What Mestergruppen AS does

Mestergruppen AS is a Norwegian privately-held conglomerate operating as a multi-brand platform across the Scandinavian building materials, housing, and home improvement value chain. Founded as Mesterhus in 1970 and established as a group entity in 1995, the company has grown to approximately 1,400 employees and NOK 18 billion (2024) in annual revenue, primarily serving professional builders, contractors, and consumer home and cabin buyers across Norway and Sweden. The company is majority-owned by Ferd AS (a family-owned Norwegian investment company) since 2011, with members of its constituent chains also holding significant shareholdings — a cooperative-style ownership structure spanning over 300 member companies.

The group operates a portfolio of distinct consumer-facing and B2B brands organized around four pillars: building materials and VVS (XL-BYGG, Byggtorget, Byggeriet, Bolist Sweden, VVS Norge/Comfort/Bademiljø, ~500+ outlets); housing and cabins (Mesterhus, Systemhus, Nordbohus, Blink Hus, BoligPartner, Saltdalshytta — Norway's largest cabin producer); surface treatment and logistics (Malorama, Mal Proff, Fargerike, Kulør, WIFA, Happy Homes, Mestergruppen Logistikk serving 1,200+ outlets); and project services (Mestergruppen Arkitekter with 85 architects/engineers, Mestergruppen Eiendom for property development, Pretre for prefabricated trusses/joists, Steddy for renovation services). The integrated value chain enables shared procurement scale (NOK 18B revenue base), centralized logistics via the 30,000 sqm Kløfta warehouse, and design-to-delivery project capability through owned architecture, prefabrication, and construction brands.

The business model is asset-light and franchise/contractor-driven: revenue is generated primarily through one-time product sales through member and franchise stores (building materials, surface products, prefabricated components), one-time home and cabin sales through housing chain members (1,800 homes and 235 cabins initiated in 2024; ~100,000 homes built since the 1970s), property development sales, and fees for logistics, distribution, architecture, and renovation services. Mestergruppen does not employ the tradespeople or store staff directly in most cases — these are member-owned or franchise businesses that purchase through the group's national supply agreements (Pakke 1 concept with 14-day invoice terms), creating a hub-and-spoke distribution and brand model that has fueled eight major acquisitions since 2016 and 235 Miljøfyrtårn environmental certifications by 2025.

Name

Mestergruppen AS

Legal name

Mestergruppen AS

Website

https://mestergruppen.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Mestergruppen AS is a Norwegian building materials and housing conglomerate operating multi-brand chains (XL-BYGG, Byggtorget, Mesterhus, Systemhus, Saltdalshytta) across Norway and Sweden. It serves professional builders, contractors, and consumer home and cabin buyers through 500+ retail outlets and 300+ member companies, generating NOK 18 billion in annual revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Materials and Housing Construction

akta.pro primary industry

Windows, Doors & Millwork Distribution (CRAOAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plywood & Panel Products Distribution (Plywood, OSB, MDF, Particleboard) (IMAMAIAC), Engineered Wood Products Distribution (LVL, I-joists, Glulam, CLT) (IMAMAIAD), HVAC & Refrigeration Contracting (IMAFALAB)

