Solinest
Solinest is a family-owned French FMCG distributor that commercializes ~40 international partner brands and 6+ proprietary brands across confectionery, beverages, fresh, and frozen categories, reaching 50,000+ points of sale in France and 16,000 in Belgium/Luxembourg through a 300-person field sales force and value-added services including category management, private label development, and co-packing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersBrunstatt, France
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Solinest does
Solinest is a family-owned French fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) distribution company headquartered in Brunstatt, Alsace, operating as a multi-category broker and value-added distributor serving hypermarkets, supermarkets, proximity retailers, impulse outlets, and HORECA channels across France (50,000+ points of sale), Belgium and Luxembourg (16,000 points of sale), with a sales office in Germany. The company commercializes approximately 40 international partner brands—including flagship long-tenured agreements with Ricola (since 1968), Lindt (since 1964), Perfetti Van Melle/Chupa Chups/Mentos (since 2005), Starbucks, Fiji Water, Pringles, Tyrrells, Wonderful Pistachios, and Kellogg's—across confectionery, snacking, beverages, fresh produce, frozen, cosmetics, sports nutrition, and ultra-fresh categories. Solinest has progressively built a portfolio of six to seven proprietary brands led by [N.A!] (Nature Addicts snacks, founded 2009), Vaïvaï (coconut water), Zohi (gummy supplements), Joyfuel (protein bars), KYO Kombucha, and Nolow Plurielles (alcohol-free spirits), as well as developing ~160 private label (MDD) references for retailer clients.
The company's core technology stack consists of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) systems for secure transactional data exchange and logistics flow optimization with major retailers, supplemented by product databases, sales forecasting, and inventory management systems. Value-added service capabilities are wide-ranging and include category management, trade marketing, co-packing, end-to-end supply chain management (Sausheim logistics platform ~14,000m² plus dedicated fresh and F&V warehouses), product quality and regulatory compliance (IFS BROKER certified), and consumer service management. Revenue is generated primarily through transactional brand distribution margins (purchasing wholesale from industrial partners and reselling to retailers), supplemented by professional services fees from private label development, co-packing, and category management engagements. The company employs approximately 450 people, including a 300-person field sales force that executes daily store visits for merchandising, assortment optimization, and promotional activation. Solinest is led by President Bertrand Jacoberger, son of founder-era executive Jean Jacoberger, and remains a privately held SAS with €5M capital and no external investors or parent company.
Solinest firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solinest
- Legal name
- SOLINEST SAS
- Website
- https://solinest.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Solinest is a family-owned French FMCG distributor that commercializes ~40 international partner brands and 6+ proprietary brands across confectionery, beverages, fresh, and frozen categories, reaching 50,000+ points of sale in France and 16,000 in Belgium/Luxembourg through a 300-person field sales force and value-added services including category management, private label development, and co-packing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solinest industry classification
Industry- Product category
- FMCG Distribution / Consumer Goods Distribution
- akta.pro primary industry
- Broadline Foodservice (Multi-Category) Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAA)
Keywords
Where Solinest is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brunstatt
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Solinest business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Brand Distribution and Commercialization: Solinest purchases and resells consumer goods brands to retailers, earning margins on the difference between wholesale purchase prices and retail distribution prices. This represents the core revenue stream for the company.
- Private Label Development Services: Development and commercialization of approximately 160 store brand references (grocery biscuits, chocolate sticks, wafers, etc.) for retailer clients. Services include commercial development, quality control, and packaging.
- Co-packing Services: Reconditioning products into kits for promotional displays including parcel preparation, box assembly and filling, and shipment of ready-to-place boxes to stores.
- Supply Chain Management: End-to-end logistics services including inventory management, forecasting, procurement, warehousing, labeling, order fulfillment to retailer warehouses, and customer service.
- Category Management and Trade Marketing: Strategic consulting services including market analysis, category optimization recommendations, 5-year business planning, annual marketing plans, budget management, media plan execution, and in-store activation.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels4 records
Solinest product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solinest is a French multi-category FMCG distributor that commercializes approximately 40 partner brands and develops its own consumer brands across grocery, beverages, fresh produce, and frozen sections of hypermarkets, supermarkets, and proximity stores. The company provides value-added services including category management, trade marketing, co-packing, supply chain management with EDI integration, and private label development (around 160 MDD references). It reaches 50,000+ points of sale in France and 16,000 in Belgium/Luxembourg via a 300-person field sales force.
