Sabemaf

What Sabemaf does

Sabemaf S.A. is a Belgian family-owned distributor and systems integrator of professional kitchen equipment, founded in 1924 and headquartered in Wavre with a second operational site in Erembodegem. The company serves institutional clients across Belgium and Luxembourg in four primary verticals—healthcare (hospitals and care homes), corporate/enterprise, education, and HORECA—through direct territory-based field sales covering Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels. Revenue is generated from three streams: one-time equipment sales (acting as exclusive distributor for premium OEMs including Meiko, Rational Production, Nordisk Clean Solutions, Brimato, and MKN), project services (custom design, installation, and commissioning of integrated systems such as 180+ meter tray-transport layouts with 23-meter vertical lifts), and recurring after-sales service and maintenance contracts with weekend on-call coverage. Pricing is project-based and quote-driven, with milestone payment terms (30% on order, 50% at delivery, balance at commissioning).

The company's technical offering spans four solution categories: preparation (cooking kettles, portioning belts), meal distribution (Rational Production refrigerated trolleys, docking stations, and bulk/individual portion systems), dishwashing (Meiko M-IQ and Bluefire tunnel dishwashers, tray conveyors and lifts, Nordisk granule pot washers), and organic waste processing (Meiko Waste Star systems). Notable technology differentiators include the Benelux-first Brimato cutlery sorting and packaging machine (up to 3,500 pieces/hour with vision-based identification at UZ Leuven) and integrated Meiko dishwashing organizations delivering throughput metrics such as 8,500 cups/hour at V3-Manupal. Marquee reference customers include the European Parliament, BNP Paribas Fortis headquarters, UZ Leuven Gasthuisberg, Pfizer Puurs, Caterpillar, CHU Liège, and the University of Antwerp.

Sabemaf employs approximately 53 people across technical, commercial, administrative, and culinary advisory functions, led by Managing Director Vincent Luyckx (Administrateur Délégué) and a management team including Commercial Director Manu Rubbens, Technical Director Jeroen Bruffaerts, and Administrative Director Marleen Jeuris. The company celebrated its centenary in May 2024 as a fourth-generation family business, maintains a multi-language website (French, Dutch, English) and LinkedIn presence, and reaches institutional buyers through biennial Distribution Days customer events, industry exhibitions (Health & Care Flanders Expo Gent, HOST Milan), and its own Catering magazine publications.

Name

Sabemaf

Legal name

Sabemaf S.A.

Website

https://sabemaf.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sabemaf is a Belgian family-owned distributor and systems integrator of professional kitchen equipment, founded in 1924, serving hospitals, corporate, education, and HORECA clients across Belgium and Luxembourg with exclusive OEM partnerships and turnkey project services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Kitchen Equipment Distribution and Installation

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

Restaurant & Commercial Kitchen Equipment Wholesale (AFAIALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial Cooking Equipment & Parts Wholesale (AFAIALAJ), Contract Foodservice Management (Outsourced Catering) (THAFAIAH)

Keywords

• Professional kitchen equipment
• Commercial dishwashing systems
• Meal distribution solutions
• Industrial food service equipment
• Kitchen project installation

Headquarters

HQ city

Wavre

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sale of professional kitchen equipment including preparation systems, distribution equipment, dishwashing machines, and organic waste processing units. Products sourced from branded partners like Meiko, Rational Production, Nordisk/Granuldisk, and distributed with customization and integration services.
2. Project Services: Complete project management including design, installation, and commissioning of professional kitchen systems. Involves custom engineering for conveyor systems, tray transport, and integrated solutions for large-scale institutional kitchens.
3. After-Sales Service and Maintenance: Technical support, spare parts, maintenance contracts, and emergency repair services through dedicated service department with weekend on-call availability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sabemaf distributes, designs, installs, and services professional kitchen equipment systems — including preparation, meal distribution, dishwashing, and organic waste processing solutions — for institutional clients such as hospitals, care homes, corporate caterers, schools, and HORECA operators in Belgium and Luxembourg. The company acts as an exclusive or main distributor for premium European manufacturers and delivers projects on a turnkey basis, complemented by long-term after-sales service.

Product overview

Sabemaf is a specialized distributor and installer of professional kitchen equipment serving the Belgian and Luxembourg markets. The company offers four main solution categories: Preparation (cooking kettles, portioning equipment), Distribution (Rational Production meal distribution systems with heated/cooled carts), Dishwashing (Meiko tunnel dishwashers, rack machines, tray conveyors, Nordisk Clean Solutions granule pot washers), and Organic Waste Processing (Meiko Waste Star systems). Sabemaf also distributes Brimato cutlery sorting and packaging solutions and MKN cooking equipment. The company provides complete project services including design, installation, and after-sales maintenance. Target sectors include healthcare (hospitals, care homes), corporate dining, education, and HORECA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Kitchen Preparation Equipment

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,200 daily meals processed through automated tray transport system at Antwerp corporate restaurant
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and significant.