Keywords

• Building materials retail
• Residential housing construction
• Surface treatment products
• Prefabricated timber components
• Plumbing retail services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Building Materials Sales: Revenue from selling building materials, hardware, lumber, tools, paint, and construction products through owned and franchise building supply stores (Byggtorget, XL-BYGG, Byggeriet, Bolist). Stores total approximately 500+ outlets in Norway and Sweden.
2. Housing and Cabin Sales: Revenue from sales of single-family homes, apartments, multi-family housing, and vacation cabins through house builder chains (Mesterhus, Systemhus, Nordbohus, Blink Hus, BoligPartner, Saltdalshytta). Members build homes on customers' plots or on group-developed land. In 2024, the group initiated 1,800 homes and 235 cabins.
3. Surface Treatment Products Distribution: Revenue from distribution of paints, flooring, tools, and surface treatment accessories through Mal Proff (pro chain, ~82 stores), Fargerike (~85 franchise stores), Kulør (~65 stores), and Mestergruppen Logistikk's wholesale operations. Mal Proff generates approximately NOK 1 billion annually.
4. Logistics and Wholesale Distribution: Mestergruppen Logistikk operates the central warehouse on Kløfta (~30,000 sqm) and distributes surface products to ~1,200+ outlets. Revenue generated from distribution and logistics fees.
5. Prefabricated Construction Components: Pretre produces and sells prefabricated roof trusses, precut lumber, joists, and structural elements. Revenue ~NOK 250 million in 2024.
6. Property Development: Mestergruppen Eiendom develops residential property projects (small houses, townhouses, low-rise apartments) in and around major Norwegian cities. Revenue from property sales.
7. Architecture and Engineering Services: Mestergruppen Arkitekter provides architecture, structural engineering, and planning services across Norway (Bodø, Trondheim, Klepp, Tønsberg offices) with ~85 architects and engineers. Services are offered to housing chain members and external clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels15 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mestergruppen AS is a multi-brand building materials and housing conglomerate operating across Norway and Sweden. The group supplies building materials through ~500+ retail outlets (XL-BYGG, Byggtorget, Byggeriet, Bolist), delivers homes and cabins through five house builder chains plus Saltdalshytta, distributes surface treatment products via Malorama/Mal Proff/Fargerike/Kulør, and offers plumbing, property development, architecture, logistics, and renovation services through wholly-owned brands. Operations are coordinated through a member- and franchise-driven platform with shared national procurement, IT systems, and brand infrastructure for over 300 member companies that are also shareholders.

Product overview

Mestergruppen AS is a Scandinavian building and housing conglomerate operating as a multi-brand platform with distinct business areas. The company offers building materials through XL-BYGG, Byggtorget, Byggeriet and Bolist chains; residential construction via Mesterhus, Systemhus, Nordbohus, Blink Hus and BoligPartner house brands; cabin manufacturing through Saltdalshytta; construction products via Pretre (roof trusses, precut); surface treatment products via Malorama, Mal Proff, Fargerike, Kulør, WIFA and Happy Homes Sverige; plumbing via VVS Norge, Comfort and Bademiljø; property development through Mestergruppen Eiendom; architectural services through Mestergruppen Arkitekter; logistics via Mestergruppen Logistikk; and renovation services via Steddy. The platform structure enables shared procurement, marketing platforms, IT solutions and services across all member companies and dealers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Byggtorget: Building materials retail chain with over 100 stores across Norway, established 1997
• Byggeriet
• XL-BYGG
• Bolist
• Mesterhus
• Nordbohus
• Systemhus
• Blink Hus
• BoligPartner
• Saltdalshytta
• Pretre
• Malorama
• Mal Proff
• Fargerike
• Kulør
• WIFA farge & interiørkjede AS
• Happy Homes
• Steddy
• Comfort
• Bademiljø
• Prosjekt

