What Denscheilmann + Wellein does

Denscheilmann + Wellein GmbH (D+W), founded in 1934 in Bamberg, Germany, is a privately held family-owned fresh produce wholesale distributor serving the food service, retail, healthcare, and social institution sectors across Southern Germany within a 250km radius. The company operates from a single headquarters and distribution facility at Kirschäckerstraße 26 in Bamberg, currently co-led by Managing Directors Sonja Weigand (since 2004) and Johannes Weigand (since 2022). D+W delivers a comprehensive Vollsortiment spanning raw produce, cut goods, dairy, potato products, dry goods, convenience and fine foods, canned goods, frozen items, meat and sausage, beverages, floristry, and specialty items, extending well beyond its fruit-and-vegetable origin into a full multi-category foodservice supplier.

The company's underlying operations are built around a temperature-controlled cold chain, anchored by an owned fleet of 60 refrigerated vehicles with zone-specific temperature control, in-house banana ripening operations dating to 1969, and a packing station supporting custom packaging, repacking, and quality sorting services. Digital infrastructure is limited: customer ordering is enabled via a mobile app built on the third-party Orderlion platform (available on iOS and Android), allowing real-time product availability checks and delivery tracking. The IT function is lean and the company holds no disclosed patents or proprietary software, relying instead on partnership-based sourcing and traceability through its shareholder position in the COBANA national network of owner-managed fruit traders and its strategic partnership with CF – Customized Foodservice GmbH & Co. KG for system gastronomy reach.

D+W generates revenue through B2B wholesale product sales at quote-based, relationship-negotiated pricing that varies by volume, product selection, and customer-specific terms. The go-to-market model is sales-led via six named account managers (Sven Windt, Angelina Schwarz, Tobias Nitschke, Sabine Gulden, Christian Hamberger, and Andreas Pauer) supported by the mobile ordering app, with no public pricing, e-commerce storefront for new customers, or digital marketing infrastructure. The company maintains a compliance portfolio including IFS Wholesale, GLOBALG.A.P. Chain of Custody, QS food quality assurance, and EU-Bio organic certification (DE-ÖKO-001), positioning it as a certified supplier for institutional and healthcare buyers with stringent food safety and traceability requirements. No external investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity are associated with the company.

Name

Denscheilmann + Wellein

Legal name

Denscheilmann + Wellein GmbH

Website

https://de-we.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Denscheilmann + Wellein is a family-owned B2B fresh produce wholesale distributor founded in 1934 in Bamberg, Germany, serving restaurants, retailers, hospitals, and social institutions across Southern Germany with a full multi-category assortment, an owned fleet of 60 refrigerated vehicles, and a mobile ordering platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh Produce Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (42448)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Gourmet Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food-Grade Warehousing & Contract Storage (TLAIACAB)

Keywords

• Fresh produce wholesale
• Foodservice distribution
• Refrigerated delivery services
• Cold chain logistics
• Fruit and vegetable supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Bamberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fresh Produce Wholesale: Wholesale distribution of fresh produce including fruits, vegetables, floristry, and related food service products to professional customers. Revenue generated through product sales with pricing based on quantities ordered and product quality tiers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Denscheilmann + Wellein (D+W) is a B2B wholesale distributor based in Bamberg, Germany, supplying fresh produce, dairy, frozen goods, meat and sausage, beverages, floristry, and convenience items to professional food service customers. The company sources through the COBANA network and delivers across a 250km radius in Southern Germany using an owned fleet of 60 refrigerated vehicles with multi-zone temperature control. Beyond product supply, D+W offers customized packaging, repacking and sorting, refrigerated logistics, and digital ordering via the Orderlion mobile app.

