Cadena 88

What Cadena 88 does

Cadena 88 is the consumer-facing brand of EHLIS, S.A., Spain's largest hardware distributor, and operates the country's first and largest organization of independent hardware stores, established in 1988. The company runs a centralized e-commerce platform (cadena88.com) that connects more than 1,500 affiliated independent hardware stores nationwide, with over 800 of those stores participating as click-and-collect pickup points. Its catalog spans bathroom, air conditioning, kitchen, electricity, plumbing, gas, garden, outdoor living, home decoration, and DIY/reform categories, supported by seasonal catalogs and themed product collections (Ventilación, Barbacoas, Muebles de Exterior, Pérgolas, etc.). The platform has a Google Reviews rating of 4.8 and a newsletter subscriber base exceeding 25,000.

The underlying technology is a conventional e-commerce storefront with product catalog, user account management, store-locator, online ordering, and pickup coordination across the affiliated network. No public APIs, SDKs, proprietary AI/ML systems, or data flywheels are documented. Distribution combines the e-commerce site, the affiliated physical store network, and free in-store pickup. A content creator collaboration program with four DIY influencers and a free-shipping supplier program with ten brand partners extend the commercial surface.

Cadena 88's business model combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales with a central purchasing organization function. EHLIS, S.A. negotiates volume purchasing on behalf of affiliated stores, while Cadena 88 earns through product markups on direct online sales and affiliate-related fees. Pricing uses recommended retail prices published online, with free home delivery for orders over €59 on the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands and free store pickup nationwide; affiliated stores set their own retail prices independently. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the corporate entity itself operates with 1-10 employees, with most of the network's economic activity distributed across the affiliated independent stores.

Name

Cadena 88

Legal name

EHLIS, S.A.

Website

https://cadena88.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cadena 88 is a Spanish e-commerce platform and network of 1,500+ independent hardware stores managed by EHLIS, S.A. It sells hardware, home improvement, garden, and DIY products online with home delivery or free pickup at 800+ locations across Spain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hardware Retail

NAICS

Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers (449)

SIC

Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores (5531), Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)

akta.pro primary industry

General Home Improvement & Hardware Stores (CRAIADAA)

Keywords

• Hardware retail network
• Home improvement products
• DIY supplies store
• Garden outdoor products
• Central purchasing group

Headquarters

HQ city

Escorial

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. E-commerce sales: Online sales of hardware, home improvement, garden, and lifestyle products through cadena88.com. Revenue generated from product markups on direct online purchases with home delivery or store pickup.
2. Physical store sales through affiliated network: Affiliated independent hardware stores purchase products through the Cadena 88 central purchasing organization (managed by Ehlis, S.A.) and sell to end consumers. Cadena 88 acts as a central buying group, providing volume purchasing power and shared services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cadena 88 operates Spain's largest network of independent hardware stores, selling bathroom, air conditioning, kitchen, electricity, plumbing, gas, garden, outdoor living, and home decoration products. The unified cadena88.com e-commerce platform lets consumers browse the catalog and choose home delivery or free pickup at any of 800+ affiliated stores nationwide. The company also acts as a central purchasing organization for its 1,500+ independent affiliated retailers.