Product overview
Solinest is a French fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) distributor operating as a multi-category expert across grocery, beverages, fresh produce, and frozen sections of hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores. The company offers a portfolio of six proprietary brands ([N.A!] nature-inspired snacks, Vaïvaï coconut water, Zohi supplements, Nolow Plurielles alcohol-free spirits, Joyfuel protein bars, and KYO Kombucha) alongside distribution of numerous international partner brands including Ricola, Chupa Chups, Mentos, Pringles, Starbucks, Fiji Water, Tyrrells, and Wonderful Pistachios. Solinest provides complementary value-creation services including category management, trade marketing, commercial development, co-packing, supply chain management with EDI capabilities, product quality/regulatory compliance, consumer service, and store brand development (160 references). The company operates primarily in France with presence in Belgium and Luxembourg, serving over 50,000 points of sale through a 300-person sales force.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- [N.A!]: Snacking brand with 100% nature-inspired snacks
- Vaïvaï
- Zohi
- Nolow Plurielles
- Joyfuel
- KYO Kombucha
- OUIZ
Products and services
- [N.A!] (Nature Addicts)
- Vaïvaï
- Zohi
- Nolow Plurielles
- Joyfuel
- KYO Kombucha
- Ricola Distribution (Switzerland)
- Chupa Chups Distribution (Spain)
- Mentos Distribution
- Starbucks Chilled Coffee Distribution
- Fiji Water Distribution
- Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds Distribution
- Tyrrells Distribution
- Category Management Service
- Trade Marketing Service
- Commercial Development Service
- Co-packing Service
- Supply Chain Service
- Store Brand (MDD) Development
- Product Quality and Regulation Service
- Consumer Service
Companies that use Solinest
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Solinest technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Solinest partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
32 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- RicolaflagshipPartnership since 1968 - Solinest has been the exclusive distributor of Ricola products in the French market for nearly 50 years. This success story is based on trust and proximity relationships between founders Hans-Peter Richterich (Ricola) and Jean Jacoberger (Solinest).
- Chupa ChupsflagshipSince 2005, Solinest distributes iconic brands including Chupa Chups, Mentos, Look O Look, Frisk, and Fruit-tella from Perfetti Van Melle.
- Perfetti Van MellecoreSince 2005, Solinest distributes Perfetti Van Melle brands including Chupa Chups, Mentos, Look O Look, Frisk, and Fruit-tella in France.
- StarbuckscoreSolinest distributes Starbucks chilled coffee beverages in France since 2012.
- Fiji WatercoreSolinest distributes Fiji Water premium water brand in France since 2012.
- AlprocoreSolinest distributes Alpro plant-based beverages in France since 2012.
- TetleycoreSolinest distributes Tetley tea, the #1 English tea brand, in France.
- Van HoutencoreSolinest distributes Van Houten cocoa powder products in France.
- Wonderful Pistachios & AlmondscoreSince 2015, Solinest distributes Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds in the produce section of French retailers.
- Kellogg'scoreSolinest distributes Kellogg's cereal products in France.
- PringlescoreSolinest distributes Pringles snack products in France.
- Fisherman's FriendcoreSolinest distributes Fisherman's Friend lozenges in France.
- PEZcoreSolinest distributes PEZ candy products in France.
- AmoscoreSolinest distributes Amos candy products in France.
- CémoicoreSolinest distributes Cémoi chocolate products in France.
- Ritter SportcoreSolinest distributes Ritter Sport chocolate in France.
- TyrrellscoreSince 2015, Solinest partnered with Tyrrells, the premium chips leader, for distribution in France.
- GriessoncoreSince 1983, Solinest has partnered with German industrialist Griesson to commercialize store brand products in France.
- LindtflagshipIn 1964, Lindt from Zürich partnered with Solinest to distribute Lindt chocolates in France, which gave birth to the company name 'Lindt Est' (Solinest).
- [N.A!] (Nature Addicts)coreFounded in 2009 by Bertrand Jacoberger, [N.A!] is Solinest's own brand offering 100% nature-inspired snacks, an innovation in the checkout aisle. Expanded in 2015 to savory snacks with Rice Crackers.
- VaïvaïcoreSolinest's own brand - #1 coconut water in France, pure coconut water naturally rich in potassium.
- ZohicoreSolinest's own brand of dietary supplements in gummy and chewing gum formats.
- Nolow PluriellesminorSolinest's own premium non-alcoholic spirits brand.
- JoyfuelminorSolinest's own brand of high-protein, low-sugar bars for sports nutrition.
- KYO KombuchaminorSolinest's own brand of artisanal and organic fermented tea.
