What BIG-gruppen does

BIG-gruppen is a Nordic cooperative of independently owned professional builders' merchants operating approximately 112 retail stores across Sweden and Norway, headquartered in Stockholm. Founded in 1991 as Bygg- och IndustriGross Sverige AB, the group centralizes purchasing, IT, marketing, and enterprise sales while preserving local entrepreneurial ownership at the member-company level. Its offer spans tools, machinery, personal protective equipment (PPE), workwear, fasteners, and industrial consumables sold to manufacturing, construction, trades, service, and public-sector customers.

The group's core technology is a centralized product database managing 2.5 million articles, supporting catalog production, e-commerce, Punch Out/EDI integration, and member-company webshops. Revenue is generated primarily through transactional retail sales augmented by a higher-value service portfolio: AutomatService (24/7 on-site dispensing via SavePro vending, SaveBox cabinet, SaveRent loan module, SaveBox Smart), LagerService (on-site warehouse management), Total Service Provider (Lean-based procurement optimization), and BIG Academy Customer (safety training). Corporate/group customers ("koncernkunder") with multi-site Nordic operations are served by ~30 dedicated key account staff under multi-year contracts with national or Nordic price lists, with named anchors including SAS, Vattenfall, Fortum, Ericsson, and the municipal procurement organization Sinfra.

Growth is driven through acquisition-led network expansion, supported by BIG Invest—a member-owned vehicle for consolidation and generational transitions—alongside greenfield store openings and private-label brand development (BondTools, Exelar, Dimas Tools, Benox, Metreo, Presact, Flack, Carat, Tajima). The group holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 certifications, and is undergoing a leadership transition with a new CEO (Björn Holm) appointed in October 2025 from BE Group/Ahlsell.

Name

BIG-gruppen

Legal name

Bygg- och Industrigross Norden AB

Website

https://big-gruppen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

BIG-gruppen is a Nordic cooperative of ~112 independently owned professional builders' merchants in Sweden and Norway, supplying tools, machinery, PPE, and consumables to industrial, construction, trades, and public-sector customers via retail stores, e-commerce, and enterprise contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Supply Distribution

NAICS

Industrial Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (423830), Lumber and Other Construction Materials Merchant Wholesalers (4233)

SIC

Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Wholesale-Lumber & Other Construction Materials (5030), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction, Hardware & MRO Supply Clubs (Trades/Contractors) (CRAEAEAG)

Keywords

• Industrial tool supply
• Professional hardware retail
• Construction equipment distribution
• Personal protective equipment
• Workwear and safety gear

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices50 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales of Tools and Equipment: BIG-gruppen member companies sell tools, machines, personal protective equipment, and consumables through professional retail stores to construction, industrial, and trade customers.
2. Corporate/Group Customer Contracts: Large corporate customers with multiple sites receive centralized contracts with national or Nordic pricing, guaranteed supply, and comprehensive service packages.
3. Direct Import and Purchasing: Products are purchased directly from leading manufacturers worldwide without intermediaries (without fördyrande mellanled), enabling competitive pricing.
4. Warehouse and Logistics Services: LagerService (warehouse management), AutomatService (automated storage), and delivery services including turbilar (rapid delivery vehicles).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BIG-gruppen operates a Nordic cooperative network of approximately 112 independently owned professional builders' merchants and industrial supply stores across Sweden and Norway, selling tools, machines, personal protective equipment, workwear, and consumables to manufacturing, construction, trade, service, and public-sector customers. The central organization provides collective direct-from-manufacturer purchasing, shared IT and e-commerce infrastructure, marketing, training, and large Nordic corporate contracts, while member companies run local retail stores, warehouses, field sales, and value-added services including LagerService, AutomatService, Total Service Provider, and BIG Academy training.

