What IGEFA Handelsgesellschaft does

IGEFA Handelsgesellschaft, operating as igefa SE & Co. KG, is a German family-owned B2B specialist wholesaler of professional cleaning, hygiene, healthcare, personal protective equipment, hotel cosmetics, and food service supplies. Founded in 1975 and reorganized under its current structure through the January 2022 merger of the Eichler-Kammerer, Kruse, and Wittrock + Uhlenwinkel groups with the acquisition of the Arndt-Gruppe, the company serves more than 50,000 business customers across five industry verticals: Gebäudereinigung (building cleaning), HoReCa (hotels, restaurants, catering), Gesundheitswesen (healthcare), Industrie (industry), and Kommunen & Verwaltung (municipalities and public administration). It operates 29 distribution branches across Germany plus three wholly-owned international subsidiaries in Austria, the Netherlands, and Poland, and is a member of the INPACS international wholesale network.

The company's product and technology stack combines a 150,000+ SKU assortment — including proprietary private-label brands such as CLEAN and CLEVER (cleaning chemicals), bluematic (cleaning machines), HydroVital (water treatment), Vom Feinsten (premium products), and PAM Berlin (hotel cosmetics) — with a proprietary digital procurement ecosystem. The ICOS (igefa Customer Order Solution) platform, the icos Go mobile app, the store.igefa.de B2B online shop, and EDI connectivity allow enterprise customers to integrate ordering into their ERP workflows, while an owned fleet of 100+ trucks supports shelf-level delivery across scheduled tour routes. Sustainability services include ingreen Report (individual environmental footprint reporting) and ingreen Nachhaltiger Warenkorb (sustainable product basket), backed by three consecutive years of EcoVadis Gold ratings and UN Global Compact signatory status since 2014.

Revenue is generated primarily through B2B product sales at quote-based pricing tailored to customer volume and relationship, supplemented by premium logistics services, igefa-Campus training programs, and bespoke procurement consulting. The go-to-market combines enterprise field sales, inside sales through regional branch offices, and self-service e-commerce, targeting cleaning contractors, facility managers, hospitality operators, healthcare providers, industrial buyers, and public-sector purchasers. Anchor customers include facility management companies Apleona (partnership extended to 2030) and Piepenbrock (30+ year relationship). Headcount stands at approximately 3,000 employees, including 2,700 in Germany.

Name

IGEFA Handelsgesellschaft

Legal name

IGEFA Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG

Website

https://igefa.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

IGEFA Handelsgesellschaft is a German family-owned B2B specialist wholesaler of professional cleaning, hygiene, healthcare, and personal protective equipment supplies, serving over 50,000 customers across five verticals through 29 domestic branches, three international subsidiaries, an owned delivery fleet, and a proprietary digital ordering platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Cleaning and Hygiene Distribution

NAICS

Other Commercial Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (42344), Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246), Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (42469)

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040), Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160), Wholesale-Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods (5190)

akta.pro primary industry

Cleaning Chemicals & Disinfectants Distribution (CRAOAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paper, Tissue, Wipers & Dispensers Distribution (CRAOAGAC), Foodservice & Kitchen Cleaning (Warewashing) Distribution (CRAOAGAH), Janitorial & Sanitation Supplies (Foodservice) Wholesale (AFAIALAD)

Keywords

• Professional cleaning supplies
• Hygiene product distribution
• Facility management wholesale
• B2B cleaning chemicals
• Occupational safety equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Brandenburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (B2B Wholesale): Sale of professional cleaning and hygiene products, hotel cosmetics, workplace safety equipment, disposable packaging, and food service supplies to commercial customers across five industry verticals.
2. Logistics and Delivery Services: Premium delivery service with own fleet including shelf delivery (Bis-ins-Regal-Lieferung), scheduled delivery tours, and logistics services across Germany.
3. Consulting and Training Services: igefa-Campus customer seminars (online and in-house), product training, and professional development programs for cleaning and service industry personnel.
4. Customized Procurement Solutions: Tailored procurement optimization, product individualization, and supply chain management services for enterprise customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IGEFA Handelsgesellschaft is a German B2B specialist wholesaler and distributor of professional cleaning chemicals, hygiene products, machines, personal protective equipment (PPE), hotel cosmetics, food service disposables, and facility management supplies. The company operates 29 distribution locations in Germany plus wholly-owned subsidiaries in Austria, Poland, and the Netherlands, serving commercial customers across five industry verticals: building cleaning, hospitality and catering (HoReCa), healthcare, industry, and municipalities. Product assortment exceeds 150,000 articles and is delivered via the company's own logistics fleet of approximately 100+ trucks.

Product overview

igefa is a B2B specialty trade wholesaler offering a comprehensive product and service portfolio organized around five industry divisions: building cleaning (Gebäudereinigung), hospitality and catering (Hotellerie, Restaurant & Catering), healthcare (Gesundheitswesen), industry (Industrie), and municipalities (Kommunen & Verwaltung). The core offering includes products and services across cleaning and hygiene, care and medical supplies, hotel cosmetics, personal protective equipment (PSA) and workwear, single-use packaging, and food service supplies. The digital ecosystem centers on ICOS (Igefa Customer Order Solution) as the primary B2B ordering and ERP integration platform, complemented by an Online Shop (store.igefa.de). The proprietary brand portfolio includes CLEAN and CLEVER (cleaning products), bluematic (cleaning machines), HydroVital classic and Premium (water treatment), and Vom Feinsten (premium products). Sustainability services include ingreen Report (individual reporting) and ingreen Nachhaltiger Warenkorb (sustainable product range). Additional services span robotics solutions, premium logistics with own fleet, professional training through igefa-Campus, and consulting services. The company operates 29 locations in Germany plus subsidiaries in Poland, the Netherlands, and Austria as part of the INPACS international wholesale network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CLEAN and CLEVER: Private label brand for professional cleaning products including the sustainable -GREEN- PRO 168 nitrile gloves.
• bluematic
• HydroVital classic
• HydroVital Premium
• ICOS
• ingreen
• PAM (PAM Berlin)

