KF

What KF does

KF (Kooperativa Förbundet) is a Swedish consumer cooperative federation founded in 1899 that functions as the umbrella organization and shared-services provider for 26 consumer associations operating approximately 800 Coop retail stores across Sweden. It also acts as the corporate parent to a diversified portfolio of operating subsidiaries spanning grocery retail, banking, real estate development, media publishing, and a conference venue. As a cooperative federation (ekonomisk förening), KF is owned by its consumer associations rather than public shareholders and is ultimately owned by approximately 4 million Coop members who exercise democratic control through general meetings and owner representatives.

KF's core assets and operations center on the Coop retail brand — Sweden's second-largest grocery chain — including own-brand portfolios (Coop, Xtra, and the Änglamark organic/sustainability label), multi-format stores (standard Coop, X:-tra value format launched in 2022), and an integrated digital stack comprising the Coop Online e-commerce platform, the Coop App, and the Scan & Pay self-checkout solution. The federation's logistics backbone is the fully automated goods terminal in Eskilstuna, one of Europe's largest automated food terminals, which serves ~800 stores and is supported by an on-site rooftop solar installation of approximately 14,400 panels (6.1 MW capacity) and proprietary rail sidings capable of replacing ~17,000 truck transports per year. KF has invested over SEK 5 billion in this terminal and adjacent IT infrastructure in recent years.

KF's revenue model is dominated by consolidated retail and consumer goods sales (SEK 36,706 million in 2024 vs. SEK 38,488 million in 2023), supplemented by subscription-based banking services from MedMera Bank (~135,000 customers, now divested to Morrow Bank in 2026), recurring rental income and one-off development sales through KF Fastigheter (with ~6,000–7,000 residential building rights across three development projects), and advertising/event revenue from Vi Media (now divested to Story House Egmont in 2026). Customer value is captured through a member-benefit structure — 4+ million members received SEK 2.1 billion in 2024 in the form of member bonus, best-price guarantees, and member offers. Distribution is dual-channel: 800+ physical Coop stores plus Coop Online e-commerce, with online growth outperforming the market for 17 consecutive quarters. KF is actively streamlining its portfolio, having divested MedMera Bank, Vi Media, and the remaining direct-store ownership (transferred to consumer associations by 2022–2024) to refocus on shared services and core grocery retail.

Name

KF

Legal name

Kooperativa Förbundet (KF)

Website

https://kf.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

KF (Kooperativa Förbundet) is a Swedish consumer cooperative federation serving 26 consumer associations that own approximately 800 Coop retail stores across Sweden, supported by an automated logistics terminal, real estate, and banking and media subsidiaries, with over 4 million members and SEK 36.7 billion in 2024 consolidated net sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Solna

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Coop Retail Sales: KF's primary revenue is generated through its retail operations via Coop stores across Sweden. Revenue comes from the sale of grocery and consumer goods through approximately 800 Coop stores owned by 26 consumer associations. KF's consolidated net sales for 2024 were approximately SEK 36,706 million, down from SEK 38,488 million in 2023, largely driven by terminal start-up costs.
2. Banking Services (MedMera Bank): MedMera Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of KF, offers savings accounts and personal loans to approximately 135,000 customers. MedMera Bank has been divested to Morrow Bank in 2026 but KF retains a significant ownership stake as part of the strategic partnership.
3. Real Estate Development (KF Fastigheter): KF Fastigheter develops, upgrades, and divests properties. The subsidiary holds development properties in Backaplan (Gothenburg), Bro Mälarstrand (Upplands-Bro), and Kungens kurva (Huddinge), representing approximately 6,000-7,000 residential building rights. Revenue is generated through property sales and joint ventures.
4. Media (Vi Media): Vi Media publishes Vi and Vi Läser magazines, operates event and travel services, and offers commissioned publishing. This subsidiary has been divested to Story House Egmont as part of KF's strategic refinement.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KF (Kooperativa Förbundet) is a Swedish cooperative federation that coordinates the Coop grocery retail chain owned by 26 consumer associations across Sweden. Through wholly owned subsidiaries it operates retail and logistics (Coop Sverige AB), real estate development (KF Fastigheter), banking services (MedMera Bank), publishing (Vi Media), and a conference venue (Vår Gård Saltsjöbaden), serving approximately 4 million Coop members.

Product overview

KF (Kooperativa Förbundet) is a Swedish consumer cooperative federation serving as the umbrella organization for 24 consumer associations that own and operate approximately 800 Coop stores with around 4 million members. The organization operates a diversified portfolio of subsidiaries and products: Coop Sverige AB handles retail operations and logistics; MedMera Bank provides digital banking services; KF Fastigheter manages real estate development; Vi Media publishes cultural magazines; and Vår Gård Saltsjöbaden operates as a conference venue. Coop's retail offering includes multiple store formats (X:-tra, standard Coop), own brands (Xtra, Coop, Änglamark), and digital services (Coop Online e-commerce, Coop App with Scan & Pay). The company emphasizes sustainability through initiatives like Hållbarhetsdeklarationen and the Änglamark organic brand. In recent years, KF has undergone significant restructuring, selling retail stores to consumer associations and focusing on shared services, logistics automation (Eskilstuna terminal), and digital transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Coop: Sweden's second largest grocery retail chain with over 800 stores, operated by consumer associations under KF

