Berner Group Holding SE

What Berner Group Holding SE does

Berner Group Holding SE is a family-owned European B2B trading and specialty chemicals group headquartered in Künzelsau, Germany, founded in 1957 by Albert Berner and now led in its second generation by sole owner and CEO Christian Berner. The group serves approximately 500,000 professional customers across 21 European countries through three operating brands: BERNER (premium products and chemicals for mobility, construction, and industry), BTI by BERNER (specialist for the German construction trade), and CCS / Customized Chemical Solutions (private-label chemical manufacturing). Its offering exceeds 100,000 SKUs spanning C-parts, hand and power tools, work safety equipment, fasteners, and an in-house chemical product portfolio with European production sites in Duisburg, Bremen, and Bad Kreuznach.

The group operates an integrated five-channel omnichannel distribution model comprising more than 5,000 field sales specialists serving automotive workshops and construction sites on-site, a 24/7 webshop and mobile app, nearly 100 depots and tradesmen's centers in metropolitan regions, telesales, and electronic procurement integrations. Modern logistics centers in twelve countries underpin same-day delivery on request and 24-hour delivery across most of Europe, generating more than 12 million personal customer touchpoints annually. The technology stack is conventional B2B commerce: e-procurement connectors, webshop, and mobile app with no disclosed AI/ML, proprietary platform, or public API; sustainability-driven product development is reflected in the 2023 Responsible Products line.

Revenue is generated predominantly through one-time product sales of branded and private-label items, complemented by industry-leading service and consultation around C-parts management and MRO consumables. Pricing is customer-specific and not publicly disclosed, negotiated through account managers and the field force. Disclosed annual revenue stands at €1.1 billion (approximately $1.2 billion) supported by 8,000+ employees, making Berner one of the two largest Europe-wide B2B distributors in its category. The group is entirely family-held with no external institutional investors and is not listed on any exchange.

Name

Berner Group Holding SE

Legal name

Berner Group Holding SE & Co. KG

Website

https://berner-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Berner Group Holding SE is a family-owned European B2B trading and specialty chemicals group serving ~500,000 professional customers in mobility, construction, and industry across 21 countries through field sales, depots, webshop, and e-procurement channels under the BERNER, BTI by BERNER, and CCS brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Industrial Distribution and Chemical Manufacturing

NAICS

Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (424690), Bolt, Nut, Screw, Rivet, and Washer Manufacturing (332722), All Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing (339999)

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive, Tools & Industrial Supplies (B2B) (CRAEAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chemicals, Ingredients & Raw Materials Marketplaces (CRAFAHAK), Metals, Plastics & Fabrication Materials Marketplaces (CRAFAHAN)

Keywords

• B2B industrial distribution
• Chemical products manufacturing
• MRO consumables supply
• Automotive workshop supplies
• Construction trade tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Künzelsau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. B2B Trading Products: The BERNER Group generates revenue through the sale of over 100,000 premium products including C-parts, hand tools, power tools, work safety equipment, and chemical products for repair, care, and maintenance to B2B professionals.
2. Chemical Products Manufacturing: Innovative manufacturer of chemical products including smart 'All In One' helpers for workshop use and special chemicals for large car washes. Own brands include BERNER, BTI by BERNER, and CCS.
3. Industry-Leading Services: Services enabling customers to focus on their business and customers, complementing the product portfolio.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Berner Group is a B2B trading company and chemical manufacturer serving professionals in mobility, construction, and industry. It distributes over 100,000 premium products including chemical products, hand tools, power tools, fasteners, C-parts, and work safety equipment, complemented by smart chemical "All In One" workshop helpers and special chemicals for car washes. The company sells through three brands — BERNER, BTI by BERNER, and CCS — across an integrated omnichannel platform spanning field sales, webshop/app, depots, telesales, and e-procurement systems.

Product overview

The BERNER Group operates as a unified B2B trading platform comprising three core brands: BERNER (leader in chemicals and premium products for mobility, construction, and industry), BTI by BERNER (specialist for German construction trade), and CCS (private label chemical solutions). The group offers over 100,000 premium products complemented by an omnichannel commerce platform spanning 5 sales channels and serves customers in 21 European countries. The portfolio includes chemical products (with the Responsible Products sustainable line), tools, fasteners, C-parts, power tools, work safety equipment, and specialized services for professional customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BERNER: Leading B2B specialist and innovative manufacturer of chemical products for professionals in mobility, construction, and industry. Offers over 100,000 premium products and industry-leading services. Core brand of the group.
• BTI by BERNER
• CCS (Customized Chemical Solutions)

