activities. The retail travel sector is transferred to World Duty Free while Autogrill concentrates on the catering sector. 

The company has also partnered with Vapiano in order to operate Vapiano restaurants airports in the UK, Scandinavia, Germany and the Netherlands 

At present Autogrill manages over 300 national and international banners. The company has opted for national banners in order to help customers discover local dishes and products in each country and also partnered with international banners so as to cater for those customers who want to find banners they are already familiar with. 

Autogrill owns some of the following banners including (but not limited to):

• 1897 Market

• Amo

• Beaudevin

• Bubbles Wine Bar

• The Burger Federation

• Cafe Chocolat

• Ciao Ristorante

• Territori D’Italia

Autogrill is the licensed operator for the following international franchises in airports, railways and motorways including (but not limited to):

• Burger King

• Starbucks Cafe

• Buffalo Grill

• California Pizza Kitchen

• Class’ Croute Restaurant

• La Place

Autogrill operates a large number of establishments in 147 airports in the world. 

In 2018, Autogrill registered a turnover of € 4.7 billion. 58% of the revenue is from airport catering and 34% from highway catering. 51% of the revenue is from North America while 37% from Europe. The remaining is from other countries across the world.

Autrogrill employs over 60000 people across the world. 

Autogrill has a Research and Development area that also includes a test kitchen where the company is constantly working on new products. 

Autogrill has also implemented a lot of measures to be sustainable. In the case of the protection of the environment, the firm chooses suppliers who not only have good ethics but also apply environmental-friendly practices. 

The firm has also collaborated with Coca-Cola in order to recover plastic bottles to be recycled. In India, Autogrill is now replacing plastic bags with eco-friendly alternatives and in Australia,the firm has introduced the “Bring Your Own Cup” concept, encouraging customers to carry their own cups or mugs instead of using disposable ones.

HMS Host International is the International division for HMS Host, an American contract catering business. While HMSHost handles the American market, HMS Host International manages the operations in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. HMSHost has been owned by Autogrill since 1999. HMSHost International’s headquarters is located in the Netherlands. 

HMSHost International has been operating for over 50 years and is present in countries such as China, Australia, India, Indonesia, Russia, the Netherlands, Vietnam, etc. The company operates several food service businesses in airports, railway stations and malls. 

HMS Host International operates more than 300 local, specialty, national and proprietary banners in more than 120 airports across the world. Furthermore, a team of renowned chefs is constantly working in order to develop menus for exclusive, local and chef-inspired restaurants. 

HMSHost International has partnered with franchises such as Burger King, Starbucks and Leon, operating their franchises in airports, railway stations and malls. 

At present, HMSHost International manages a total of 18 Burger King restaurants and 11 Leon restaurants across the world. 

Furthermore, HMSHost International also manages several Proprietary banners which include:

• VIT: a chain which operates in the UAE, the UK and the Netherlands

• Bistrot: an Italian-style food service

• Nordic Nature: a food service chain offering Nordic meals

• Fair Taste: a restaurant/cafe offering healthy options

• Two Tigers: an Asian-style restaurant

• Cafe Coco: a luxury cafe chain

• Puro Gusto: an Italian coffee shop and bakery

The business is taking measures to minimise the use of packaging where possible. Furthermore, it is using recycled materials, ensuring that it works with suppliers who provide recyclable packaging. Measures are also being taken in order to reduce wastage.

For example, HMSHost International works with a Waste management Company in order to sort its waste, hence enabling it to recycle. Moreover, the company is also working with Coca Cola to collect plastic bottles which are recycled into chairs and shirts. HMSHost International’s restaurants use Ecolabel napkins and biodegradable utensils.

Interalfa Complex was founded in 1991 in Budapest, Hungary. The family business, owned by Jozsef Friesz Jr. used to produce jewelry but stopped by 1996, concentrating solely on the import and distribution of personal care products. 

In 2015, Interalfa Complex launched a logistics company under the name ECO Magyarorszag. 

Interalfa Complex clients include retail chains, pharmacies, retailers, hotel gift shops, etc. The firm supplies over 250 shops along Lake Balaton. In addition to this, Interalfa Complex works with 69 wholesalers located in 55 cities and towns across the country. The company also exports to the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Serbia, etc. 

Interalfa Complex’s clients include Rossmann, Interspar, Tesco, Auchan, Metro, Douglas, etc. 

Interalfa Complex achieves an annual turnover of € 6.1 million and employs 20 people. 

Interalfa Complex provides products in the personal care category including supplements, fragrances, face care, skincare, etc. 

Brands such as Nike, Creme 21, Travalo, Herbina, etc. are supplied by the company. Furthermore, Interalfa Complex is the exclusive distributor for the European market for Swiss Arabian Perfumes, Aslen Bugle International and Shantou Meibao Cosmetics. 

Interalfa Complex has also developed its private label, Paris Prestige. The brand is expanding by offering a variety of personal care products. 