Product overview

Denscheilmann + Wellein (D+W) operates as a fresh produce wholesale company offering a comprehensive Vollsortiment (full assortment) that extends far beyond fruits and vegetables to include dairy, frozen goods, meat and sausage, beverages, floristry, and specialty items. The core offering centers on fresh produce (Rohwaren) with supplementary categories including cut goods (Schnittwaren), potato products, dry goods, convenience/fine foods, canned goods, and frozen products. D+W complements its product portfolio with logistics services featuring a fleet of 60 refrigerated vehicles for temperature-controlled delivery, custom packaging solutions, and repacking/sorting services. Digital ordering is facilitated through the Orderlion-based D+W App. The company also produces the CF Kopfsalat magazine as a customer engagement content product. D+W positions itself as a full-service partner for food service operators, offering individualized solutions rather than just products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vollsortiment (Full Assortment)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• COBANAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a shareholder in COBANA, D+W is part of a nationwide association of owner-managed fruit trading companies. The partnership provides combined purchasing volumes, centralized logistics structures, and international sourcing expertise. Members benefit from attractive pricing, supply security, and a broad assortment of fresh products. The network also coordinates trade promotion activities, trade fair appearances, and joint market initiatives.
• CF – Customized Foodservice GmbH & Co. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership enables supply of system gastronomy, large-scale kitchens, and similar operations with customized assortments, special processing levels, and individual packaging solutions. Combined with D+W logistics, the partnership creates maximum planning reliability and efficient processes for gastronomy operations, catering companies, hotels, hospitals, and professional kitchens.
• Too Good To GominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to combat food waste through the Too Good To Go app platform, which connects businesses with consumers to sell surplus food at reduced prices. Supports D+W's sustainability commitment while enabling social benefit.
• DIE TAFELNminorOthersGerman food bank network that collects surplus food and distributes to people in need. D+W supports regional Tafel organizations as part of social responsibility commitment.
• LebenshilfeminorOthersGerman charitable organization supporting people with disabilities. D+W partnership expresses company value of taking responsibility and supporting those in need.
• Integra MenschminorOthersSocial initiative that supports integration of people with disabilities into work and society. D+W supports this organization as part of social engagement.
• Don BoscominorOthersCatholic salesian organization providing youth welfare and development support. D+W partnership as expression of social responsibility.
• Alexandra Böhnlein StiftungminorOthersRegional charitable foundation. D+W supports this foundation as part of ongoing commitment to social causes in the Bamberg region.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Weiling GmbH: Family-owned German organic food wholesaler headquartered in Coesfeld, distributing certified organic produce, dairy, and dry goods to natural food retailers and gastronomy across Germany. Highly comparable to D+W in family-owned B2B organic/fresh wholesale model with regional delivery radius.
• Frische Paradies GmbH: German premium fresh food distributor serving top gastronomy and retail customers with fruits, vegetables, seafood, and specialty items from multiple regional depots. Directly comparable to D+W in B2B premium fresh produce distribution to gastronomy and specialty retail.
• Landgard eG: Germany's largest producer-owned marketing cooperative for fresh produce and flowers, distributing fruits, vegetables, and floristry to retail and food service customers. Comparable to D+W in product mix and B2B fresh produce focus, though operating at national scale rather than regional.

Broad incumbents

• METRO AG: Germany-headquartered global foodservice distribution and cash-and-carry giant serving hotels, restaurants, and caterers. A larger incumbent that overlaps with D+W in B2B foodservice supply but operates with much broader assortment and international scale.
• Handelshof Management GmbH: Established German foodservice wholesaler and cash-and-carry operator serving gastronomy and large-scale kitchens across Germany. Overlaps with D+W in food service supply but operates at broader national scale with a wider product assortment beyond fresh produce.
• BayWa AG: German agricultural trading and services group headquartered in Bavaria with fruit trading operations sourcing and distributing fresh produce domestically and internationally. Overlaps with D+W in fresh produce wholesale but operates across broader agricultural inputs and energy businesses.
• Selgros Cash & Carry: German foodservice and cash-and-carry wholesaler serving gastronomy, retail, and institutional customers with fresh produce, frozen, and ambient foods. Comparable in B2B food distribution but offers self-service pickup model versus D+W's delivered model.
• EDEKA Zentral AG & Co. KG: Germany's largest supermarket cooperative, operating its own wholesale and distribution infrastructure (EDEKA Foodservice) that supplies fresh produce and ambient goods to independent retailers and gastronomy. Comparable supply chain capabilities but at massive national scale versus D+W's regional position.

Emerging players

• CF Foodservice GmbH & Co. KG: German foodservice specialist serving system gastronomy, large-scale kitchens, and catering operations with customized assortments and packaging. Listed as a current strategic partner of D+W for system gastronomy supply, comparable in B2B foodservice focus though D+W is the lead partner.

Regional players

• Salomon FoodWorld GmbH: Austrian family-owned foodservice wholesaler distributing fresh produce, dairy, meat, and specialty items to gastronomy across Austria and bordering regions. Highly comparable to D+W in family ownership, B2B gastronomy focus, and full assortment strategy, though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/denscheilmann-wellein-gmbh

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Denscheilmann + Wellein