Products and services

• ICOS (Igefa Customer Order Solution) Proprietary digital ordering platform and mobile app (icos Go) enabling B2B customers to manage digital procurement, automated reordering, inventory management, and ERP integration with QR code-based demand reporting.
• igefa Online Shop B2B e-commerce storefront at store.igefa.de enabling commercial customers to browse products, place orders, and manage their accounts online 24/7.
• CLEAN and CLEVER Private label brand covering professional cleaning products, equipment, and supplies including the GREEN-PRO 168 sustainable nitrile gloves, automotive frost protection, and general cleaning chemicals.
• bluematic Proprietary brand of cleaning machines including floor scrubbers, single-disc machines, and the CUBE series, developed for the specific challenges of professional floor cleaning.
• HydroVital classic Water treatment and filtration product line under the igefa brand, offering water quality solutions for commercial applications.
• HydroVital Premium Premium tier of the HydroVital water treatment brand offering advanced filtration and water quality solutions.
• Vom Feinsten Premium quality product line for professional hygiene and cleaning applications.
• ingreen Report Individual sustainability reporting service helping customers track and improve the environmental impact of their procurement decisions.
• ingreen Nachhaltiger Warenkorb Sustainability-focused product assortment enabling customers to make more environmentally conscious purchasing decisions.
• Robotik (Cleaning Robotics) Cleaning and service robots offered to help address skilled labor shortages in professional cleaning applications.
• Premium Lieferservice (Premium Delivery Service) Delivery service using igefa's own fleet with shelf-level delivery (Bis-ins-Regal-Lieferung) for efficient restocking at customer locations.
• igefa-Campus (Schulungen & Seminare) Professional development and training programs including customer seminars (online and in-person), product training, and in-house seminars for building cleaning and service professionals.
• Beratung & Betreuung Needs assessment, professional ordering consultation, and product range advisory services for commercial customers.
• PAM Berlin Hotel Cosmetics Hotel cosmetics and amenities brand including Kensho and ZEROwaste product lines featuring natural ingredients (citrus, olive, argan oil, aloe vera) and bottles made from over 90% recycled material.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60% of articles carry sustainability label
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ApleonacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Partnership extended until 2030 with Apleona, a major facility management company, providing comprehensive cleaning and hygiene supply services.
• PiepenbrockcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 30-year strategic partnership with Piepenbrock Group, one of Germany's leading facility management companies, for professional cleaning and hygiene supplies.
• hygeniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHygiene specialists cooperation initially with Henry Kruse and then extended to entire igefa group, providing specialized hygiene products and expertise.
• ISA-TEXminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive partnership offering customized multinorm workwear and protective clothing certified to multiple safety standards, exclusively available to igefa customers.
• INPACS (International Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational wholesale network connecting igefa with partner companies worldwide, enabling cross-border supply chain capabilities and shared best practices.
• THW KielminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports partnership with THW Kiel (handball club) through Henry Kruse, providing facility supplies and marketing visibility.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ecolab Inc. Global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions. Competes with igefa in the cleaning chemicals and disinfection category for institutional and industrial customers, though with manufacturer rather than distributor economics.
• Diversey Holdings: Global cleaning, sanitation, and hygiene solutions provider. Overlaps with igefa in commercial cleaning chemicals and foodservice hygiene categories, often supplying through similar B2B distribution channels.
• CWS International: European provider of hygiene, washroom, and workplace solutions with direct overlap in commercial cleaning and hygiene supply markets. Operates subscription-based service models complementary to igefa's transactional wholesale model.
• Elis SA: European textile and hygiene services group with significant overlap in flat linen, workwear, and washroom solutions. Provides a different operating model benchmark (service-based) against igefa's distribution-based model.
• Bunzl plc: London-listed multinational distribution and outsourcing group specializing in non-food consumables including cleaning, hygiene, and PPE - the exact category igefa operates in across multiple European markets. Provides public-comp benchmark for European JanSan distribution economics.

Direct peers

• Berner Group: German family-owned direct-sales specialist wholesaler serving trades, industry, and facility management. Overlaps with igefa in B2B specialist wholesale model, field sales approach, and DACH geographic coverage.
• Hagleitner Hygiene: Austrian family-owned hygiene specialist covering cleaning chemicals, dispensers, and dosing systems across DACH. Direct competitor particularly relevant to igefa's HoReCa and Gebäudereinigung verticals, with overlapping product portfolio and geographic coverage.
• Würth Group: Germany-based family-owned specialist wholesaler with similar multi-vertical B2B distribution model and proprietary logistics/procurement systems. Both compete in DACH B2B specialist trade with direct sales force and own-brand assortment strategies.
• MEWA Textil-Service: German family-owned textile services and workwear provider with adjacent product range to igefa's PPE/occupational safety portfolio. Competes for industrial customer wallet share in German Mittelstand.
• Lyreco Group: European family-owned distributor of workplace and facility supplies including cleaning, hygiene, and PPE. Direct competitor in B2B facility supply distribution with overlapping customer base and product categories across DACH.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/igefade
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbXn9XgBf5gUa3J0VDN-kHw
• Facebookfacebook.com/igefaofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/igefa
• Instagraminstagram.com/igefa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries25 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 IGEFA Handelsgesellschaft