ASKO
ASKO NORGE AS is Norway's largest grocery wholesaler, distributing ~30,000 SKUs to ~2,000 retailers and foodservice customers across 13 regional subsidiaries under parent NorgesGruppen ASA, with integrated electric, hydrogen, and autonomous maritime logistics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1917
- HeadquartersOslo, Norway
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ASKO does
ASKO NORGE AS is Norway's largest grocery wholesaler and logistics operator, distributing approximately 30,000 different food and consumer products — spanning dry goods, chilled and fresh items, frozen goods, non-food, wine and spirits, pharmaceuticals, and automotive supplies — to roughly 2,000 grocery and foodservice customers nationwide. The company functions as the wholesale arm of NorgesGruppen ASA, Norway's largest grocery retail group, and supplies NorgesGruppen-affiliated banners including KIWI, MENY, Jacobs, SPAR, EUROSPAR, Joker, Nærbutikken, CC Mat, Helgø MENY, and Eide Handel, alongside non-captive chains such as Bunnpris. ASKO Servering (foodservice) extends the proposition to cafés, restaurants, hotels, canteens, gas stations, and public-sector buyers, while STORCASH operates 10 pro-market cash-and-carry stores.
The operating model is built around 13 regional ASKO subsidiaries stretching from Lillesand in the south to Tromsø in the north, anchored by a central warehousing and cross-docking complex in Vestby — including ASKO SENTRALLAGER KJØL, which handles about 25% of Norway's chilled goods consumption. Logistics runs on ~700 trucks per day, which is described as Norway's largest electric truck fleet, supplemented by hydrogen and biogas vehicles, battery-electric autonomous sea drones (ASKO Maritime), and purpose-built refueling infrastructure including Norway's first commercial 1.2 MW Megawatt Charging System (MCS) site. Energy is partially self-supplied via approximately 130,000 m² of solar panels and a wind power plant in Rogaland producing roughly 60 GWh annually, covering the majority of ASKO's electricity consumption.
Revenue mechanics are largely undisclosed but rely on B2B wholesale transactional pricing to grocery retailers and foodservice operators, multi-year supply contracts with NorgesGruppen's chains, and foodservice add-ons including advisory, training (KIT-Akademiet), and analytics (ASKO Servering Innsikt). Recent strategic actions include the 2021 full acquisition of Konsumgruppen Norge AS, the establishment of ASKO Maritime in 2020, partial acquisitions of Mandarinen Import & Engros AS (17%) and Mandarinen Oslo AS (51%) in 2025, and ongoing hydrogen truck pilots with Scania under the H2Accelerate TRUCKS consortium. An AI/ML-based forecasting and purchasing system has supported a 50% food waste reduction achieved by 2025 versus the 2015 baseline, five years ahead of the 2030 target.
ASKO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ASKO
- Legal name
- ASKO NORGE AS
- Website
- https://asko.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1917
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- ASKO NORGE AS is Norway's largest grocery wholesaler, distributing ~30,000 SKUs to ~2,000 retailers and foodservice customers across 13 regional subsidiaries under parent NorgesGruppen ASA, with integrated electric, hydrogen, and autonomous maritime logistics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ASKO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Wholesale Distribution
- NAICS
- Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers (4244), Other Grocery and Related Products Merchant Wholesalers (42449), Packaged Frozen Food Merchant Wholesalers (42442), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Foodservice / HORECA Produce Wholesale (AFAIACAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Refrigerated/Chilled Foods Wholesale (Deli, Prepared, Fresh Pasta, etc.) (AFAIAHAB), Frozen Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAF)
Keywords
Where ASKO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oslo
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
ASKO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Food & Grocery Wholesale: Core B2B wholesale operations supplying approximately 30,000 different products including dry goods, chilled/fresh products, frozen goods, non-food, wine, spirits, pharmaceuticals, and automotive supplies to retailers nationwide
- Foodservice Distribution: Supply of goods, services and consulting to the foodservice market including cafes, restaurants, hotels, canteens, gas stations, and public sector
- Pro Market (STORCASH): 10 STORCASH stores serving professional market customers
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B wholesale pricing model for grocery retailers and foodservice customers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
ASKO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ASKO is Norway's largest grocery wholesaler, supplying approximately 30,000 different products (dry goods, chilled/fresh, frozen, non-food, wine, spirits, pharmaceuticals, automotive supplies) to around 2,000 grocery retailers and foodservice customers through 13 regional subsidiaries. The company operates as the wholesale arm of NorgesGruppen ASA, distributing to chains including KIWI, MENY, Jacobs, SPAR, EUROSPAR, Joker, Bunnpris and others, while also providing foodservice solutions, pro-market retail stores (STORCASH), and pioneering fossil-free transport via electric trucks, hydrogen vehicles, and autonomous sea drones.
