What ET2C International does

ET2C International is a privately held, British-owned global sourcing and procurement services company founded in 2001, providing end-to-end supply chain support to European and North American businesses that source from Asia. The firm is operationally anchored across China, India, Vietnam, and Turkey with 200+ colleagues and seven offices, and differentiates through a "buying office model" in which dedicated, salaried in-market teams operate as extensions of client procurement functions rather than as commission-based intermediaries. Core services span supplier identification and qualification, price negotiation, order management, independent quality inspection at every production stage, social compliance auditing, and logistics coordination, delivered alongside verticalised offerings for industrial components, consumer goods, and retail products.

The business is monetised through quote-based, multi-year professional services engagements and retained buying office mandates, with revenue scaling to client sourcing volumes rather than fixed overhead. Go-to-market is consultative direct sales targeted at mid-to-large enterprises in retail, consumer goods, and industrial manufacturing, supported by content marketing, self-service assessment tools (Sourcing Stress Test, Buying Office Model Test, China+1 Calculator), and case-study-led demand generation. The underlying technology stack is operational rather than platform-based, with proprietary frameworks (including a five-stage China+1 support model) and a 25-year supplier network functioning as the principal differentiators; no AI, API, or software product is part of the core offering.

ET2C's customer base spans European and North American retailers, wholesalers, consumer goods companies, industrial manufacturers, and startups, with documented engagements producing measurable outcomes such as a 20% reduction in production downtime for a European machinery manufacturer and a 40% reduction in expedited freight costs for an automotive parts supplier. The firm is positioning to capture supply chain diversification tailwinds via its China+1 strategy services, India sourcing team build-out, and a recently introduced Private Equity service vertical targeting portfolio company supply chain transformation.

Name

ET2C International

Legal name

ET2C International Limited

Website

https://et2c.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ET2C International is a British-owned global sourcing and procurement services firm founded in 2001, providing buying office, supplier qualification, and quality assurance support to European and North American enterprises sourcing from China, India, Vietnam, and Turkey.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Global Sourcing Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade, Export Controls & Customs Compliance (BPAHAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)

Keywords

• Global sourcing services
• Procurement outsourcing
• Buying office model
• Supplier quality management
• Asia supply chain

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Global Sourcing & Procurement Services: ET2C provides end-to-end international sourcing support as a retained or fee-based service. Unlike commission-based procurement agents, ET2C operates with no commercial interest in which supplier is selected or at what price, aligning incentives with buyer interests. Revenue is generated through professional service fees for buying office services, supplier qualification, quality assurance, compliance management, and sourcing support.
2. Buying Office Retained Services: Activity-based and directly tied to sourcing volumes and scope. When business grows, capacity scales. When it contracts, so does the cost base, providing variable cost flexibility compared to fixed overhead of wholly owned entities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ET2C International is a global sourcing and procurement service provider that connects European and North American businesses with verified manufacturers across China, India, Vietnam, and Turkey. Its core offering is a buying office model in which dedicated, salaried in-market teams act as an extension of the client's procurement function, providing supplier identification, qualification, negotiation, order management, independent quality inspection, social compliance auditing, and logistics coordination. Services are delivered on a fee-based, custom engagement basis rather than commission-based agent arrangements.

Product overview

ET2C International is a British-owned global sourcing company operating since 2001, providing comprehensive procurement and supply chain services across China, India, Vietnam, and Turkey. The core offering comprises three integrated service pillars: Sourcing and Procurement (supplier identification, qualification, and order management), the Buying Office Model (dedicated in-market teams embedded within clients' procurement functions), and Quality and Compliance Services (factory audits, product inspection, and AQL sampling). These are delivered alongside industry-specific vertical services for Industrial Components, Consumer Goods, and Retail Products. Market-specific services cover sourcing in China, India, Vietnam, and Turkey, with strategic advisory for China+1 diversification and risk management. The company operates over 200 colleagues across 7 offices in major and emerging Asian sourcing markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sourcing and Procurement Services End-to-end global sourcing and procurement services connecting businesses with verified manufacturers across Asia, covering supplier identification, qualification, price negotiation, and order management. Targeted at European and North American enterprises, retailers, wholesalers, and consumer goods companies that need access to low-cost country manufacturing.
• Buying Office Model A dedicated in-market sourcing team embedded within the client's procurement function, providing continuous supplier oversight, quality control, and relationship management without the overhead of a wholly-owned entity. Teams are salaried ET2C professionals with no commercial interest in which supplier is selected, and engagement scales up or down with sourcing volumes.
• Quality and Compliance Services Independent factory audit programmes, in-line and pre-shipment product inspection services, AQL sampling, social compliance audits, and ongoing quality assurance to verify supplier compliance with international standards. Designed for buyers needing third-party verification of Asian manufacturers.
• Industrial Components Sourcing
• Consumer Goods Sourcing
• Retail Products Sourcing
• China Sourcing Services
• India Sourcing Services
• Vietnam Sourcing Services
• Turkey Sourcing Services
• China+1 Strategy Services
• Private Equity Sourcing Services
• Risk Management Services
• Market Entry Strategy Services
• Talent Acquisition Services
• Office Setup and Management Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced production downtime by 20% for European machinery manufacturer through coordinated supplier capacity monitoring
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Procurify: Cloud-based procurement platform for mid-market companies. Comparable to ET2C's mid-market and startup customer segment from a procurement enablement angle, though primarily technology rather than services-driven.
• Arkestro: Predictive procurement platform combining AI with supplier sourcing optimization. Comparable to ET2C as a technology-enabled emerging player targeting similar enterprise procurement functions seeking to improve sourcing outcomes.
• Keelvar: AI-powered sourcing optimization platform for strategic procurement. Comparable to ET2C as an emerging technology-enabled procurement partner addressing similar supplier selection and sourcing decision workflows for enterprise clients.
• Source Intelligence: Supply chain compliance and supplier management platform focused on regulatory and ESG compliance. Comparable to ET2C's social compliance auditing and supplier qualification services for Asia-sourced products.

Direct peers

• Li & Fung: Hong Kong-based global sourcing and supply chain solutions provider with deep Asia manufacturing networks. Directly comparable to ET2C as a buying office and procurement services firm serving Western retailers and brands across multiple sourcing geographies.
• GEP Worldwide: Global procurement and supply chain services and software provider serving large enterprises. Directly comparable to ET2C's procurement services practice, with overlapping target customer base and similar outsourced buying function offerings.
• QIMA: Asia-based quality control and supply chain compliance provider offering factory audits, inspections, and supplier management. Directly comparable to ET2C's Quality and Compliance Services line, particularly for Asia-sourced consumer goods and industrial components.

Broad incumbents

• Bain & Company (Procurement Practice): Global management consultancy with a significant procurement and supply chain advisory practice. Comparable to ET2C at the strategic advisory layer, serving similar enterprise clients on sourcing strategy, China+1 transitions, and supply chain transformations.
• Bureau Veritas: Major international TIC services group with significant Asia sourcing market operations. Comparable to ET2C's compliance auditing and quality inspection services, serving similar enterprise clients requiring supplier verification.
• Intertek: Global Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) incumbent with extensive Asia presence. Comparable to ET2C's factory audit and inspection services as a broader, multi-industry TIC player offering overlapping quality assurance capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ET2C.International
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/et2c-international-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ET2C International