Kroon B.V.
Kroon B.V. is a Dutch regional technical wholesaler (founded 1908, owned by Descours & Cabaud) supplying ~20,000 hardware, tool, PPE, and marine-grade articles to construction, shipbuilding, industrial, and green-sector customers across Northern Netherlands via 12 branches and an e-commerce platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1908
- HeadquartersHoogezand, Netherlands
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Kroon B.V. does
Kroon B.V. (also operating as Kroon Prolians / Kroon B.V. Technische Groothandel) is a Dutch regional technical wholesaler founded in 1908 in Hoogezand and owned since 2016 by French industrial distribution conglomerate Descours & Cabaud. The company supplies approximately 20,000 articles across categories including hang- en sluitwerk (locks and hardware), fastening materials, hand and power tools, machines, personal protective equipment, workwear, electrical and sanitary products, forestry/garden equipment, and specialized marine-grade hardware for ship and yacht builders. It serves four primary verticals: construction, shipbuilding and yachting, industrial, and green-sector businesses, alongside a walk-in consumer base.
Kroon operates 12 physical branch locations across the Northern Netherlands provinces of Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe, anchored by a central warehouse and headquarters in Hoogezand. The technology stack is conventional: an Opencart-based e-commerce webshop with Scan & Zoek barcode functionality, a companion KROON Scan App for field inventory management, an Infor LN ERP backbone, and supplementary digital services including the Digitale Bouwcontainer (mobile construction-site container with electronic locks and automated restocking) and a managed workwear/PPE webshop. Electronic access control is a strategic adjacency, delivered through multi-vendor partnerships with EVVA AirKey, ASSA ABLOY, iLOQ, DOM/Tapkey, and SALTO Systems, supported by 25 in-house technicians.
The business model combines one-time product sales (B2B and B2C) with professional services revenue from grinding, access-control installation, NEN 3140 inspections and certifications, workwear management, custom sluitplannen (master-key plans), and construction project management. GTM motion is enterprise field sales supported by account-managed direct sales with EDI and S@lesindebouw ordering, multi-channel marketing (website, social, trade shows, MailChimp newsletter), and physical retail plus marketplace listings on Bol.com. ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications (Lloyds Register) and a WebwinkelKeur rating of 8.9/10 from 741 reviews underpin customer trust.
Kroon B.V. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kroon B.V.
- Legal name
- Kroon B.V.
- Website
- https://kroon.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1908
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Kroon B.V. is a Dutch regional technical wholesaler (founded 1908, owned by Descours & Cabaud) supplying ~20,000 hardware, tool, PPE, and marine-grade articles to construction, shipbuilding, industrial, and green-sector customers across Northern Netherlands via 12 branches and an e-commerce platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Kroon B.V. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hoogezand
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices13 records
Markets served
Kroon B.V. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales (B2B and B2C): Sale of technical wholesale products including hardware, fasteners, tools, machines, safety equipment (PBM), and fittings to construction companies, shipyards, industry, and consumers through 12 physical stores and e-commerce webshop.
- Services Revenue: Additional revenue from services including grinding service, access control installation, inspections/certifications, workwear management, custom closing plans, and project management for construction.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing with volume-based shipping costs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Kroon B.V. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kroon B.V. is a technical wholesaler founded in 1908, distributing hardware (hang- en sluitwerk), fastening materials, tools, machines, climbing equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the construction, industry, green sector, and ship/yacht-building sectors through 12 physical branches across the Netherlands and an e-commerce webshop. The company bundles its product distribution with value-added services such as electronic access control installation, equipment inspections, inventory management, sluitplan (key plan) administration, prescription safety eyewear (Proteye), and digital construction container rental.
Product overview
Kroon B.V. is a technical wholesale company founded in 1908, specializing in the supply of hardware, fastening materials, tools, machines, climbing equipment, forestry/garden products, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the construction, industry, and ship/jachtbuilding sectors. The company operates a multi-channel business model combining an e-commerce platform (Kroon Webshop) with 12 physical locations across Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe. The product portfolio spans approximately 20,000 articles organized into core product categories: Hang- en Sluitwerk (locks and hardware), Bevestigingsmaterialen (fasteners), Gereedschappen en Machines (tools and machinery), PBM en Kleding (PPE and workwear), Bos en Tuin (forestry and garden), Sanitair (sanitary), Elektra (electrical), IJzerwaren (ironmongery), Meubelbeslag (furniture hardware), Verbruiksartikelen (consumables), and specialized marine hardware for ships and yachts. The company differentiates through supplementary services including an electronic access control division (supporting brands like EVVA AirKey, ASSA ABLOY, iLOQ, DOM/Tapkey, and SALTO), inventory management solutions (digital construction containers, work van management), a grinding service, inspection/certification services (NEN 3140), project support, custom webshop solutions for workwear/PPE management, and key cutting/slocking plan services. The Kroon Scan App and Scan & Zoek barcode functionality enhance the digital shopping experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces customer downtime by providing on-site inventory solutions (werkbus management, digitale bouwcontainer)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Kroon B.V.
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kroon B.V. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature4 records
Kroon B.V. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered preferred, core infrastructure and minor.
