What Papival does

Papival SA is a Swiss distributor of hygiene, cleaning, and packaging products headquartered in Sion, canton of Valais. Founded in 1961, the company operates a single physical retail location alongside a bilingual (French/German) e-commerce storefront at papival.ch, distributing branded products across more than 15 categories including FIMAP cleaning machines, professional hygiene consumables, disposable and reusable tableware, food packaging, fruit and vegetable packaging, wine packaging, industrial packaging, and retail packaging supplies. Papival resells products from major manufacturers including FIMAP, Tork, Werner & Mertz, Vikan, Meiko, Rubbermaid, Nilfisk, Essity, and Wepa, rather than producing proprietary goods.

The company serves four primary customer segments: professional cleaning and janitorial businesses, food service and hospitality operators, retail and e-commerce merchants, and (secondarily) industrial/manufacturing buyers. Its customer base is described as a mix of SMBs and individual consumers transacting through the e-commerce site, with enterprise buyers served via direct sales representatives covering Suisse romande (Bertrand Claret) and Suisse allemande (Gino Lunario). Papival's offering combines one-stop product procurement with complementary services — FIMAP cleaning machine rentals and a reusable tableware rental-plus-washing operation — alongside free delivery for orders over 500 CHF and quote-based pricing for larger contracts.

Papival is a privately held corporation with no disclosed external investors, no funding history, no M&A activity, and no parent company. It employs 11-50 staff across sales, logistics, finance, IT, HR, communications, and operations roles, with a director (Remo Sargenti) leading the business. The company monetizes through per-transaction product sales, machine rental, and washing service fees, with no subscription, licensing, or data-based revenue streams. Geographic reach is limited to Switzerland.

Name

Papival

Legal name

Papival SA

Website

https://papival.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Papival SA is a privately held Swiss distributor of hygiene, cleaning, and packaging products based in Sion, serving professional businesses, food service operators, retailers, and industrial buyers across Switzerland via a bilingual e-commerce site and physical store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Packaging and Hygiene Distribution

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Napkins, Tableware & Foodservice Disposables (Plates, Cups, Cutlery) (CRADALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hard Surface & Multi-Purpose Cleaners (All-purpose, Floor, Bathroom, Kitchen) (CRADAKAG), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Gloves, Masks/Respirators, Gowns, Face Shields) (HLAHANAF), Leasing, Rental & Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) Enablement (EUAIANAI)

Keywords

• Packaging distribution
• Hygiene supplies
• Cleaning equipment
• Disposable tableware
• Food packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Sion

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Hygiene and Packaging: Papival generates revenue through the sale of hygiene, cleaning, and packaging products to businesses and professionals. Products include disposable tableware, cleaning equipment (FIMAP machines), food packaging, and industrial packaging materials. The company operates on a per-transaction basis with prices listed in CHF.
2. Machine Rental Services: Papival offers rental services for cleaning machines (autolaveuses/scrubbers) and reusable tableware (vaisselle réutilisable) including washing services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Papival SA is a Swiss distributor selling hygiene products, professional cleaning equipment, food packaging, industrial packaging, disposable and reusable tableware, wine packaging, and retail packaging primarily to professional buyers across Switzerland. It combines a self-service e-commerce storefront (papival.ch) with a physical store in Sion, French- and German-speaking sales staff, and complementary services including FIMAP cleaning machine rentals and reusable tableware rental with washing.

Product overview

Papival is an online retail company based in Sion, Switzerland, offering a comprehensive range of hygiene and packaging products. The product portfolio consists of multiple product categories sold through an e-commerce platform: Hygiene products (including FIMAP cleaning machines, professional equipment, paper products, and PPE), Fruits & Vegetables Packaging, Industry Packaging (cardboard, cushioning, tapes), Disposable Tableware (biodegradable options, cups, cutlery, plates, bowls), Reusable Tableware (rental and washing service), Wine Packaging (bottle cartons, gift boxes), Food Packaging (vacuum bags, bakery items), Retail Packaging (carrier bags), and miscellaneous products. The company operates as a distributor/reseller of branded products and does not appear to have proprietary technology products or software offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hygiene Products (Hygiène)
• Fruits & Vegetables Packaging (Fruits & Légumes)
• Industrial Packaging (Industrie)
• Disposable Tableware (Vaisselle Jetable)
• Reusable Tableware Rental and Washing Service (Vaisselle Réutilisable)
• Wine Packaging (Vin)
• Food Packaging (Emballage Alimentaire)
• Retail Packaging (Commerce de Détail)
• FIMAP Cleaning Machine Sales and Rental