Product overview

Cadena 88 operates a retail chain of independent hardware stores across Spain, managed by EHLIS, S.A. The company's product offering consists of a unified e-commerce platform that integrates with over 800 physical partner stores. The core platform enables customers to browse seasonal catalogs (Verano, Jardín, Hogar, Reformista), purchase products for home delivery or in-store pickup, and access product collections organized by category (ventilation, outdoor furniture, barbecues, shading, pest control, travel/leisure, home decoration). The company also features proprietary brands RATIO, LISTA, HABITEX, EHS, and EHL alongside third-party brand partnerships. A free shipping supplier program and content creator collaboration program complement the core retail offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cadena 88 E-commerce Platform Unified online hardware retail platform enabling consumers across Spain to browse the full product catalog and place orders for home delivery or free pickup at any of 800+ affiliated stores. Managed by EHLIS, S.A.
• Verano 2026 Catalog
• Jardín 2026 Catalog
• Hogar 2026 Catalog
• Reformista 2026 Catalog
• Ventilación 2026 Collection
• Muebles de Exterior Collection
• Barbacoas 2026 Collection
• Pérgolas Parasoles y Toldos 2026 Collection
• Hogar Sin Insectos Verano 2026 Collection
• Viaje y Tiempo Libre Verano 2026 Collection
• Decoración Hogar 2026 Collection
• Command 3M Product Line Adhesive hooks and strips product line (Command by 3M) for wall mounting without nails, screws, or tools, cleanly removable without damaging walls, sold to Spanish consumers.
• Free Shipping Supplier Program
• Content Creator Collaboration Program

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• AGHminorOthersSupplier partner featured on the Proveedores page. All products from AGH have free shipping for both home delivery and store pickup.
• KTLminorOthersSupplier partner with all products offering free shipping for both home delivery and store pickup.
• CINTACOR (Stor Planet)minorOthersSupplier partner (appears as CINTACOR/Stor Planet) with all products offering free shipping.
• FOGOSURminorOthersSupplier partner with all products offering free shipping for both delivery modalities.
• PANADEROminorOthersSupplier partner with all products offering free shipping.
• REDPODminorOthersSupplier partner with all products offering free shipping.
• SIMONRACKminorOthersSupplier partner with all products offering free shipping. SIMONRACK specializes in storage and organization solutions.
• SIMONminorOthersSupplier partner with all products offering free shipping. SIMON is an electrical and electronic equipment brand.
• SUPRAminorOthersSupplier partner with all products offering free shipping for both home delivery and store pickup.
• IMPREXminorOthersSupplier partner (via PANADERO landing) with all products offering free shipping.
• Content Creators (@steffidoin, @mimodemami, @albermaker, @whiteandwood)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDIY and home improvement content creators who collaborate with Cadena 88 to showcase products, share tutorials, and inspire home improvement projects. Their content is featured on the Cadena 88 website and social media channels.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bricomart: Warehouse-format DIY retailer in Spain and Portugal selling hardware, tools, construction materials, and home improvement products to both consumers and professionals. Direct competitor to Cadena 88's affiliated store network.
• Brico Depôt: Spanish subsidiary of Kingfisher's Brico Depôt, operating warehouse-format DIY stores across Spain. Sells hardware, plumbing, electrical, and home improvement products at competitive prices, competing directly with Cadena 88's affiliated stores.
• Bauhaus España: Spanish subsidiary of the European Bauhaus DIY chain, operating specialist retail stores for tools, hardware, garden, and home improvement. Competes directly with Cadena 88 in major Spanish cities.
• AKI Bricolaje: Spanish hardware and DIY chain offering tools, construction materials, garden, and home improvement products. Now part of the Leroy Merlin group (Adeo), it competes directly with Cadena 88 in the Spanish hardware retail market.
• ManoMano España: Online-only DIY, home improvement, and gardening marketplace operating in Spain. Sells hardware, tools, plumbing, and garden products directly to consumers, competing with Cadena 88's e-commerce platform on assortment breadth and digital experience.
• Leroy Merlin Spain: Spain's largest home improvement and DIY retail chain, part of the Adeo Group. Operates a national network of large-format stores selling hardware, tools, garden, plumbing, and home improvement products — directly competing with Cadena 88 for both consumers and supplier relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Amazon España: Spain's largest general e-commerce platform, offering an expanding range of hardware, tools, and home improvement products. While not a specialized hardware retailer, Amazon competes with Cadena 88's e-commerce offering through selection, pricing, and Prime fulfillment.
• El Corte Inglés Hogar: Spain's largest department store chain, with a significant home improvement, DIY, and home goods assortment. Competes with Cadena 88 in home decoration, garden, and lifestyle categories via both physical stores and online channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/whiteandwood

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Cadena 88