- EVVA (AirKey)preferredTechnology partnership for electronic access control systems including AirKey smartphone-based locking solutions.
- ASSA ABLOYpreferredPartnership for wireless electronic access control solutions including programmable keys and mobile keys via smartphone.
- iLOQpreferredPartnership for battery-free and cable-free digital locking systems for buildings.
- DOM / TapkeypreferredPartnership for digital access control products including digital cylinders, door hardware, padlocks, wall readers and locker locks.
- Salto SystemspreferredPartnership for XS4 platform wireless access control solutions with network connectivity without costly wiring.
- TransIPcore infrastructureWeb hosting and email services provider; handles website and email infrastructure.
- AndersTransIPcore infrastructureWeb hosting services for the Opencart-based e-commerce platform.
- Molliecore infrastructurePayment processing platform handling iDEAL, credit card, Belfius, Bancontact, SOFORT, and KBC/CBC payments.
- MailChimpcore infrastructureEmail marketing and newsletter automation platform for customer communications.
- WebwinkelKeurcore infrastructureCustomer review platform providing verified reviews and trust badges for the webshop.
- DHLcore infrastructureLogistics partnership; multiple Kroon locations serve as DHL service points for parcel pickup and drop-off.
- GLSminorGeneral Logistics Systems partnership for parcel delivery services.
- Bol.comminorMarketplace partnership for selling products through the Bol.com platform.
- Infor LNcore infrastructureEnterprise resource planning (ERP) system for accounting, administration, and order management.
- Microsoft (Office365)core infrastructureBusiness email and productivity suite for corporate communications.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kroon B.V. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Technische Unie: Dutch technical wholesaler serving construction, industry and installers with a broad hardware, tools, and electrical assortment across the Netherlands. Now owned by Rexel, it is the most directly comparable scaled technical wholesaler in the same home geography as Kroon.
- Hageman Groep: Dutch regional industrial and tools supplier with a similar mix of hardware, hand tools, and PPE sold to B2B trades and light industry customers in the Netherlands. Comparable business model, assortment, and customer base to Kroon.
- Toolstation Netherlands: Dutch arm of Toolstation (owned by Travis Perkins) selling tools, hardware, fasteners, and PPE through a hybrid retail/e-commerce model to trades and DIY consumers. Highly comparable channel strategy and SKU mix to Kroon, with broader national reach.
- Cromwell Tools: UK-based industrial tools and supplies distributor serving manufacturers and trades through catalogue and e-commerce. Similar mix of cutting tools, hand tools, and consumables to Kroon's gereedschappen en machines category.
Broad incumbents
- Würth: Global leader in fasteners, tools, and consumables with a Dutch subsidiary serving trades and industry through direct sales and branches. Much larger and broader portfolio but overlapping product categories and customer base to Kroon's core assortment.
- Grainger: Large US-headquartered industrial MRO distributor offering maintenance, fasteners, tools, and PPE to businesses globally. Comparable product categories and B2B customer base, though vastly larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Kroon.
- MSC Industrial: Major North American industrial supplies distributor offering metalworking, fasteners, tools, and PPE to industrial customers. Comparable assortment and B2B distribution model, with much greater scale and a digital-first go-to-market.
- Fastenal: Global distributor focused on fasteners, tools, and industrial supplies with on-site vending and bin stocking programs. Comparable assortment and on-site inventory concept to Kroon's Digitale Bouwcontainer, though at much larger scale.
- Hoffmann Group: European quality tools and industrial supplies distributor serving manufacturing and trades with own-brand Garant tools. Overlaps with Kroon's tools/machines category and B2B industrial customer base, with a broader European footprint.
- Sonepar: Global leader in B2B electrical distribution serving installers and contractors. Adjacent to Kroon's electrical category and similar enterprise B2B field-sales model, though focused narrowly on electrical rather than general hardware.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kroon B.V. social profiles
Digital presenceKroon B.V. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Kroon B.V. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kroon B.V. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Kroon B.V. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kroon B.V. 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 Kroon B.V.
What does Kroon B.V. do?
Kroon B.V. is a technical wholesaler founded in 1908, distributing hardware (hang- en sluitwerk), fastening materials, tools, machines, climbing equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the construction, industry, green sector, and ship/yacht-building sectors through 12 physical branches across the Netherlands and an e-commerce webshop. The company bundles its product distribution with value-added services such as electronic access control installation, equipment inspections, inventory management, sluitplan (key plan) administration, prescription safety eyewear (Proteye), and digital construction container rental.
Is Kroon B.V. a public or private company?
Kroon B.V. is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Kroon B.V. founded?
Kroon B.V. was founded in 1908. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Kroon B.V. based?
Kroon B.V. is headquartered in Hoogezand, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Kroon B.V. make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (B2B and B2C) is the primary driver. The others are services Revenue.
Who are Kroon B.V.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Technische Unie, Hageman Groep, Toolstation Netherlands and Cromwell Tools. Broad incumbents are Würth, Grainger, MSC Industrial, Fastenal, Hoffmann Group and Sonepar.
Does Kroon B.V. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kroon B.V..