SAMSE
SAMSE is a privately held French building materials distributor operating 90+ physical agencies across the Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, and PACA regions, serving construction professionals and individual homeowners with a comprehensive catalog and integrated e-commerce platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersGrenoble, France
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What SAMSE does
SAMSE is a privately held French building materials distributor (négoce) headquartered in Isère (Grenoble), operating a network of over 90 physical agencies across the Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, and PACA regions in southeastern France. The company distributes a comprehensive catalog spanning ten core product categories: structural construction materials (cement, bricks, concrete blocks, reinforcements), plaster/ceiling/insulation systems, carpentry and roofing, wood and panels, doors/windows/joinery, floor and wall coverings, outdoor/terrace products, public works and sanitation, tools/hardware/safety equipment, and electrical/plumbing/heating products. SAMSE also operates three specialty sub-brands: MPPI (Tout pour le Plaquiste) for plasterboard and insulation expertise, Careo for tiles and bathroom products, and Ménéo for windows, doors, and shutters, each with dedicated showrooms offering category-specific advisory services.
The technology layer combines the physical branch network with an e-commerce platform at samse.fr, enabling customers to create accounts, request quotes, manage orders and invoices, and choose between 48-hour home or job-site delivery and 2-hour express pickup from the nearest agency. Professional customers register for account-based pro pricing, and the site integrates an agency locator and product catalog spanning the full product range. The platform's proprietary features are primarily workflow-oriented (online account management, quote request systems, agency-based pickup logistics) rather than technology-differentiated.
SAMSE's business model is sales-led with a hybrid physical-digital go-to-market. Revenue is generated through one-time sales of building materials, delivery services, and value-added professional services including custom zinc bending, paint tinting, tool repair, and window supply-and-installation. Customer segmentation is vertical-based: building professionals (masons, drywall installers, carpenters, tilers, civil engineering firms) represent the primary segment, while individual homeowners undertaking renovation projects form a secondary segment. Distribution partnerships include premium suppliers (Velux), private label brands (ATOUT PRO), featured brands (VPI), and pickup network partners (Entrepôt du Bricolage through Bricoretrait), supporting both breadth of assortment and extended pickup coverage.
SAMSE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SAMSE
- Legal name
- SAMSE
- Website
- https://samse.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- SAMSE is a privately held French building materials distributor operating 90+ physical agencies across the Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, and PACA regions, serving construction professionals and individual homeowners with a comprehensive catalog and integrated e-commerce platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where SAMSE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grenoble
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SAMSE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Building Materials Sales: Core revenue from selling construction materials including aggregates, cement, bricks, insulation, roofing, carpentry, tiles, flooring, tools, plumbing, electrical, and civil engineering products through physical branches and e-commerce.
- Delivery Services: Revenue generated from 48-hour material delivery to homes or construction sites.
- Professional Services: Technical services including custom zinc bending, paint tinting machines, tool repair assistance, and window supply and installation services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Professional Pricing Tier |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
SAMSE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SAMSE is a French building materials distributor (négoce) that sells construction materials, tools, and related products through a network of over 90 physical agencies and an e-commerce website. The company supplies structural materials, insulation, roofing, carpentry, wood panels, doors and windows, floor and wall coverings, outdoor products, public works materials, tools, hardware, and electrical/plumbing/heating products to building professionals and individual homeowners across the Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, and PACA regions of France.
Product overview
SAMSE is a building materials distribution company operating as a unified platform offering comprehensive construction materials across 10 core product categories. The portfolio includes construction materials for structural work (concrete, cement, bricks, blocks), plaster/ceiling/insulation systems, carpentry/roofing materials, wood/panels, doors/windows/joinery, floor/wall coverings, outdoor/terrace products, public works/sanitation materials, tools/hardware/safety equipment, and electrical/plumbing/heating products. The company also operates specialty sub-brands including Careo (tile and bathroom specialist), Ménéo (windows and doors specialist), and MPPI (plasterboard and insulation specialist), each offering dedicated showrooms and expert consultation services. SAMSE serves both professional contractors and individual homeowners through a network of over 90 agencies in the Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, and PACA regions, offering online ordering, 48-hour delivery, and 2-hour in-store pickup services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MPPI (Tout pour le Plaquiste): Specialist in drywall, plasterboard, ceiling and insulation materials
- Careo
- Ménéo
Products and services
- Matériaux de construction, gros oeuvre (Structural Construction Materials) Construction materials for structural work including sand, gravel, cement, lime, mortar, concrete blocks, bricks, cellular concrete, glass blocks, reinforcements, formwork, and facade products. Sold to professional contractors and individual homeowners undertaking construction or renovation projects.
