Andreas Kupfer & Sohn

What Andreas Kupfer & Sohn does

Andreas Kupfer & Sohn GmbH is a family-owned, fourth-generation fresh food wholesale distributor headquartered at the Nuremberg wholesale market since 1913. The company procures, packages, and distributes a full-range assortment of up to 1,000 articles across five categories: fruit and vegetables, dairy, meat and sausage, fresh and ready convenience products, and delicatessen. It sells B2B to discount retailers, grocery wholesale and retail (LEH), specialty retail (Facheinzelhandel), and the gastronomy and system gastronomy sector, delivering across a 300 km radius around Nuremberg that covers all major Bavarian cities. International sourcing spans Greece, Italy, Israel, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Thailand through long-standing producer relationships.

Operational infrastructure is the company's defining differentiator. The Nuremberg site has 8,400 m² of warehouse space divided into 8 climate-controlled zones, an in-house computer-controlled banana ripening facility with 25,000 boxes/week capacity (remotely monitorable via mobile and PC), packing stations, and a rail connection. A fleet of 35 owned Euro 6 refrigerated trucks — ATP-Klasse FRC certified, deep-freeze capable to -29°C, with multi-chamber temperature systems and GPS tracking — handles distribution. A second location in Bergkirchen (formerly Munich), established in 1969 and relocated in 2013, operates as a legally and economically independent entity serving southern Bavaria and Mediterranean imports.

The business model combines fresh produce wholesale distribution with cold-chain logistics services offered to third parties. Pricing is quote-based via direct sales; customers are reached through 24-hour phone/email accessibility and a field sales motion with dedicated gastronomy sales, gastronomy purchasing, and retail sales divisions. Marketing is light: a website, weekly market reports, and monthly seasonal flyers. Quality is governed by IFS Higher Level certification (since 2011, noted as a pioneer), QS, EU-Organic, GQB Bayern, BSCI, and CSR programs. Strategic shareholder positions in COBANA (bananas, 1988), Fruchtring (fresh produce procurement, 1983), and CF Gastro (1998) embed the firm in three collective buying networks. The company remains privately held under family leadership, with Thomas Kupfer, Alexander Merkel, and Ralf Peter as Managing Directors.

Name

Andreas Kupfer & Sohn

Legal name

Andreas Kupfer & Sohn GmbH

Website

https://kupfer-sohn.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Andreas Kupfer & Sohn GmbH is a fourth-generation, family-owned fresh food wholesale distributor based in Nuremberg, Germany, supplying up to 1,000 SKUs of fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, convenience, and delicatessen products to discount retailers, grocery retail, specialty retail, and gastronomy across Bavaria via 35 own refrigerated trucks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh Food Distribution

NAICS

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480), Other Grocery and Related Products Merchant Wholesalers (42449)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Terminal Market / Produce Market Wholesalers (AFAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refrigerated/Chilled Foods Wholesale (Deli, Prepared, Fresh Pasta, etc.) (AFAIAHAB), Restaurant & Catering Cold Delivery (TLAAAJAB)

Keywords

• Fresh produce distribution
• Cold chain logistics
• Food wholesale supply
• Banana ripening services
• Gastronomy food supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Nürnberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fresh Produce Wholesale Distribution: Core revenue stream from procurement, packaging and distribution of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, and delicatessen to discount retailers, grocery wholesale and retail, specialty retail, and gastronomy customers. Operates as a full-range fresh food supplier with up to 1,000 articles.
2. Logistics Services for Third Parties: Provides cold chain logistics services in the fresh food sector for third-party companies, leveraging own fleet of 35 refrigerated trucks and warehouse facilities with climate zones.
3. Wholesale Market Retail Sales: Operates stand sales at the Nuremberg wholesale market for gastronomes, wholesale buyers, and specialty retailers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Andreas Kupfer & Sohn procures, packages, and distributes fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat and sausages, convenience foods, and delicatessen to discount retailers, grocery wholesale and retail, specialty retail, gastronomy and system gastronomy customers across Bavaria. Distribution is supported by owned cold-chain infrastructure including a computer-controlled banana ripening facility (25,000 boxes/week), an 8,400 m² warehouse with 8 climate zones, and a fleet of 35 multi-chamber refrigerated trucks delivering within a 300 km radius around Nuremberg. The company also performs cold-chain logistics services for third parties.