Product overview
ASKO (ASKO NORGE AS) is Norway's largest grocery distributor, operating a multi-segment business including grocery distribution (~30,000 SKUs to 2,000 stores), ASKO Servering (B2B catering), and STORCASH (pro customer). ASKO operates 13 regional companies and is one of Norway's largest transport companies with ~700 trucks. It also includes ASKO Maritime (electric autonomous vessels) and a central warehouse complex at Vestby. ASKO's parent company is NorgesGruppen ASA. In parallel, ASKO Appliances (a separate Swedish premium appliance brand) manufactures and sells high-end kitchen and laundry appliances including the award-winning Celsius Elements oven series, 5-in-1 Celsius ovens, Series 5 induction hobs with integrated extraction, DW60 Style dishwashers, and Scandinavian Laundry Care solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ASKO Servering: Foodservice division delivering to restaurants, hotels, cafes, canteens, and public sector
- STORCASH
- ASKO Maritime
- KIT-Akademiet
- ASKO Servering Innsikt
Products and services
- Grocery Wholesale Distribution (Dagligvare)
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% food waste reduction achieved by 2025 (vs 2015 baseline)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use ASKO
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ASKO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature4 records
ASKO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- H2Accelerate TRUCKS ConsortiumcoreEurope's largest EU-funded project for zero-emission hydrogen-powered heavy-duty transport. ASKO has been piloting hydrogen trucks since 2020. Project backed by €30 million from Clean Hydrogen Partnership, targeting 125 hydrogen trucks across 6 European countries by 2028.
- Scania Pilot Partner ProgramcoreASKO Norge AS participates in Scania's Pilot Partner program to test hydrogen fuel cell technology with operational ranges up to 1,000 kilometers per refueling cycle.
- ScaniacoreASKO selected Scania as supplier of trucks for hydrogen project. Hydrogen produced from solar cells to power trucks and forklifts. Partnership for developing hydrogen-powered distribution trucks with operational range up to 500km.
- SINTEFcoreCollaboration with SINTEF to develop hydrogen project unique in Norwegian and European context. SINTEF serves as technical coordinator for hydrogen initiatives including H2Accelerate TRUCKS consortium.
- KempowercoreKempower deployed Norway's first commercial MCS (Megawatt Charging System) site at ASKO. Enables charging of electric trucks at 1.2 MW, allowing full charge during driver's 45-minute mandatory break.
- Interreg Öresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak (ÖKS)minorASKO MARITIME participates in Interreg ÖKS program with Cargo Express and Value4Sea projects focusing on maritime transport solutions, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction.
- Moss HavnminorPort partner for sea drone route between Moss and Holmestrand as part of fully electric transport chain.
- Norske Kokkers Landsforening (NKL)coreClose collaboration to increase awareness of chef profession. ASKO Servering Norgescup brings together best chef and waiter apprentices for competitions in Stavanger.
- TotalEnergiescoreHydrogen refueling infrastructure partner in H2Accelerate TRUCKS project alongside Everfuel and TEAL Mobility.
- EverfuelcoreHydrogen refueling infrastructure partner in H2Accelerate TRUCKS project.
- MatvettcoreCollaboration on food waste reduction initiatives including Kutt Matsvinn 2020 project targeting 20% reduction by 2020 and 50% by 2030.
- Draga & AurelminorDesign studio collaboration for Milan Design Week exhibitions and Celsius oven product launches.
- Mandarinen Import & Engros ASminorASKO acquired 17% stake in Mandarinen Import & Engros AS and 51% in Mandarinen Oslo AS to strengthen foodservice market position.
- TEAL MobilitycoreJoint venture for next-generation hydrogen stations with capacities exceeding 1,000 kg per day as part of H2Accelerate TRUCKS infrastructure.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ASKO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Coop Norge: Norway's largest consumer cooperative and second-largest grocery group, operating its own wholesale and distribution arm (Coop Norge Engros) to supply Coop Mega, Coop Prix, Coop Extra, Coop Marked and Obs stores. Directly comparable to ASKO's grocery wholesale and central warehousing model, with similar product breadth and retail customers.