Interalfa Complex manages 4 warehouses with a total floor area of 2400 m2. The company operates a fleet of 7 delivery vehicles. 

Founded by Allen Llyod in 1973, Lloyds Pharmacy is a British personal care retail chain. Its headquarters is based in Coventry, United Kingdom. Lloyds Pharmacy is owned by McKesson, an American company which provides healthcare services. 

Moreover, the firm owns a number of companies which includes John Bell & Croyden, a multichannel healthcare business and Dr Thom, a commercial online doctor service. 

Lloyds Pharmacy operates over 1,650 pharmacies and an online store as well. Furthermore, the business dispenses over 150 million prescription items every year. 

In the financial year 2021, Lloyds achieved a turnover of €2.3 billion and employed around 17,000 people. 

Additionally, Lloyds Pharmacy offers an extensive range of products in the personal care category which involves: 

• Supplements
• Hair care 
• Skincare 
• Oral care 
• Baby toiletries

Lloyds Pharmacy UK endorses brands such as Colgate, Viviscal, Aussie and various others. 

The company also sells supplements under its own brand, Lloyds.

In relation to its logistics solutions, the firm operates its own distribution centres. In order to conduct its deliveries, Lloyds Pharmacy partnered with a third party delivery company named Deliveroo. 

Concerning sustainability, Lloyds Pharmacy took measures such as supporting a recycling network in order to assist customers who wish to get rid of electrical waste. The company is indulged in community service as well, as it supports the Alzheimeir’s National Charity society. 

Lloyds Pharmacy's online store is accessible on: www.lloydspharmacy.com

La Vie Saine is a retailer of organic products which was founded in 1952 by the Remy family in France. La Vie Saine has been owned by BOI France and Rothschild Investment Partners since 2017. 

La Vie Saine manages 14 shops in France. Furthermore, La Vie Saine also operates 3 food establishments:

• Chenove
• Dijon
• Coin Snacking

In 2016, La Vie Snacking’s turnover was € 23 million and employed 126 people.

La Vie Saine offers products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: crackers, chips, snacks, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: cereals, chocolate, biscuits, etc.
• Drinks: fruit juice, vegetable juice, lemonade, wine, etc.
• Dairy: yogurt, milk, cream, cheese, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: meat, vegetables, fruits, etc.
• Personal Care: baby care, hair care, skincare, etc.
• Household: a range of cleaning products

The company offers products from brands like Weleda, Jonzac, Bonneterre, Evernat, etc.

Nikora Supermarket is a retail chain which was established in 2000 and is located in Tbilisi, Georgia. The retailer is part of Nikora Holding.  Nikora Supermarket is the number one supermarket chain in Georgia in terms of market share and number of grocery stores as well. 

Currently, the business operates more than 380 stores under different formats and it stocks more than 8,000 references on its shelves. 

With a dedicated workforce of more than 6,000 people, Nikora Supermarket achieves an annual turnover of more than €46 million. 

It is noteworthy that the firm gained recognition through the Golden Brand award in 2019. 

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

• Savory Grocery: spices, chips, sauces, pasta, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: breakfast cereals, industrial pastries, chocolates, etc.
• Drinks: energy drinks, mulled wine, juice, etc.
• Dairy: milk, sour cream, cheese, butter, etc. 
• Chilled & Fresh Food: sausages, salami, fish, etc.
• Frozen Food: snacking, ready-meals, ice-cream, etc.
• Personal Care: hair care, hygiene, oral care, etc.
• Household: detergents, cleaning supplies, laundry care, etc.

Currently, the firm provides customers with products from brands such as Fiamma, Rice Up, Doux, Quickbury, Nutella, etc. It is noteworthy that the retailer also offers a range of European imported products which are ecologically clean and additive free from countries such as Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece, etc. 

Moreover, Nikora also offers products from the private labels developed by Nikora Holding, its parent company. Some of them are (but not limited to):

• Nikora: a range of charcuterie ranging to sausages and ham which are very popular in Georgia.
• Mzareuli: a range of pre-cooked products which are reputed to taste like homemade food. Some of the products include pancakes, dumplings, cutlets and a wide range of Georgian and European meals.
• Paloma: around 30 flavours of ice-cream made using high quality and natural ingredients.
• Pane: a range of frozen dough as well as breads and biscuits. It is one of the recent additions to Nikora’s private labels.

In addition, Nikora Supermarket maintains the highest quality standards as it is certified by ISO 9001:2008, ISO 22000:2005, HACCP and many more. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, the retailer operates its own distribution centres nationwide and has a fleet of vehicles to ensure deliveries. 

In 2019, Nikora started collaborating with Liberty Bank and launched a social card which allows card holders to benefit from special discounts on over 300 references.