Products and services

• BERNER Brand Portfolio Core B2B brand offering over 100,000 premium products for repair, care, and maintenance — chemical products, hand tools, power tools, fasteners, C-parts, and work safety equipment — served through five omnichannel channels to mobility, construction, and industry professionals.
• BTI by BERNER Specialist omnichannel direct distributor for professional tradespeople in the German construction segment. Offers tools, equipment, chemical products, fasteners, sanitary/HVAC products, and work safety clothing, plus system solutions for roof, window installation, and fire protection. Serves over 100,000 satisfied customers through five sales channels.
• CCS (Customized Chemical Solutions) Private label specialist for chemical products. Develops customized formulations in-house using proprietary laboratories, produces via modern processes, and provides flexible packaging and labeling for third-party brand products serving industrial customers and car wash operators.
• Responsible Products Line Sustainable chemical product line with three categories — USERprotect (reduces health risks), ECOprotect (reduces environmental impact), and RESIDENTprotect (reduces emissions in buildings) — designed to help customers meet sustainability goals.
• XTREME Parts Cleaner Innovative parts cleaner that is OECD 301A biodegradable and free from fossil solvents, fragrances, and harmful odors while effectively removing stubborn dirt. Available as spray variant for portable on-site use.
• Omnichannel Commerce & E-Procurement Platform Integrated omnichannel shopping experience across five channels — webshop/app, e-procurement solutions, telesales, depots, and 5,000+ field sales specialists — providing 24/7 ordering availability to customers in 21 European countries with over 12 million personal touchpoints annually and same-day or 24-hour delivery options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual turnover of €1.1 billion from customer loyalty
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Caritas InternationalminorOthers · 1 January 2023Humanitarian aid partnership for disaster relief. Established central donation account for employees to contribute to earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria (2023). Also recipient of Ukraine support donations (2022-2023).
• AfB gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Partnership with Europe's largest non-profit IT company for the professional refurbishment of retired company IT equipment. Supports employment of people with disabilities and reduces ecological footprint through circular economy practices. Started in Austria in 2011, recently expanded to German business with plans for further expansion.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Würth Group: Würth is the largest direct competitor to Berner in European B2B technical wholesale — selling screws, fasteners, tools, chemicals, and automotive/construction consumables through a similar omnichannel (field sales, depot, online) model across 80+ countries. Both serve the same automotive aftermarket and construction trade customer base.
• Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG: The German core entity of the Würth Group; this is the most directly comparable single-country unit to Berner's BERNER + BTI by BERNER business, serving automotive workshops and construction trades with fastening materials, tools, and chemicals.
• Hilti Group: Hilti serves the same construction-trade customer base (HVAC, electrical, structural) with premium power tools, fastening systems, and software/services. Direct sales model with field representatives overlaps Berner's BTI by BERNER GTM, though Hilti focuses on higher-end power tools vs Berner's broader consumables range.

Broad incumbents

• Grainger: Grainger is a much larger US-headquartered broad-line industrial MRO distributor with ~$17B revenue, serving facility maintenance and industrial customers. Comparable as a reference point for omnichannel B2B distribution economics, though Grainger's customer base skews larger enterprise than Berner's SMB workshop focus.
• Brenntag SE: Brenntag is the world's largest chemical distributor with €16B+ revenue, sharing the chemical distribution adjacency with Berner's CCS subsidiary. While Brenntag focuses on industrial/B2B bulk chemicals and Berner on branded specialty chemicals for workshops, both monetize chemical product distribution to professional customers.
• Fastenal Company: Fastenal operates a similar B2B distribution model with field sales, onsite vending, and ecommerce for industrial/MRO customers. Public-market disclosure provides a useful comparable for Berner's omnichannel economics, though Fastenal is US-focused and serves larger industrial accounts than Berner's SMB trade focus.
• MSC Industrial Direct: MSC Industrial is a US-based broad-line metalworking and MRO distributor (~3.5B USD revenue). Comparable as a reference for B2B industrial consumables distribution economics and digital procurement integration, with overlapping product categories in cutting tools, fasteners, and shop supplies.
• Sonepar: Sonepar is the global leader in B2B electrical products distribution (~€30B revenue). Operates a similar omnichannel model with field sales, branches, and digital procurement targeting electrical installers — directly comparable to Berner's BTI by BERNER electrical installer segment and a key reference point for European B2B distribution scale.
• REXEL: Rexel is a major European B2B electrical, lighting, and energy solutions distributor. Comparable omnichannel GTM and customer base overlap (electrical installers), though narrower in vertical focus. Listed company provides a public-market read on European technical distribution multiples.

Emerging players

• Sonax GmbH: Sonax is a German specialist manufacturer of car care, cleaning, and workshop chemical products. Direct competitor in Berner's automotive chemical product line (parts cleaners, cleaning chemistry), particularly relevant given Berner's XTREME Parts Cleaner and CCS private-label offerings for car wash operators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Berner Group Holding SE