Gruppo Delfino

What Gruppo Delfino does

Gruppo Delfino (legally Delfino Soc. Coop.) is an Italian cooperative consortium founded in 1976, headquartered in Altedo di Malalbergo (Bologna). It is the longest-running consortium of medium and small enterprises in the Italian hydro-thermo-sanitary (ITS) sector. The organization aggregates 65 associated wholesale companies operating 110 sales points and 50 showrooms across 19 Italian regions, supported by a network of 150 supplier partners including major HVAC and plumbing brands such as Mitsubishi Electric, Vaillant, and Ideal Standard. Its core function is to enable member wholesalers to compete through shared purchasing power, technical knowledge exchange, training programs, and access to exclusive products.

The consortium's primary commercial offering is the Delò private label brand — a line of hydro-thermo-sanitary products exclusively available through the member network, distributed via a centralized 2,800 sqm logistics warehouse at the consortium's new Altedo headquarters. Beyond product distribution, the organization operates an extensive engagement infrastructure including the annual Meeting Delfino conference, Delfino Academy training programs (Base/Advanced Counter Sales, Show Room, Master Imprenditori courses with Randstad HR Solutions), incentive travel for installer end-customers (400+ participants annually), product showcase events (Giornate a Banco Delò), and wellness retreats (Week End Benessere). The new headquarters, constructed between January 2023 and August 2024 and inaugurated April 12, 2025, consolidates these functions.

As a società cooperativa, Gruppo Delfino is owned collectively by its member companies rather than external shareholders. Revenue derives from member contributions, Delò private label margins, and event/training services, with consolidated financials not publicly disclosed. Tiberio Capriotti serves as the group's coordinator. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in June 2026 with a major meeting in Rome attended by 290 associates and supplier partners, and has received consecutive ItalyPost "Le 1000 Imprese Best Performer" recognition for the Bologna province in 2024 and 2025.

Name

Gruppo Delfino

Legal name

Delfino Soc. Coop.

Website

https://delfino.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gruppo Delfino is an Italian cooperative consortium founded in 1976 that aggregates 65 medium and small wholesale distributors across 19 regions, sharing products, exclusive Delò private label, technical knowledge, and collective purchasing power in the hydro-thermo-sanitary sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bologna

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Delò Private Label: Gruppo Delfino operates the Delò private label brand - a line of products exclusive to the consortium, offering quality products at competitive prices for member companies. The consortium manages warehouse and logistics for Delò products at its headquarters.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gruppo Delfino is a cooperative consortium (società cooperativa) of 65 medium and small Italian wholesalers operating in the hydro-thermo-sanitary (HVAC, plumbing, heating) sector since 1976. The consortium pools shared experiences, products, solutions, and technical knowledge among its members, and operates the exclusive Delò private label brand distributed through its national network of 110 sales points and 50 showrooms across 19 Italian regions.

Product overview

Gruppo Delfino is a cooperative consortium of medium and small enterprises operating in the Italian hydro-thermo-sanitary (HVAC/plumbing) sector since 1976. The consortium operates as a national network of wholesalers comprising 65 associated companies with 110 sales points and 50 showrooms across 19 regions, connected through shared experiences, products, solutions, and technical knowledge. The primary product offering centers on the DELO' private label brand, which provides exclusive products at competitive quality/price ratios, complemented by the distribution of products from 150 partner suppliers through the associated company network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Deló: A private label product line (marchio in esclusiva) offering an optimal quality/price ratio for differentiated competition, exclusively available through Delfino associates and installers.