• Rational ProductioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Exclusive distribution partnership for representation and distribution of Rational Production meal distribution equipment (refrigerated trolleys and meal distribution systems) in Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Rational Production is a major player in collective catering logistics, known for flexible and quality solutions respecting social and environmental aspects. Partnership builds on Sabemaf's years of activity in hospital and care home meal distribution market.
• MeikocoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing partnership for dishwashing equipment including conveyor belts, dishwashing tunnels, pot washing machines, and tray lifts. Sabemaf designs, draws, and realizes complete dishwashing organizations in collaboration with Meiko. Products include M-IQ Bluefire 3-lane dishwashing tunnels, Waste Star organic waste processing, and vertical tray conveyors.
• Nordisk Clean Solutions (formerly Granuldisk)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership began in the 1990s and has continued for 3 decades. Nordisk Clean Solutions (renamed from Granuldisk in 2023) is associated with the best in granule pot washers worldwide. Patented technology enables faster cleaning of pots and pans with less labor, water, detergent, and energy.
• BrimatomajorTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of automatic cutlery sorting and packaging machines. Sabemaf installed Benelux's first fully automatic Brimato cutlery sorting and packaging machine at UZ Leuven. Systems photograph and sort individual cutlery pieces (up to 3,500/hour) and package with 100% recyclable paper.
• MobitechminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner participating in Sabemaf's Distribution Days customer information events focused on meal distribution in healthcare sector.
• Verrax-DemuynckminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner participating in Sabemaf's Distribution Days customer information events focused on meal distribution in healthcare sector.
• V3-ManupalsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise (formerly sheltered workshop) that operates an independent business with social objectives. Sabemaf delivered and commissioned a Meiko dishwashing tunnel with capacity of approximately 8,500 cups/hour for V3-Manupal's reusable cup and packaging washing platform.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hoshizaki: Japanese-headquartered global manufacturer of commercial ice machines, refrigeration, and beverage equipment. Operates broadly across categories overlapping with Sabemaf's healthcare and corporate kitchen installations and is part of the Ali Group ecosystem.
• Ali Group: Italian global conglomerate and one of the largest foodservice equipment manufacturers in the world, owning brands such as Hoshizaki-Ireland, Williams, and Baron. Competes broadly in the institutional kitchen category and is a structural consolidator of independent distributors across Europe.
• Middleby Corporation: US-listed global foodservice equipment company with extensive European operations through brands like TurboChef, Lincat, and Houno. Competes in commercial cooking, dishwashing, and meal distribution with institutional customers globally.
• Electrolux Professional: Swedish-Italian global manufacturer of professional food service, laundry, and beverage equipment. Competes with Sabemaf's distributed brand portfolio across cooking, dishwashing, and food preparation for institutional customers across Europe.
• Hobart: Global manufacturer of commercial food preparation, cooking, and dishwashing equipment under the Hobart and Wolf ranges. Operates broadly across the same institutional kitchen categories Sabemaf serves and competes for similar large institutional projects across Europe.
• Meiko: Global German manufacturer of commercial dishwashing, cleaning, and food waste handling systems. Sabemaf is a long-standing distribution partner for Meiko's full Belgian/Luxembourg territory, making Meiko both a principal and the closest large-scale category incumbent in Sabemaf's core dishwashing business.
• Welbilt (Manitowoc Foodservice): Global manufacturer of commercial foodservice equipment under brands Convotherm, Merrychef, and Manitowoc Ice. Operates broadly across cooking and beverage equipment categories overlapping with Sabemaf's institutional kitchen portfolio.
• Rational AG: German global market leader in combi-steamer ovens for professional kitchens. Sabemaf is Rational's exclusive distribution partner in Belgium/Luxembourg, making Rational both a principal and a category incumbent competing for the same institutional customer wallet.

Direct peers

• Winterhalter: German family-owned manufacturer specializing in commercial dishwashing systems and water treatment for professional kitchens. Closest direct competitor to Meiko in Sabemaf's dishwashing category, often competing head-to-head for European institutional project bids.

Emerging players

• CMA Dishmachines: US-based manufacturer of commercial dishwashers targeting small-to-mid-volume foodservice operators. Increasingly expanding into European markets with energy-efficient undercounter and conveyor dishwashers, competing with Meiko and Winterhalter at the smaller end of Sabemaf's installed base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sabemaf
• Facebookfacebook.com/Sabemaf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Sabemaf