What IGEPA GROUP does

IGEPA GROUP is a privately held European wholesale trading group headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, specializing in the distribution of paper, packaging, and visual communication products. Founded in 1960 through the collaboration of German member companies, the group operates through seven regional wholesale trading houses serving 75+ locations across 23 European countries. IGEPA serves over 80,000 B2B customers from industry, trade, and commerce with a catalog of more than 40,000 products spanning graphic papers, fine and design papers, recycled and specialty papers, packaging materials, and visual communication (Viscom) media. The customer base is horizontal across industrial, commercial, and trade sectors.

The company's product portfolio combines third-party brands with proprietary own-brand offerings including ICON Papers (recycled and design paper collections), IGEPA Profiboard GC1 (exclusive chromokarton), and CoffeeCup Paper (recycled paper made from used paper cups). Distribution operates through a hybrid model: regional field sales via 18 locations in Germany supported by a dedicated customer advisor force, alongside a 24/7 B2B e-commerce platform for registered entrepreneurs. The company operates its own logistics fleet supporting just-in-time and 24-hour delivery, and has invested in proprietary digital tools such as the CASTN carton set optimization software co-developed with Fraunhofer IML. IGEPA holds multiple sustainability certifications (FSC, PEFC, Blue Angel, EU Ecolabel, ClimatePartner) and is actively preparing for EUDR compliance with compliant delivery planned from 2027.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time B2B product sales at negotiated prices, with recent pricing adjustments including 6-8% increases and a EUR 50/t surcharge on certain paper/carton segments announced for April 2026. The group reported approximately EUR 2 billion in 2024 revenue including strategic partners, supported by a workforce of approximately 3,300 employees. Value-added services such as the IGEPA Production Service (in partnership with Schulz + Co) and packaging optimization consulting supplement the core product distribution revenue stream.

Name

IGEPA GROUP

Legal name

IGEPA Group GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://igepa.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

IGEPA GROUP is a Hamburg-based European wholesale group founded in 1960, distributing paper, packaging, and visual communication products through seven regional trading houses across 23 countries, serving over 80,000 B2B customers with a 40,000+ product catalog.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Papers, Board & Print Products: Sale of graphic papers, carton, design papers, recycling papers, colored papers, offset papers, digital printing papers, and self-adhesive papers. Revenue is generated through product sales at list or negotiated B2B prices. In 2024, IGEPA group generated approximately EUR 2 billion in revenue including strategic partners.
2. Packaging Products & Solutions: Sale of packaging materials including corrugated boxes, automatic bottom cartons, edge protection, and custom packaging solutions. Also includes consulting on packaging optimization and the CASTN software co-developed with Fraunhofer IML.
3. Visual Communication (Viscom) Products: Sale of display systems, screen printing films, textile finishing, and visual communication materials for signage and advertising.
4. Production Service: Technical development and realization support for print projects, including material selection, printing, and finishing techniques, provided through partnership with Schulz + Co.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IGEPA GROUP is a European wholesale and distribution group specializing in specialty papers, packaging materials, and visual communication products for B2B customers. The group operates through seven regional wholesale trading houses offering more than 40,000 products, supported by own-brand portfolios, an own logistics fleet, a 24/7 B2B e-commerce platform, and value-added services including packaging optimization and print production support.

Product overview

IGEPA GROUP is a large European wholesale trading group operating in the paper, packaging, and visual communication (Viscom) sectors. Its offering consists primarily of physical products distributed through regional wholesale companies and an e-commerce platform, supported by logistics, advisory, and production services. The core product portfolio spans: graphic papers and carton (including coated, uncoated, and specialty papers), recycled papers and eco-labeled materials, fine and design papers (own brand ICON Papers), packaging materials (corrugated cartons, automatic-bottom cartons, edge protection), visual communication/media (display systems, screen printing films, textild), office products, and self-adhesive papers. Services include logistics, fulfillment, EDI integration, the IGEPA Production Service (partnered with Schulz + Co for print project support), and a digital shop. The company does not appear to offer a SaaS/platform product with AI capabilities; its digital tools (online shop, EDI interfaces) are operational tools for ordering and supply chain management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ICON Papers: Fine and design paper collection launched in 2024, featuring three sub-lines: ICON Nature (recycled paper), ICON Classic (white papers with various surfaces), and ICON Glam (colored and transparent papers).
• IGEPA Profiboard GC1
• lahnur
• CoffeeCup Paper