Products and services

• Delò Private Label Brand Exclusive private label product line for the Italian hydro-thermo-sanitary (HVAC, plumbing, heating, bathroom) sector, available only to Gruppo Delfino member wholesalers and the installers they serve. Delò products offer a differentiated alternative to mainstream competitor brands at an optimal quality/price ratio.
• Consortium Membership for ITS Wholesalers (Diventa Socio) Cooperative consortium membership for medium and small Italian ITS wholesale distributors, providing collective purchasing power, access to the Delò private label, training programs, supplier relationships, and inclusion in consortium events.
• Delfino Academy Training Programs (Corsi Delfino) Structured training programs for counter sales staff, showroom employees, and owners/managers of Gruppo Delfino member companies, covering product knowledge, sales techniques, and business management.
• Giornate a Banco Delò (Delò Product Showcase Events) Member-located product showcase events where Delò private label products and supplier partner offerings are demonstrated to professional installers through technical presentations and engagement activities.
• Meeting Delfino Annual Conference Annual multi-day national conference for Gruppo Delfino member companies and supplier partners, including business meetings, assemblies, supplier-counterpart sessions, and social activities.
• Viaggi Incentive Delfino (Installer Incentive Travel Program) Annual incentive trips organized for professional installers who are clients of Gruppo Delfino member wholesalers, rewarding their loyalty with travel experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 years of continuous operation as a consortium - longest-running in Italian ITS sector
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 core and minor.

• Delò ItaliacoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerDelò is the exclusive private label brand of Gruppo Delfino, offering a line of products designed to differentiate from competition with exclusive brand positioning and optimal quality/price ratio.
• Randstad HR SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for the Master Imprenditori/Titolari program - a multi-year training initiative for future managers of associated companies, covering topics related to business management.
• ANGAISA (Associazione Nazionale Commercianti Articoli Idrosanitari)minorOthersGruppo Delfino is a member of ANGAISA, the National Association of Wholesale Traders of Hydrosanitary Articles, Air Conditioning, Floors, Wall Tiles, and Bathroom Furnishings.
• FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano)minorOthersGruppo Delfino supports FAI (Italian Environment Fund) as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives.
• Nobìlita FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGruppo Delfino sponsors Nobìlita LAB, a training and skills festival, as part of its commitment to workforce development and continuing education.
• Supplier Partners (Mitsubishi Electric, Tiemme Raccorderie, Pleion, Euroacque, Vaillant, Idema Clima, etc.)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 150 supplier partners provide products featured at Delò events, installer festivals, and through the member network. Partners include major brands like Mitsubishi Electric, Vaillant, Ideal Standard, and specialized manufacturers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sonepar: World's largest electrical equipment distributor with growing HVAC and renewable energy offerings. Competes for installer accounts and heating/cooling product distribution, though primary focus is electrical rather than hydro-thermo-sanitary.
• Rexel: Global electrical, lighting, and HVAC distribution platform with deep European footprint including Italy. Competes with Delfino members on HVAC product distribution but at much larger scale and as part of a broader electrical portfolio.
• Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment: Distribution arm of Saint-Gobain covering building materials, plumbing, and HVAC products across Europe. Overlaps with Gruppo Delfino in plumbing/heating distribution but with a far larger product breadth and centralized corporate structure.

Others

• Viessmann: Major German manufacturer of heating, industrial, and refrigeration systems. A supplier-partner and competitor category reference for Gruppo Delfino's member offerings in boilers, heat pumps, and related HVAC categories.

Regional players

• Point.P: French building materials and HVAC distribution network serving installers and trades. Comparable model of trade-focused distribution with branded private-label products, but operating primarily in France rather than Italy.
• CEF (City Electrical Factors): UK-based electrical and HVAC product distributor with a national branch network serving installers and contractors. Comparable distribution-to-installer model, though UK-focused and broader on electrical.

Direct peers

• BigMat: Pan-European cooperative buying group for independent building materials and HVAC wholesalers, operating a national network of member distributors across multiple countries. Highly comparable business model: collectively owned by member companies, shared private labels, supplier partnerships, and training programs.
• Sinergie Group: Italian consortium of heating, plumbing, and air-conditioning distributors that pools purchasing, training, and marketing for its members. Closest domestic analog to Gruppo Delfino in the same hydro-thermo-sanitary category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInit.linkedin.com/company/gruppo-delfino-its

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Gruppo Delfino