- DeltaminorGreek yogurt brand distributed by Solinest.
- ArlaminorArla Protein and Arla Skyr dairy products distributed by Solinest in fresh/refrigerated section.
- Fever-TreeminorPremium mixer brand distributed by Solinest in France.
- Ocean SprayminorCranberry juices and sparkling drinks distributed by Solinest.
- NissinminorInstant noodles inventor Nissin products distributed in World Products section.
- WaterdropminorWater flavoring products distributed by Solinest.
- Logistics PartnerscoreExternal logistics partners handle co-packing, transport, fresh product logistics (dedicated warehouse in Burgundy), and Fruits & Vegetables logistics (dedicated warehouse in Rhône-Alpes).
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Solinest competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Metro AG: Germany-headquartered international wholesale and foodservice group operating multi-category distribution to HoReCa and independent retailers across Europe. Provides a public-market benchmark for large-scale multi-channel wholesale with own-brand programs.
- Sysco France: French arm of the global Sysco foodservice distribution platform (formerly Brake France), serving HORECA and institutional clients nationwide. Comparable multi-category broadline wholesale model aimed at professional buyers, providing a public-market reference for the category.
- Edeka Zentrale: Germany's largest retailer cooperative with its own wholesale arm serving 3,500+ independent Edeka retailers. Comparable scale and category breadth, and a logical adjacent benchmark for what a fully integrated retail-distribution platform can become.
- Booker Group: UK multi-category wholesaler owned by Tesco, serving independent convenience, hospitality, and foodservice operators. Demonstrates the value of combining branded distribution with own-label and retail services, a model Solinest is pursuing at smaller scale.
- Hamberger: German family-owned multi-segment group combining retail, wholesale, and consumer goods (notably the merci chocolate brand). Relevant structural peer as a family-controlled multi-category FMCG business with branded products and B2B distribution.
- REWE Group: German retail and tourism cooperative operating supermarkets, convenience, and DIY formats with a centralized wholesale function and Lekmerland subsidiary. Serves as a pan-European reference for the retail-wholesale integration Solinest is building in France and Belgium.
Direct peers
- Pomona: France's largest family-owned broadline foodservice distributor, operating a multi-category model across fresh, frozen, grocery, and beverages with dedicated field sales coverage. Like Solinest, Pomona combines distribution with category management and private-label development for B2B clients across multiple channels.
- Sligro Food Group: Dutch broadline foodservice wholesaler operating both delivery and cash-and-carry formats across multiple categories. Closely mirrors Solinest's combination of distribution to retail/professional buyers plus in-house food brands and category management services.
- Lekmerland: German multi-category convenience and forecourt wholesaler serving independent retailers, bakeries, and petrol stations. Highly relevant peer for Solinest's impulse network and proximity-store strategy, given shared multi-channel retail customer base across borders.
- France Boissons: Heineken-owned French beverage distributor covering bars, restaurants, and retail with field sales and category management. Highly comparable to Solinest's beverage channel with Starbucks, Fiji Water, Alpro, and Tetley, sharing the same multi-channel retail-outreach DNA.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Solinest social profiles
Digital presenceSolinest compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Solinest financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solinest leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Solinest subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Solinest funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solinest M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solinest
What does Solinest do?
Solinest is a French multi-category FMCG distributor that commercializes approximately 40 partner brands and develops its own consumer brands across grocery, beverages, fresh produce, and frozen sections of hypermarkets, supermarkets, and proximity stores. The company provides value-added services including category management, trade marketing, co-packing, supply chain management with EDI integration, and private label development (around 160 MDD references). It reaches 50,000+ points of sale in France and 16,000 in Belgium/Luxembourg via a 300-person field sales force.
Is Solinest a public or private company?
Solinest is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Solinest founded?
Solinest was founded in 1964. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Solinest based?
Solinest is headquartered in Brunstatt, France, in the Europe region.
How does Solinest make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Brand Distribution and Commercialization is the primary driver. The others are private Label Development Services, co-packing Services, supply Chain Management and category Management and Trade Marketing.
Who are Solinest's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Metro AG, Sysco France, Edeka Zentrale, Booker Group, Hamberger and REWE Group. Direct peers are Pomona, Sligro Food Group, Lekmerland and France Boissons.
Does Solinest have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solinest.
What industry is Solinest in?
Solinest's product category is FMCG Distribution / Consumer Goods Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOAAAA, Broadline Foodservice (Multi-Category) Wholesale Distribution.