Products and services

• ICON Papers Own-brand fine and design paper range with three collections (ICON Nature recycled, ICON Classic white, ICON Glam colored/transparent) targeted at designers, printers, and brands seeking creative paper materials; FSC and Blue Angel certified.
• ICON Glam Extension of the ICON Papers own-brand offering featuring shimmering, transparent, and colorful design papers with unique haptics, targeted at creative applications in design, packaging, and brand communication.
• IGEPA Profiboard GC1 Exclusive own-brand fully coated chromokarton (GC1) on fresh fiber basis with high volume and homogeneous surface, suitable for folding cartons, displays, POS communication, blister cards, calendars, book covers, and food packaging.
• CoffeeCup Paper Graphic recycled paper produced from used single-use paper cups using an innovative process that separates plastic coating and recovers up to 90% of paper fibers; 100% recycled material (approx. 25% from cups, 75% from waste paper), available in 100-320 g/sqm grammages.
• lahnur® Specialty paper brand by Lahnpaper featuring distinctive haptics, exceptional robustness, and versatile processing; Made in Germany; suitable for high-quality print products, packaging, labels, brand communication, books, and magazines.
• SK-Automatikbodenkarton KAB-229x164x80-115 Quick-fold shipping carton with integrated automatic bottom enabling one-hand setup without folding or gluing, self-adhesive seal, integrated tear-open thread, height ridging, D-wave construction, and reduced void fill compared to standard folding cartons; targeted at e-commerce fulfillment operations.
• Nomapack® U-Tulip

Quantifiable outcome

• IGEPA's proprietary CASTN software co-developed with Fraunhofer IML calculates optimal standard carton sets for measurable efficiency improvements in shipping processes.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IMLcoreTechnology or Integration · 17 February 2026Co-development partnership for CASTN carton set optimization software. Fraunhofer IML provides the algorithmic foundation for calculating optimal standard carton sets based on real order and article data. IGEPA Packaging presents this joint solution at trade shows (e.g., E-Commerce Expo Berlin 2026, Stand M19) to help companies optimize shipping processes, reduce material usage, and improve regulatory compliance.
• Signcom Gruppe (Scandinavia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2023The acquisition of Scandraft Group, a leading Viscom distributor in Sweden, combined with IGEPA's existing Scandinavian subsidiary Signcom Gruppe, establishes a strong Viscom distributor in the Nordic region with headquarters in Sweden.
• Soennecken eGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2021Cooperation agreement for Zentralregulierungs- und Delkrederegeschäft (central billing and credit insurance management) effective February 1, 2021. Soennecken eG and the IGEPA group's associated wholesale companies collaborate on centralized billing and delcredere services.
• Schulz + Co Professional Production Services GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLong-standing partner for print management services. Schulz + Co provides comprehensive technical development and realization support for print projects including concept, prepress, creative image processing/retouching, lithography, color management, and access to a wide network of printing experts throughout Germany.
• Gruppo Cordenons (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the fine paper segment, with IGEPA adding Gruppo Cordenons brands KINGDOM, BOHEME, and REEF to its assortment, strengthening its position in the premium fine paper market.
• creart Neidhardt Werbe GmbH (Fulda)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIdea originators of CoffeeCup Paper, developed together with IGEPA. The innovative product concept transforms used paper cups into a graphic recycling paper, creating a circular economy story for end customers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IgepaBelux
• Facebookfacebook.com/igepagrosshandel.de

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IGEPA GROUP