Foodex Group

What Foodex Group does

Foodex Group, headquartered in Paris and operating as FOODEX S.A.S., is the leading European importer and B2B wholesale distributor of Japanese food and beverage products, serving more than 10,000 professional customers across restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, catering services and agro-industrial manufacturers. Founded in 1992 and wholly-owned by Japanese sake producer Takara Shuzo International since 2010, the group operates six wholly-owned subsidiaries in France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany, supplemented by acquired brands in Spain (Cominport), Portugal (Keta Foods) and Poland. Its product portfolio spans approximately 2,500 SKUs across eight categories — rice and noodles (including the proprietary Shinju Maï brand), sauces and condiments, seafood, prepared products, tofu and plant-based alternatives, snacks and desserts, beverages and alcohols, plus packaging and kitchen equipment — sourced from over 60 Japanese suppliers representing around 300 brands including Kikkoman, Kewpie, Mizkan, Kirin and Sapporo.

The company runs an account-based B2B sales motion in which former restaurant professionals act as culinary advisors, supported by country-specific e-commerce storefronts (WordPress-based) and a tri-temperature logistics network of 11 warehouses with dedicated truck fleets across Europe. Since 2018 it has extended export operations into Africa, the Middle East, South America and Asia. Three proprietary assets differentiate the offer: the Hanabi essentials brand, the Shinju Maï rice brand, and L'Atelier du Saké — a dedicated entity running sake tastings, workshops and training for European restaurants and bartenders, which also serves as a JETRO-aligned Japanese Food Supporter certification channel. ISO 22000 food-safety certification, the EcoVadis Committed Company label and UN Global Compact adherence (both 2024) round out the operational and ESG positioning. The business model is straightforward wholesale distribution: quote-based pricing negotiated per country, with revenue driven by catalog breadth, supplier relationships, and the physical density of its European warehouse and cold-chain footprint.

Name

Foodex Group

Legal name

FOODEX S.A.S.

Website

https://foodex-group.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Foodex Group is a Paris-headquartered B2B wholesale distributor of Japanese food and beverage products, serving 10,000+ professional customers across European restaurants, grocery chains, hotels, caterers and food manufacturers from 11 warehouses in six countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Japanese Food Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Imported Foods Wholesale (AFAIAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ethnic & International Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAJ), Ethnic/International Bulk & Wholesale Grocers (CRAHAMAE)

Keywords

• Japanese food distribution
• B2B food wholesale
• Asian food imports
• Specialty food distribution
• Restaurant food supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. B2B Food Product Distribution: Wholesale distribution of Japanese food products to professional customers including restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, catering services, and agro-industrial companies. Products include rice, noodles, sauces, condiments, seafood, prepared products, tofu, vegetables, snacks, desserts, beverages, alcohols, and packaging materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Foodex Group imports and wholesale-distributes Japanese and Asian food products to professional food-service customers (restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, caterers, and agro-industrial companies) across Europe and internationally. The company offers approximately 2,500 product references from over 60 partner suppliers, organised into rice and noodles, sauces and condiments, seafood, prepared products, tofu and plant-based alternatives, snacks and desserts, beverages and alcohols, and packaging/kitchen equipment, supported by three proprietary brands (Hanabi, Shinju Maï, and L'Atelier du Saké).

Product overview

Foodex Group is a wholesale distributor of Japanese and Asian food products serving over 10,000 professional customers across Europe. The company offers a portfolio of approximately 2,500 product references organized into eight main categories: rice and noodles (including proprietary Shinju Maï brand), sauces and condiments, seafood products, prepared foods, tofu and plant-based alternatives, snacks and desserts, beverages and alcohols, and packaging/kitchen equipment. The company also operates three proprietary brands—Hanabi for essential Japanese ingredients, Shinju Maï for premium rice varieties, and L'Atelier du Saké for sake promotion and distribution. Foodex distributes through subsidiaries in France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Germany, with export capabilities to Africa, Middle East, South America, and Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hanabi: Brand bringing together essential ingredients of Japanese cuisine, sourced for great quality and competitive prices. 'Hanabi' means 'fireworks' in Japanese, referring to explosions of flavors and colors present in Japanese gastronomy.
• Shinju Maï
• L'Atelier du Saké

Products and services

• Rice and Noodles Japanese rice varieties and noodles including Calrose rice, the Shinju Maï brand rice, and various noodle types for Japanese and Asian cuisine, sold to professional kitchens across Europe.
• Sauces and Condiments Japanese sauces and condiments including soy sauce, miso, ponzu, sriracha mayo, sriracha wasabi, and specialty seasonings for professional food preparation.
• Seafood Products Fresh and frozen seafood products including tuna (Akami, Chutoro), lobster, hamachi (yellowtail), and bonito for sushi and Japanese cuisine, distributed through tri-temperature logistics.
• Prepared Products Ready-to-use prepared Japanese food products designed for professional kitchens to streamline service and ensure consistency in Japanese cuisine preparation.
• Tofu, Vegetables and Plant Alternatives Tofu products, vegetables, and plant-based alternatives for vegetarian and vegan Japanese cuisine, supporting professional kitchens' plant-based menu development.
• Snacks and Desserts Japanese snacks and desserts including mochi ice cream in various flavours (passion fruit, mango Li Hing, black sesame) for retail and food service channels.
• Beverages and Alcohols Japanese beverages including sake, beer (Kirin Ichiban, Hikari Yuzu), and non-alcoholic drinks distributed to restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and wine shops.
• Packaging and Kitchen Equipment Sushi packaging, kitchen equipment, utensils, and tableware for professional restaurants, including rPET 100% recycled and recyclable trays developed to replace single-use plastic.
• Hanabi Foodex proprietary brand meaning 'fireworks' in Japanese, bringing together essential ingredients of Japanese cuisine sourced for quality and competitive prices.
• Shinju Maï Foodex proprietary rice brand meaning 'rice pearl' in Japanese, offering rice varieties from Italy, France, or the United States, available pre-washed or not, medium or short grain for Japanese and fusion cuisines.
• L'Atelier du Saké Foodex entity and proprietary brand dedicated to promoting sake, offering exceptional sake produced near Kyoto according to Japanese methods, designed for European restaurants, bartenders, grocery stores, and wine shops.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving over 10,000 customers across Europe with 2,500+ product references
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 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.

• EcoVadiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSR assessment platform that awarded Foodex the 'Committed Company' label in May 2024. Methodology aligned with global benchmarks based on continuous improvement concept (PDCA).
• UN Global CompactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoodex has adhered since early 2024 to the UN Global Compact and its 10 principles relating to human rights, international labor standards, environment and anti-corruption.
• Climate Fresk (Fresque du Climat)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate awareness workshops organized for Foodex employees in France to raise awareness of climate issues. Participation rates ranging from 50% to 83%.
• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelays the 'Japanese Food Supporter' certification in Europe, created by METI. Foodex helps restaurants, bars and retailers in Europe obtain this certification.
• L'Atelier du SakécoreOthersEntity within Foodex Group dedicated to promoting sake through tastings, workshops and training for European restaurants, bartenders, grocery stores and wine shops.
• Supplier Partners (60+ suppliers)coreOthersOver 60 partner suppliers providing approximately 300 brands including Ajimoto, Akashi, Asahi, Kikkoman, Kirin, Kewpie, Mizkan, Nissui, Sapporo, and many Japanese food and beverage producers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foodex-group
• Facebookfacebook.com/Foodex-Holland-660245114078414

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Foodex Group