In 2020 it was announced that Nikora has introduced protected packaging for its charcuterie line. The new packaging preserves the products effectively without tampering the taste. Moreover, customers do not have to wait in the queue as the products are now already packed. 

Furthermore, the firm surpassed Maf Hypermarkets Georgia (Carrefour) in terms of sales and share of modern grocery retailing in Georgia in 2020. Nikora Supermarket was ranked first , thanks to expansion and Maf Carrefour Hypermarkets took second place. 

Additionally, in 2022, the supermarket chain partnered with EFES Georgia to launch an environmental campaign to promote the process of proper management of plastic waste in Georgia. 

With regards to sustainability, the company was the first supermarket in the country to replace plastic bags with biodegradable ones in 2015. 

Established by Neil Gordon in 1980, Gordons Chemists is Northern Ireland’s largest independent pharmacy chain. Its headquarters is based in Banbridge, United Kingdom. The company began as a single pharmacy in Donaghadee and later expanded through the acquisition of other pharmacies. 

Today, the business operates 63 pharmacies in Northern Ireland and Scotland, serving thousands of clients every single day. Moreover, Gordons Chemists manages an e-commerce platform as well. 

In the financial year 2020, Gordons Direct achieved a turnover of €110 million and employed 844 people. 

Moreover, the retailer offers a variety of products in the Personal Care Category which are as follows (non-exhaustive list): 

• Perfumes 
• Face masks 
• Eye Creams 
• Fondations 
• Highlighters 

Brands such as Carolina Herrera, Cacharel, Jean Paul Gautier, Giorgio Armani, Paco Rabanne, Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, L’oreal Paris, Clarins, Carmen, BPerfect Cosmetics, Cutex, Rimmel London and many others are endorsed by the firm. 

Gordons Chemists offers a range of organic products in its portfolio. 

Pertaining to its logistics solutions, the firm operates its own warehouses and partners with courier service companies to manage its deliveries. 

Gordons Chemists partnered with Web Bureau to design its e-commerce website and as a consequence its turnover rose by 230%. 

Concerning sustainability, the company provides a range of shampoo bars instead of shampoo bottles made from natural ingredients to its clients as a sustainable alternative.

The company's online shop can be accessed on: https://gordonsdirect.com/ 

Swiss Imports is an importer, wholesaler and distributor based in the USA. The company specialises in distributing premium Swiss OTC and beauty products. Swiss Imports operates an online store as well. It is headquartered in Ohio.

Swiss Imports offers 150 references in the food and non-food categories.

Swiss Imports’s clients are mostly American and Canadian retailers, retail chains, wholesalers and ecommerce platforms. The company works with specialised retailers such as OTC, drug stores and health food stores. A few examples of Swiss Imports’s clientele are  Amazon, CVS, Kroger, etc. Moreover, Swiss Imports’s products can be found in more than 10 000 stores.

Swiss Imports was reported to achieve a turnover of € 20.45 million in the year 2018.

Swiss Imports provides several products in the following categories:

• Sweet Grocery: sweets, chocolate, liquorice, etc.
• Personal Care: toothbrush, wipes, vitamins supplements, etc.

Swiss Imports also brings a variety of organic and sugar-free products to the market.

Swiss Imports works with brands such as Rubis, Pingo, Dr. Frei, True Organic and many more. The firm imports its goods from Europe; mainly Switzerland.

Swiss Imports offers free shipping for orders exceeding € 81.

An easy access to Swiss Imports’s online shop is www.swissimports.com/default.asp

Founded by Dieter and Ursula Meyer, Meyer Menu is a food service provider based in Germany since 1963. As the leading provider of lunch menus in the country, Meyer Menu offers freshly cooked and ready-to-eat food on a daily basis.

Additionally, Meyer Menu owns an online shop.

Today, the company offers its services to more than 20 cities countrywide including Dusseldorf, Wuerzburg, Keel, Hamburg, etc. Meyer Menu runs 3 canteen kitchen as well as 3 bistros based in Neckarsulm, Neuenstadt am Kocher, Hattingen and Siek.

Meyer Menu’s clientele consists mostly of educational institutes, offices, canteens, business events and catering. Each meal is prepared according to the client’s specification.

In 2019, a new Meyer Menu location was opened in Bremen and Menker Menu, a subsidiary of the Compass Group, was acquired the following year.

Meyer Menu achieves an annual sales of €6.41 million and employs approximately 60 people.

Furthermore, gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free and a variety of other options are available at Meyer Menu.

A total of 27 production units are spread across Germany.

Regarding its social responsibility, Meyer Menu donated 72 food packages to the Herzebrock-Clarholz community.

Its online shop can be accessed on www.meyer-menue.de/

Copharm is a buying alliance which includes various independent businesses in the Czech Republic. The firm provides its services in the pharmaceutical market.
The association is composed of more than 300 efficient pharmacies which is a subsidiary of one of the largest networks in the Czech Republic and Slovakia namely Pilulka Holding.