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FIMAPcoreTechnology or IntegrationFIMAP is a key brand partner for professional cleaning machines. Papival sells and rents FIMAP equipment including autolaveuses (scrubbers) and offers related maintenance services.
• BBC MontheyminorOthersBrand partner listed on Papival's website.
• VikanminorOthersProfessional cleaning brushes and equipment brand partner.
• MeikominorOthersCommercial dishwashing and cleaning equipment brand.
• TorkminorOthersHygiene product brand including dispensers and paper products.
• Werner & MertzminorOthersProfessional cleaning chemicals and products brand.
• RubbermaidminorOthersCommercial cleaning and hygiene products brand.
• NilfiskminorOthersProfessional cleaning equipment manufacturer.
• EssityminorOthersHygiene and health products brand.
• WepaminorOthersPaper products manufacturer brand partner.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Webstaurant Store: Webstaurant Store is the largest US online restaurant supply retailer, offering a deep catalog of foodservice disposables, cleaning supplies, and smallwares with account-based ordering. Comparable to Papival's e-commerce-first foodservice and hygiene catalog, though operating at much larger scale in the US market.
• Bunzl plc: Bunzl is a London-listed international distribution group specializing in cleaning, hygiene, foodservice, and packaging products sold to B2B customers across Europe and North America. Highly comparable to Papival: same multi-category B2B distribution model spanning cleaning chemicals, PPE, disposable tableware, and packaging — though at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• KaTom Restaurant Supply: KaTom is a US-based online restaurant supply retailer specializing in foodservice disposables, smallwares, and cleaning supplies for restaurants and caterers. Directly comparable to Papival's foodservice and disposable-tableware category with a similar pure-play e-commerce distribution model, though US-only and larger.
• Prodega (Transgourmet Schweiz): Prodega is Transgourmet Schweiz's cash-and-carry wholesale banner serving Swiss restaurants, hotels, and caterers with foodservice, hygiene, and packaging supplies. Directly comparable to Papival: same Swiss geography, same B2B HoReCa and foodservice customer base, similar multi-category foodservice + hygiene offering, with a larger store footprint.
• Uline: Uline is a major North American distributor of shipping, packaging, industrial, and janitorial supplies sold through a deep online catalog with rapid delivery. Comparable to Papival in catalog breadth across industrial packaging, retail packaging, and cleaning/janitorial supplies, plus the e-commerce-led fulfillment model.
• CWS Group: CWS is a European leader in sustainable hygiene and workplace solutions, operating rental and service models for washroom hygiene, mats, and reusable products. Directly comparable to Papival's reusable tableware and cleaning-machine rental/washing service — both monetize a Product-as-a-Service circular-economy offering rather than pure product resale.

Broad incumbents

• Sysco: Sysco is the largest US foodservice distribution company supplying restaurants, hotels, and institutions with food, disposables, and equipment. Adjacent to Papival's food-service customer segment and disposable/smallwares catalog, but focused on fresh and frozen food distribution rather than hygiene/packaging.
• Grainger: Grainger is a leading North American distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supplies including janitorial, cleaning, and PPE products sold through a deep online catalog. Comparable to Papival in cleaning, PPE, and industrial supplies categories and the e-commerce catalog model, but at vastly greater scale and broader industrial scope.
• Smurfit Kappa: Smurfit Kappa is one of the world's largest paper-based packaging manufacturers and distributors, serving industrial, retail, and consumer goods customers. Overlaps with Papival's industrial packaging, retail packaging, and wine packaging categories, but operates as a vertically integrated manufacturer rather than a distributor.
• Ecolab: Ecolab is the global leader in commercial cleaning, sanitation, and water/hygiene solutions serving hospitality, foodservice, and healthcare customers. Overlaps with Papival's hygiene, cleaning chemicals, and foodservice categories but at vastly greater scale and with a service-plus-chemicals model rather than multi-brand distribution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAInRmENwLQP3ICSPB9W4-A/videos?disable_polymer=1
• Facebookfacebook.com/papivalsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/papival-sa---emballage-et-hygi%C3%A8ne
• Instagraminstagram.com/papivalsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Papival