What CQFD International does

CQFD International (legal entity CQFD SAS) is a French designer, manufacturer and distributor of hardware products for arranging, renovating and decorating the home, founded in 1965 in Lyon and headquartered in Saint-Laurent-d'Agny. The company operates as the main DIY division of the SOCALDI Group (also referenced as Groupe Briconord), and runs three production sites: Saint Laurent d'Agny (profile cutting and aqueous-varnish treatment), Millery (garden products) and Dzierzgon, Poland (trestles, hinges, wood-structure connectors since 2007 and PVC profiles since 2012). Its product range spans steel, aluminium and PVC profiles, tile and carpet edging, adhesive baseboards, trestles, waterproofing profiles, sheet metals and splashbacks, uprights, brackets, storage hooks, building fittings, PVC fencing, and hinges and pins; the Louis Moulin brand, acquired in 2017, extends the portfolio into garden tools.

The business model is B2B wholesale hardware supply to large DIY and building-materials retail chains, with revenue generated from product sales (steel/aluminium/PVC profiles, trestles, connectors, hardware) rather than subscriptions, licensing or services. Go-to-market combines dedicated in-house commercial and merchandising teams supporting in-store linear implantations and remodels with a multi-country European export sales force; channels include major French DIY chains (Brico Dépôt, Castorama, Mr Bricolage, Bricoman, Bricorama, Point P), independent builder merchants and cooperatives (GEDIMAT, Bricomarché, GALEC Leclerc-BBJ), and European purchasing groups (Bauhaus, Hagebau, Eurobaustoff, BayWa). More than 40% of turnover is generated outside France and a 99% service rate in quality and delivery is supported by 12,000 m² of centralized storage.

Differentiators include a proprietary water-based solvent-free varnish process that eliminates PVC-film packaging, in-house production across France and Poland for cost and quality control, and 60+ years of category incumbency with major retail banners. The company is investing in a €5M+ consolidation project (10,000 m² new building on 15,000 m² of newly acquired land at Saint Laurent d'Agny) to combine Louis Moulin's production and logistics onto the main site, signaling continued physical expansion rather than a pivot toward digital or AI-native business models.

Name

CQFD International

Legal name

CQFD SAS

Website

https://cqfd-international.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CQFD International is a French manufacturer-distributor (founded 1965, part of SOCALDI Group) that designs and produces steel, aluminium and PVC profiles, trestles, connectors and DIY hardware, selling primarily to large European DIY retail chains and builder-merchant cooperatives through dedicated merchandising and export sales teams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

DIY hardware manufacturing and distribution

NAICS

Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing (3322), Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers (444), Hardware Retailers (44414)

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Crafts & DIY Hobby Supplies Distribution (CRAOAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fasteners, Nails, Screws & Anchors Retail (CRAIADAC), Structural & Framing Components Retail (Trusses, Joists, Beams, Engineered Wood) (CRAIAEAJ)

Keywords

• DIY hardware manufacturing
• Construction profiles supply
• Building fittings distribution
• Home renovation products
• Steel aluminium profiles

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-laurent-d'agny

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. DIY Hardware Product Sales: CQFD designs, manufactures, and sells innovative solutions and concepts to arrange, renovate and decorate homes. Products include steel profiles, aluminum profiles, PVC profiles, trestles, connectors, hinges, and various hardware items sold through large DIY retail chains and export markets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CQFD International designs, manufactures and distributes a wide range of DIY hardware products for arranging, renovating and decorating homes, including steel profiles, aluminium profiles, PVC profiles, tile edging, adhesive baseboards, carpet/step edging, metal trestles, waterproofing profiles, sheet metals, splashbacks, uprights and brackets, storage hooks, building fittings (connectors, hinges, pins), PVC fencing, and the acquired Louis Moulin garden tools brand. The company runs three production sites (Saint Laurent d'Agny and Millery in France, Dzierzgon in Poland) and sells primarily to large DIY retail chains, independent builder merchants and cooperatives in France and across Europe.