Product overview

BIG-gruppen is a Nordic chain of approximately 100 independent professional hardware stores selling tools, machines, personal protective equipment (PPE), and consumables to industrial and construction professional customers across Sweden and Norway. The offering consists of a distributed network of locally-owned member companies unified under the BIG-gruppen umbrella, supported by a centralized product database of 2.5 million articles, a shared e-commerce/webshop platform, and a range of value-adding services. Its proprietary brands — BondTools (hand tools), Benox (flashlights and bags), Dimas Tools (diamond tools), Exelar (PPE including clothing/footwear since 2022), Metreo (measurement/marking tools), Presact (drilling accessories), Flack (fabric tape), Carat (diamond tools), and Tajima (Japanese hand tools) — are sold exclusively through the member network. The service portfolio includes AutomatService (secure on-site dispensing with SavePro vending, SaveBox cabinet, SaveRent loan module, and SaveBox Smart variants), LagerService (on-site warehouse management), Total Service Provider (Lean-based procurement optimization), BIG Academy Customer (safety training), and respiratory fit testing services. A mobile app and BIG Academy Mobile support field operations and sales staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BondTools: A broad and affordable range of tools and tool sets with high industrial quality, developed in close collaboration with professional users and leading manufacturers.
• Benox
• Dimas Tools
• Exelar
• Metreo
• Presact
• Flack
• Carat
• Tajima

Products and services

• AutomatService A secure storage and dispensing service placed at the customer's site (industry, workshop, or construction site) providing 24/7 self-service access to consumables, tools, equipment, machines, keys, computers, projectors, and similar items, with automatic reordering and full tracking. Sold to enterprise customers operating their own sites/workshops.
• LagerService An on-site warehouse management service where BIG-gruppen assumes responsibility for stocking, logistics, and inventory of consumables, tools, protective equipment, and machines at the customer's facility, optimizing inventory levels and reducing working capital. Sold to industrial, workshop, and construction site customers.
• Total Service Provider A Lean-based consulting and operational service that reviews and optimizes material management and procurement processes at the customer's facility, reducing open and hidden costs through supplier consolidation, inventory optimization, and continuous improvement. Sold to enterprise customers seeking to optimize indirect material spend.
• BIG Academy Customer Industry-specific professional training programs for customers and their employees covering workplace safety such as fall protection, hot work, work platforms, safe lifting, bolt guns, scaffolding, and BAS P/BAS U, following Swedish Work Environment Authority guidelines. Sold to construction, industrial, and maintenance customers needing certified safety training.
• Tillpassningstest av andningsskydd (Respiratory Fit Testing) Individual fit testing services for tight-fitting respiratory protection equipment, including selection assistance for correct model and size, conducted by trained personnel in BIG-gruppen member stores. Required under Swedish law from January 2025 for users of tight-fitting respiratory protection.
• BIG E-handel / Webshop E-commerce/webshop platforms operated by BIG-gruppen member companies, offering access to approximately 1.5-2.5 million articles with electronic ordering capabilities including Punch Out, EDI, web-stock, handheld terminals, and purchasing portals. Used by corporate customers and individual tradespeople for direct ordering.
• BIG App Mobile application launched in 2019 for efficient and precise order management of customer warehouses, enabling real-time inventory tracking and ordering by field and warehouse staff.
• BIG Academy Mobile Mobile training platform launched in 2018 for BIG-gruppen sales staff, providing on-the-go access to product knowledge, training materials, and skills development content.
• BondTools (Hand Tools brand) Private-label brand of hand tools and tool sets offering a broad, affordable range with high industrial quality, developed in close collaboration with professional users and leading manufacturers. Sold to professional tradespeople and industrial customers through BIG-gruppen member stores.
• Benox (Lighting and Bags brand) Private-label brand of flashlights, hand lamps, and bags developed in collaboration with professional users and manufacturers with a focus on function and quality. Sold through BIG-gruppen member stores to professional customers.
• Dimas Tools (Diamond Tools brand) Private-label brand of diamond tools for cutting professionals, including diamond drill bits, saw blades, and precision cutting equipment for construction and industrial applications. Sold through BIG-gruppen member stores.
• Exelar (PPE brand) Private-label brand of personal protective equipment including gloves, knee pads, safety glasses, helmets, and clothing/footwear (added in 2022). Sold through BIG-gruppen member stores to construction, industrial, and trade customers.
• Metreo (Measuring and Marking brand) Private-label brand of measuring and marking tools including calipers, tape measures, and marking pens. Sold through BIG-gruppen member stores.
• Presact (Drilling Accessories brand) Private-label brand offering an affordable and broad range of drills, drill sets, hole saws, countersinks, step drills, and multi-saw blades with high industrial quality. Sold through BIG-gruppen member stores.
• Flack (Fabric Tape brand) Private-label brand of strong and durable fabric (duct) tape for industrial and professional use. Sold through BIG-gruppen member stores.
• Carat (Diamond Tools brand) Brand established in 1985 in the Netherlands and one of the world's leading manufacturers of diamond tools for stone, tile, and drilling work. Range includes cutting blades, grinding discs, drill bits, hole saws, machines, and accessories. Sold through BIG-gruppen member stores.
• Tajima (Japanese Hand Tools brand) Brand from one of Japan's largest hand tool manufacturers, offering professional hand tools of high quality with exceptional functionality, specialized in knives, knife blades, caulking guns, and measuring tools. Sold through BIG-gruppen member stores.