- Rema 1000 Norge: Norwegian discount grocery chain with ~650 stores and its own distribution arm (Rema Distribusjon). A direct competitor to ASKO on grocery wholesale to independent retailers and franchisees, with overlapping foodservice and convenience-channel ambitions.
- Brakes Group: Sysco-owned broadline foodservice distributor in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain and the Nordics. Closely comparable to ASKO Servering on HORECA customer mix, broadline product range, and value-added services like training and digital insights (analogous to ASKO Servering Innsikt).
Broad incumbents
- ICA Sverige: Sweden's largest grocery group, combining retail banners (ICA Maxi, ICA Kvantum, ICA Nära, ICA Supermarket) with a wholesale/logistics platform. Comparable to ASKO as a Nordic integrated grocery wholesaler-retailer with national coverage and significant private-label and foodservice adjacencies.
- Axfood: Swedish listed grocery group operating Willys, Hemköp, and the Dagab wholesale and logistics business. Closely comparable to ASKO's wholesale-plus-retail model, with similar B2B foodservice and supply-chain sustainability programmes.
- Sysco Corporation: World's largest broadline foodservice distributor serving restaurants, healthcare and hospitality in North America and Europe (including Brakes Group). Comparable to ASKO Servering's HORECA model and ASKO's scale-driven distribution economics, though broader in geography and SKU breadth.
- US Foods: One of the largest U.S. foodservice distributors, supplying restaurants, healthcare and hospitality operators. Comparable to ASKO's broadline wholesale playbook (multiple product categories, route-based delivery, value-added services) at much larger scale and with public-market governance.
- Performance Food Group: U.S. food and foodservice distributor operating Foodservice, Vistar (vending/concessions) and Convenience segments. Comparable to ASKO's mix of grocery, foodservice and pro/convenience-channel distribution, with similar multi-segment B2B strategy.
Regional players
- S Group (SOK): Finland's largest retail cooperative, combining grocery (Prisma, S-market, Alepa, Sale), hardware (K-Rauta via Kesko partnership) and foodservice distribution. Comparable vertically integrated Nordic grocery wholesaler-retailer model, though primarily Finland-based.
- Kesko: Finnish listed retailer/wholesaler operating K-foodstore chains and K-Auto, with substantial B2B foodservice (Kespro). Closely comparable to ASKO's grocery + HORECA wholesale structure, but operating primarily in Finland and the Baltics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ASKO social profiles
Digital presenceASKO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ASKO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
ASKO subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries18 records
ASKO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ASKO 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 ASKO
What does ASKO do?
ASKO is Norway's largest grocery wholesaler, supplying approximately 30,000 different products (dry goods, chilled/fresh, frozen, non-food, wine, spirits, pharmaceuticals, automotive supplies) to around 2,000 grocery retailers and foodservice customers through 13 regional subsidiaries. The company operates as the wholesale arm of NorgesGruppen ASA, distributing to chains including KIWI, MENY, Jacobs, SPAR, EUROSPAR, Joker, Bunnpris and others, while also providing foodservice solutions, pro-market retail stores (STORCASH), and pioneering fossil-free transport via electric trucks, hydrogen vehicles, and autonomous sea drones.
Is ASKO a public or private company?
ASKO is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was ASKO founded?
ASKO was founded in 1917. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is ASKO based?
ASKO is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does ASKO make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Food & Grocery Wholesale is the primary driver. The others are foodservice Distribution and pro Market (STORCASH).
Who are ASKO's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Coop Norge, Rema 1000 Norge and Brakes Group. Broad incumbents are ICA Sverige, Axfood, Sysco Corporation, US Foods and Performance Food Group. Regional players are S Group (SOK) and Kesko.
Does ASKO have an API?
No public API is recorded for ASKO.
What industry is ASKO in?
ASKO's product category is Food Wholesale Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAIACAI, Foodservice / HORECA Produce Wholesale, with a secondary code of AFAIAHAB, Refrigerated/Chilled Foods Wholesale (Deli, Prepared, Fresh Pasta, etc.). Its NAICS code is 4244 and its SIC code is 5141.