Product overview

CQFD International is a French manufacturer and distributor of DIY hardware products operating since 1965, part of the SOCALDI Group. The company designs, manufactures, and sells innovative solutions for arranging, renovating, and decorating homes. The product portfolio includes steel profiles (hot rolled, drawn, cold-pressed, stainless steel, brass, threaded rods, reinforced connectors), aluminium profiles, PVC profiles, tile edging profiles, adhesive baseboards, carpet/step edging, metal trestles, waterproofing profiles, sheet metals and splashbacks, uprights and brackets, storage hooks, building fittings, PVC fencing, clever products, modeling selection tools, and hinges and pins. The company operates 3 production sites: St Laurent d'Agny (France) for profile cutting and treatment, Millery (France) for garden products, and Dzierzgon (Poland) for trestles, hinges, connectors, and PVC profiles. In 2017, CQFD acquired Louis Moulin to expand into the gardening sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Steel Profiles Steel profile product family covering hot rolled, drawn, cold-pressed and stainless steel, plus threaded rod, brass and reinforced connectors for construction, habitat arrangement, renovation and decoration applications; protected with CQFD's solvent-free water-based varnish.
• Aluminium Profiles Aluminium profile offerings designed for arranging, renovating and decorating homes, sold through DIY retail and independent merchant channels.
• PVC Profiles PVC profiles manufactured at CQFD's Dzierzgon, Poland site since 2012, used for a wide range of habitat improvement, renovation and decoration applications, including PVC fencing.
• Tile Edging Profile Profile solutions specifically designed for tile edging and finishing in residential and commercial tiling installations.
• Adhesive Baseboards Self-adhesive baseboard solutions for finishing floors in DIY and renovation projects.
• Carpet Edging & Step Edging Edging profile solutions designed for finishing carpets and stair step edges in residential and light commercial environments.
• Trestles (Metal Work Supports) Metal trestles and supports for workbenches and construction support use, manufactured by CQFD at its Dzierzgon, Poland site since 2007.
• Waterproofing Profiles Building profiles specifically engineered for waterproofing applications in residential and construction projects.
• Sheet Metals and Splashback Sheet metal products and kitchen splashback solutions for residential kitchen and household installations.
• Uprights and Brackets Structural uprights and bracket systems for shelving, storage and general construction applications.
• Storage Hooks Hooks and hanging solutions for organizing tools and items in workshops, garages and storage areas.
• Fittings for Buildings Building hardware connectors and structural fittings, including wood-structure connectors manufactured by CQFD at Dzierzgon, Poland since 2007.
• PVC Fencing PVC fencing products for outdoor residential and light commercial applications, manufactured by CQFD.
• Clever Products Innovative and specialized hardware solutions addressing niche DIY and home improvement use cases.
• Modeling Selection Profile selection tools and modeling accessories that help DIY users plan and execute home improvement projects.
• Hinges and Pins Hinges, door pins and related hardware fittings manufactured by CQFD at its Dzierzgon, Poland facility since 2007.
• Louis Moulin (Acquired Brand — Garden Tools and DIY) Garden tools and DIY products offered under the Louis Moulin brand, acquired by CQFD in 2017 to extend its activities into the gardening sector. Louis Moulin's logistics and production are being integrated with CQFD's Saint Laurent d'Agny headquarters under a €5+ million expansion project.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% service rate in quality and delivery times
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Louis MoulincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017CQFD acquired Louis Moulin in 2017 to expand its business into the gardening sector. Louis Moulin is a family company that CQFD has been combining logistics and production with at CQFD's head office, with a €5 million investment in a new 10,000m² building on 15,000m² of acquired land.
• SOCALDI GroupcoreOthersCQFD is the main player in the DIY division of the SOCALDI Group. SOCALDI is the parent company that CQFD operates under.
• XXL (Architecture, Urbanism, Engineering and Construction)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerXXL company was contracted for architecture, urbanism, engineering and construction works for the new building project combining Louis Moulin's logistics and production at CQFD headquarters.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bostik (Arkema): Global adhesives and sealants manufacturer, supplying DIY chains with products directly adjacent to CQFD's waterproofing profiles and adhesive baseboards. Competes for adjacent shelf space in the same stores.
• Fischer Group: German family-owned manufacturer of fixing systems (anchors, screws, connectors, installation systems) sold through DIY and trade channels. Overlaps with CQFD's connector and building fittings portfolio and competes for the same European DIY shelf space.
• Soudal: Belgian manufacturer of sealants, adhesives, polyurethane foams and chemical anchoring — products sold alongside CQFD's profiles, waterproofing profiles and adhesive baseboards in the same European DIY retail channels.
• Würth Group: Global market leader in fastening and assembly materials (screws, anchors, connectors) with extensive DIY and trade distribution across Europe. A much larger incumbent in the same end-markets CQFD serves, with overlapping product categories in fasteners, brackets and connectors.
• Stanley Black & Decker: Global tool and hardware manufacturer with broad DIY and professional channels. Overlaps with CQFD's hand tools (trestles), hardware fittings and storage organization products, and is led by a former Spear & Jackson executive now at CQFD.

Emerging players

• Spear & Jackson: UK-based manufacturer of hand tools, garden tools and DIY products, including a former French subsidiary whose Managing Director now leads CQFD. Comparable in garden/DIY hand tool manufacturing and European retail distribution.

Direct peers

• Profils Systèmes: French manufacturer of aluminium profiles and building fittings for the habitat/renovation market, serving DIY retail and professional channels. Closely comparable to CQFD's aluminium profiles and tile edging business.
• Reynaers Group: Belgian manufacturer of aluminium profiles and systems for windows, doors and facade applications in residential and commercial construction. Comparable in aluminium extrusion, profile finishing and European distribution to building-products retailers.
• Simpson Strong-Tie: US-headquartered manufacturer of structural connectors, fasteners and connectors for wood and construction — directly comparable to CQFD's wood structure connectors, hinges and reinforced connectors lines sold into DIY and builder channels.

Others

• Briconord (SOCALDI Group): Parent conglomerate of CQFD and broader DIY/building-products distribution group in France. Functions as the umbrella group that controls CQFD, providing capital and group-level strategic direction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNNkruqSY_PYnHc9laUF5HQ
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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cqfd-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 CQFD International