Products and services

• Coop Retail Chain Sweden's second largest grocery retail chain with approximately 800 stores operated by 26 consumer associations, serving approximately 4 million Coop members with grocery and consumer goods.
• Coop Online

Quantifiable outcome

• Members received SEK 2.1 billion back in 2024 through member bonus, best price, and other member offers.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Story House EgmontminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Story House Egmont acquired Vi Kultur & Litteratur from KF as part of KF's strategic refinement to focus on core grocery retail. Vi Kultur & Litteratur publishes Tidningen Vi and Vi Läser and organizes events and travel. Story House Egmont is a leading European media house active in 10 countries with 50+ magazine titles.
• Morrow BankmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026KF divested 100% of MedMera Bank to Morrow Bank, a listed Nordic niche bank. KF retains significant ownership as a major shareholder in the combined entity. MedMera Bank has ~135,000 customers and ~65 employees in Solna. The strategic partnership aims to develop a modern banking offering for Coop members under new ownership focused on consumer credit.
• Magnolia Bostad ABmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2021KF Fastigheter sold 50% of shares in Bro Mälarstrand Bostad AB (JV company) to Magnolia Bostad AB for the development of Bro Mälarstrand in Upplands-Bro municipality. The JV plans approximately 950 homes (rental, tenant-owned, and owner-occupied), plus schools, childcare, and retail. Magnolia Bostad is a listed residential development company.
• Fastighets AB BaldermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2019KF Fastigheter sold 50% of shares to Balder in a joint venture company to develop the new Victoria district in Kungens kurva, Huddinge. The JV plans approximately 3,500 homes, schools, and local services. Balder (Euronext Stockholm, market cap ~SEK 123.2 billion) is a listed real estate company. The partnership leverages Balder's development expertise and capital alongside KF's land holdings.
• Coop TradingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoop Trading is the Nordic purchasing collaboration between Coop Sverige, Coop Norge, Coop Danmark, and Finnish SOK. KF board member Per Thau serves as chairman of Coop Trading. This partnership coordinates procurement across the Nordic cooperative retail sector for better pricing and supply chain efficiency.
• Konsumentföreningen Stockholm (Coop Östra)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoop Östra is KF's largest consumer cooperative, owner of the largest number of Coop stores. Lars Ericson has served as VD since 2012. Coop Östra took over CBS stores in Stockholm, Uppsala, Södermanland, and Östergötland as part of the ownership restructuring.
• Coop Logistik ABcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoop Logistik AB handles centralized logistics for Coop stores, including the fully automated terminal in Eskilstuna. As of 2025, the boards of KF, Coop Sverige AB, and Coop Logistik AB are being merged for more efficient governance.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lidl Sverige: Swedish arm of the Lidl discount grocery chain, an aggressive price competitor to Coop's Xtra and X:-tra value formats. Operates hundreds of stores in Sweden and pressures Coop on price perception.
• ICA Gruppen: Sweden's largest grocery retailer (ICA Maxi, ICA Kvantum, ICA N\u00e4ra, Hemkop among others), generating ~SEK 130B in revenue. Most directly comparable peer to KF's Coop retail operations: same Swedish grocery market, overlapping customer base, similar full-line supermarket formats, but listed and centralized rather than cooperative.
• Coop Danmark: Danish consumer cooperative grocery retailer; jointly purchasing partner with KF via Coop Trading. Direct cooperative-format peer with similar democratic governance and member-benefit model, operating in an adjacent Nordic market.
• Axfood: Swedish listed grocery group operating Hemkop, Willys, and Axi Foods; Willys is the discount chain competing directly against Coop's X:-tra format. Direct competitor for Swedish grocery market share with similar omnichannel and private-label strategies.

Broad incumbents

• REWE Group: Large German cooperative retail conglomerate operating REWE, Penny, and Lekkerland. Comparable to KF as a major European consumer-cooperative federation with supermarket, discount, and convenience formats under one umbrella.
• Ahold Delhaize: Major European-listed grocery incumbent with brands including Albert Heijn, Delhaize, Stop & Shop, and Giant. Operates broadly in European grocery retail comparable to KF's national grocery platform; a benchmark for scale, omnichannel, and private-label execution.

Regional players

• Coop Norge: Norwegian consumer cooperative grocery chain and Coop Trading partner. Operates a comparable member-owned grocery model in Norway rather than Sweden, making it a regional rather than direct competitor but an excellent structural and operational peer.
• SOK (Suomen Osuuskauppojen Keskuskunta): Finnish cooperative trading group and the fourth partner in Coop Trading alongside KF, Coop Norge, and Coop Danmark. Operates S-market, Prisma, and Alepa stores in Finland; directly comparable cooperative governance and procurement model in a Nordic market.

Emerging players

• Mathem: Swedish online-grocery specialist; directly comparable to Coop Online in Sweden's fastest-growing grocery channel. Emerging player that targets the same digital-first shopper that Coop is pursuing through its 17 consecutive quarters of e-commerce outperformance.
• Bergendahl Food / Mat.se: Swedish food distribution and e-commerce group (Mat.se) comparable to KF's logistics and online grocery operations. Family-owned, smaller-scale emerging player offering an alternative model for grocery logistics in Sweden.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kooperativaforbundet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries5 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 KF