Product overview

Andreas Kupfer & Sohn GmbH is a family-owned fresh food distribution company operating since 1913, serving retail, foodservice, and wholesale customers. The company offers a full-range fresh assortment (Vollsortiment) of up to 1,000 articles organized into five core product lines: Obst & Gemüse (fruits and vegetables, the founding category), Molkereiprodukte (dairy), Fleisch & Wurstwaren (meat and sausage), Fresh & Ready/Convenience products, and Feinkost (delicatessen). These products are supported by integrated operational infrastructure including a proprietary Bananenreiferei (banana ripening facility with 25,000 boxes/week capacity) and a Frische-Logistik fleet of 35 temperature-controlled trucks. The portfolio is distinguished by IFS and QS quality certifications, Bio/organic options, and the company's own climate-neutral ripening technology. Customers include discount retailers, food wholesalers, specialty retail, and the hospitality sector across a 300 km delivery radius centered on Nuremberg.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Obst & Gemüse (Fruit & Vegetables) Core product range featuring up to 1,000 articles of conventional and organic fruits and vegetables sourced from regional Bavaria/Franconia, Europe (e.g., fennel from Italy, asparagus from Schrobenhausen), and worldwide (e.g., pineapples from Costa Rica). Supplied to discount retailers, grocery wholesale, specialty retail, and gastronomy customers.
• Molkereiprodukte (Dairy Products) Full portfolio of milk products including mountain farm milk, sour cream, and buffalo burrata sourced from regional producers and international dairy specialists in various package sizes for retail and gastronomy customers.
• Fleisch & Wurstwaren (Meat & Sausage) Meat and sausage products from regional and international suppliers including pork and free-range poultry from Altmühltal, tender beef from Uruguay, salami specialties from Apulia, and Munich white sausages for retail and gastronomy customers.
• Fresh & Ready / Convenience Products Pre-cooked and pre-prepared products including washed salad mixes, pre-formed dumplings, and precisely cut vegetables serving large-scale gastronomy and foodservice operations that require consistent quality with reduced preparation effort.
• Feinkost (Delicatessen) Fine deli items including spreads, antipasti, ready-to-serve salads and dressings, and fresh pasta with various fillings. Suppliers include Kugler, Tradizione Padane, Heiderbeck, and Backfrucht for seasonal products such as rhubarb, strawberries, plums, and brunch buffet items.
• Frische-Logistik (Fresh Food Logistics) Temperature-controlled logistics service with 35 owned Euro 6 trucks, deep-freeze capable to -29°C, ATP-class FRC certified, with multi-chamber temperature systems and GPS monitoring. Delivers within a 300 km radius around Nuremberg and is also offered as a third-party cold-chain logistics service.
• Banana Ripening Service In-house banana ripening service with capacity of 25,000 boxes per week for both conventional and organic bananas. Computer-controlled ripening chambers can be monitored remotely via mobile phone and PC/tablet, operating nearly climate-neutral with the 2019 glycol brine refrigeration system. Supplies food retail (LEH), gastronomy, and Nuremberg wholesale market customers with bananas at required color stages.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000 boxes/week banana ripening capacity
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CF (Gastro)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998Gastro-focused purchasing company. Kupfer & Sohn became a shareholder in 1998 to strengthen position in the gastronomy sector.
• COBANA GmbH & Co KG (Cobana Bananen Einkaufsgesellschaft)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988COBANA is a banana purchasing company. Kupfer & Sohn became a shareholder in 1988, marking the breakthrough from regional wholesale to internationally active service provider. This partnership secures banana sourcing and import for the company's own ripening facilities.
• Fruchtring Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co KGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Fruit ring trading company. Kupfer & Sohn became a shareholder in 1983, enabling better procurement of fresh produce through collective purchasing power.
• KuglerminorOthersFine food supplier partner for delicatessen products including spreads and antipasti for brunch buffets
• Tradizione PadaneminorOthersItalian fine food manufacturer supplying delicatessen products
• HeiderbeckminorOthersFine food supplier partner for delicatessen products
• BackfruchtminorOthersBaker's fruit supplier for seasonal products like rhubarb, strawberries, and plums. Provides both as convenience products and pre-set on baking trays for the baking trade.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CHEFS CULINAR: Germany's leading specialized foodservice distributor serving hotels, restaurants, and catering with fresh and frozen products including fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, and delicatessen — the closest direct comparable to Kupfer's gastronomy segment.
• Transgourmet Deutschland: Foodservice distribution arm of REWE Group supplying fresh, frozen and dry goods to gastronomy and bulk consumers across Germany; directly comparable in customer base (gastronomy/Großverbraucher) and in fresh-product specialization.
• Handelshof (Bartels-Langness Group cash & carry): Cash & carry and wholesale foodservice operator (Bartels-Langness family-owned) serving gastronomy and trade customers with fresh produce, dairy, meat, and delicatessen in Southern Germany; closest regional peer by ownership profile and product mix.
• Weiling GmbH: Germany's largest organic-focused wholesale distributor serving organic retailers, gastronomy, and specialist trade; highly comparable in Bio certification, fresh assortment, and proximity to Kupfer's organic/Bavarian retail channel.
• FrischeParadies (Schmidt REIMER Group): Premium fresh-food specialist (fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy) supplying top gastronomy and retail in Germany with own ripening facilities; competes for the same high-end HoReCa accounts Kupfer serves.

Regional players

• BayWa AG: Munich-headquartered group with agricultural trading and fresh-produce handling exposure across Bavaria and beyond; overlaps regionally with Kupfer on produce sourcing and selected retail/wholesale channels.

Broad incumbents

• REWE Group: Major German grocery and convenience retailer with vertical wholesale capabilities, including the BUDNI subsidiary; Kupfer serves REWE-channel grocery customers and competes for shelf-supply contracts across Bavaria.
• METRO AG / Transgourmet Deutschland: Europe's biggest foodservice and wholesale operator (cash & carry plus Transgourmet foodservice distribution); directly comparable to Kupfer's gastronomy and HoReCa supply model on a much larger, multi-country scale.
• EDEKA Minden-Hannover / EDEKA Group: Germany's largest retailer-wholesaler network operating its own regional wholesale entities that supply independent retailers; overlaps with Kupfer's retail and gastronomy customer base with much broader scale and geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Naturkost Süd: Specialized organic wholesale serving natural food retail and gastronomy across Southern Germany; an emerging specialist comparable in organic certification, fresh assortment, and southern German footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kupferundsohn

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Andreas Kupfer & Sohn