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SinfracoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020BIG-gruppen signed a framework agreement with Sinfra (municipal infrastructure organization) for tools with accessories, workwear and protective equipment, hydraulics, lifting and cargo. Agreement period from 2020-01-01 to 2021-12-31 with possible extension.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves20 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Håndverksgruppen: Norwegian purchasing group of independent hand tools, machines, and consumables retailers for professional tradespeople. Operates a similar cooperative model to BIG-gruppen with locally owned member companies sharing central services and purchasing power.
• Optimera: Norwegian building materials and construction supply distributor serving contractors, trades, and industry - overlaps significantly with BIG-gruppen's Norwegian member companies (e.g., Hammerfest Maskinforretning, Vest Supply, Industripartner).
• Swedol / Tools: Nordic chain of professional tools, machinery, and PPE stores serving construction, industry, and trades. Highly comparable in product mix and customer segments; BIG's new Purchasing Manager Rickard Ljunglöf came from Swedol/Tools where he was Nordic Category Manager.
• BE Group: Nordic steel and industrial service center, distributing steel, stainless, aluminum, construction products, and industrial supplies to manufacturing and construction customers. Comparable Nordic customer base; BIG's incoming CEO Björn Holm joined from BE Group Sverige where he was Sales Manager.
• Ahlsell: Largest Nordic technical wholesale and industrial supply distributor operating across Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and the Baltics. Directly comparable product range (tools, PPE, industrial supplies), customer base (construction, trades, industrial), and go-to-market model. Several recent BIG-gruppen senior hires joined from Ahlsell.

Broad incumbents

• Grainger: North American industrial supply MRO distributor serving businesses with maintenance, repair, and operating products. Comparable in industrial MRO supply and the digital/automation solutions (vending, procurement integration), though operating primarily in the US market.
• Saint-Gobain Distribution: European building materials and industrial supply distribution arm of Saint-Gobain, encompassing Optimera and other Nordic operators. Offers overlapping construction materials, tools, and supply services across multiple European markets - comparable breadth but a much larger corporate parent.
• Kesko (Onninen / K-Rauta / K-Bygg): Finnish retail conglomerate with Onninen (technical wholesale) and K-Rauta/K-Bygg (building and home improvement) serving Nordic construction, industrial, and trades. Several recent BIG-gruppen senior hires came from Kesko's Nordic operations.
• Würth: Global market leader in fasteners, tools, and industrial supplies serving trades and industry with direct sales and retail outlets. Overlapping product categories (hand tools, PPE, consumables) and customer base, but operates at vastly larger global scale than BIG-gruppen.

Regional players

• Travis Perkins: UK builders' merchant and construction supply group with Toolstation and other formats serving tradespeople and contractors. Comparable customer focus (trades, construction) and product categories, but operating in a different geographic market (UK vs. Nordic).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries10 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 BIG-gruppen