Products and services

• XL-BYGG Building materials retail chain operating approximately 110 stores in Norway with about 2,900 store employees, focused on quality tools, materials, and professional service for professional builders and consumers.
• Byggtorget Building materials retail chain with over 100 stores across Norway, from Vadsø in the north to Øystebø in the south, focused on local presence and serving both professional and consumer customers.
• Byggeriet Building materials retail chain with approximately 13 stores, focusing on lumber and heavy building materials for professional builders, with each store locally owned and operated.
• Bolist Building materials retail chain in Sweden, part of Mestergruppen's Scandinavian operations, complementing the Norwegian XL-BYGG presence.
• Mesterhus One of Norway's largest home builders since 1970, consisting of approximately 150 independent builder companies focused on quality craftsmanship and customer service, with members required to hold Mesterbrev (master craftsman certificate).
• Systemhus Norway's largest housing builder in 2024, with nearly 50,000 homes built over 50 years of operation and approximately 50 franchise building master firms; known for the Friske Hjem (Fresh Homes) indoor air quality concept developed with NAAF.
• Nordbohus One of Norway's largest housing providers with dealers nationwide, building row houses, apartments, and single-family homes, featuring unique SINTEF technical approval for its building system.
• Blink Hus Housing construction chain with over 30 member companies operating under the Blink Hus brand as a nationwide chain.
• BoligPartner Housing construction brand acquired by Mestergruppen in 2024 as part of the bankruptcy estate, with the trademark and chain concept integrated into the group.
• Saltdalshytta Norway's largest and most modern cabin factory located in Saltdal, Nordland, delivering cabins as building kits or turnkey with four completion levels; has served over 8,000 customers.
• Pretre Norway's largest manufacturer of complete roof systems including trusses, precut lumber, joists and technical services, with headquarters in Stryn and production facilities in Stryn, Agder and Gausdal; 2024 revenue approximately NOK 250 million.
• Malorama Norway's leading logistics and distribution partner for surface products including paint and flooring, with deliveries to over 1,200 outlets and leading omni-channel solutions.
• Mal Proff Leading professional paint and flooring chain with approximately 82 stores in Norway, generating about 1 billion NOK in annual revenue and employing approximately 100 people, serving professional painters and contractors.
• Fargerike Norway's largest paint retail chain with approximately 85 franchise stores offering paints, wallpapers, flooring, blinds, sun protection and interior products, including interior consultants, painters, and floor installers for project support.
• Kulør Paint retail chain with approximately 65 member stores across Norway, offering paints, flooring, wallpapers and renovation products, with local stores using their own marketing strategies and product range customization; in January 2024, 19 Nordsjö Idé & Design members joined the chain.
• WIFA farge & interiørkjede AS Paint and interior retail chain acquired by Mestergruppen in 2024.
• Happy Homes Sverige Swedish paint and interior retail chain acquired by Mestergruppen in 2024.
• VVS Norge Plumbing and bathroom solutions group including Comfort and Bademiljø chains.
• Comfort Plumbing retail chain as part of VVS Norge group, part of the Mestergruppen family since 2022.
• Bademiljø Bathroom solutions retail chain as part of VVS Norge group, part of the Mestergruppen family since 2022.
• Mestergruppen Eiendom Property development company developing large housing projects in and around major Norwegian cities, with focus on creating good living environments through small houses, townhouses and low-rise apartment blocks.
• Mestergruppen Arkitekter Architecture and consulting services with 85 architects, engineers and planners, providing technical services across Norway with offices in Bodø, Trondheim, Klepp and Tønsberg; Norway's largest wooden house design team.
• Mestergruppen Logistikk Wholesale and logistics company for surface products, operating a 30,000 square meter central warehouse at Kløfta outside Oslo, linking industry manufacturers with ~1,200+ customer outlets across Norway.
• Steddy Handyman and renovation services targeting the rehabilitation, renovation and extension market (ROT market) in Norway.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~100,000 homes built since the 1970s
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Commonground (Saltdalshytta)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Saltdalshytta participates in the Commonground project examining possibilities for preserving nature during cabin construction. The project tests revegetation on existing sites in Oppdal and plans for more careful cabin placement. The project runs through 2025.
• TørnminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023In 2023, Mestergruppen entered an agreement with Tørn, a marketplace for surplus goods. This partnership supports circular economy goals by facilitating the reuse of surplus building materials and products.
• Handelens MiljøfondminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Mestergruppen became a member of Handelens Miljøfond (the Trade Environmental Fund) in 2023. The fund works to reduce plastic consumption in the retail and trade sector.
• BellonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMestergruppen collaborates with Bellona, a Norwegian environmental organization, on sustainable forestry practices and broader sustainability initiatives.
• NOBB (Norsk Omfattende Byggevarebase)coreTechnology or IntegrationMestergruppen requires its suppliers to register relevant products in NOBB, Norway's largest building industry product database. NOBB provides product information including manufacturer data, installation instructions, performance declarations, FDV documentation, safety data sheets, certificates, and environmental declarations (EPD, ECO-product, Swan Label, A20). The NOBB Scanner app enables barcode scanning to retrieve product information.
• Norges Astma- og Allergiforbund (NAAF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSystemhus collaborates with NAAF on indoor air quality. Since people spend 90% of time indoors, Systemhus has developed 'Fresh Homes' (Friske Hjem) concept with advisors on indoor climate to guide house buyers on products and solutions for optimal indoor environments.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mestergruppen-as

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries22 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 Mestergruppen AS