- Plâtre, plafond, isolation (Plaster, Ceiling, and Insulation) Plasterboards (standard, acoustic, water-resistant, fire-resistant, high hardness), metal framing, wall and ceiling insulation, roof insulation, and ceiling systems for drywall installers and interior finishers.
- Charpente, toiture (Carpentry and Roofing) Roofing tiles (terracotta, concrete, metal), raw and planed timber, covering materials, roof windows (including Velux products), waterproofing, and gutter systems for carpenters and roofers.
- Bois, panneaux (Wood and Panels) Formwork timber, softwood, OSB panels and slabs, particle panels, MDF panels, and carpentry panels for joiners, carpenters, and general construction use.
- Portes, fenêtres, menuiseries (Doors, Windows, and Joinery) Entry doors, interior doors, service doors, garage doors, windows, shutters, stairs, and portals for residential and commercial construction projects.
- Revêtements sols et murs (Floor and Wall Coverings) Tiling, flooring (parquet, laminate, vinyl, cork), paint, natural stone, and wood paneling for interior renovation and finishing.
- Terrasse, jardin (Terrace and Garden) Adjustable pedestals, ceramic and stone tiles, concrete pavers, terrace boards, fencing, swimming pools, and outdoor cooking equipment for outdoor construction and landscaping.
- Travaux publics, voiries, assainissement (Public Works, Roads, Sanitation) Cast iron road equipment, drainage systems, prefabricated concrete, rainwater management, water supply networks, and wastewater treatment products for civil engineering and public works projects.
- Outils, matériels, quincailleries, sécurité (Tools, Hardware, Safety) Power tools, hand tools, hardware, site equipment, fasteners, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for professional and DIY use.
- Électricité, plomberie, sanitaire, chauffage (Electrical, Plumbing, Sanitary, Heating) Wiring, lighting, water heaters, sanitary ware, bathroom furniture, and ventilation systems for technical installations in residential and commercial buildings.
- Careo (Tiles and Bathroom Specialist Showroom) Specialized showroom offering tiles, bathroom tiles, and parquet flooring with expert advice for tilers and homeowners undertaking bathroom renovation projects.
- Ménéo (Windows, Doors, and Shutters Specialist Showroom) Specialized showroom for windows, doors, and roller shutters, providing expertise for joinery and fenestration projects.
- MPPI / Tout pour le Plaquiste (Plasterboard and Insulation Specialist) Specialized expertise for plasterboard, ceiling, and insulation products and installation advice for drywall installers and ceiling fitters.
Companies that use SAMSE
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SAMSE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SAMSE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- MPPI (Tout pour le plaquiste)coreSpecialized partner brand focused on plasterboard, ceiling, and insulation products. MPPI branding appears on SAMSE website header, indicating a dedicated sub-brand or specialized partnership for drywall and insulation expertise.
- CareocoreSpecialized partner brand for tiles, bathrooms, and parquet. Careo showrooms offer specialized advice for tiling and flooring projects. Listed in SAMSE website header as a specialized sub-brand.
- MénéocoreSpecialized partner brand for windows, doors, and shutters. Ménéo showrooms provide specialized advice for joinery and fenestration projects. Listed in SAMSE website header.
- VeluxmajorPremium partner for roof windows and daylight solutions. SAMSE features Velux products prominently including seasonal offers (Velux 2026 promotion) and dedicated solution pages.
- Entrepôt du BricolageminorCollection point partnership (Bricoretrait) allowing SAMSE customers to pick up orders at Entrepôt du Bricolage locations for expanded coverage.
- ATOUT PROmajorSAMSE's own private label brand positioning professional-quality products at competitive pricing. Featured as brand of the month and highlighted in trade marketing campaigns.
- VPImajorFeatured as brand of the month alongside ATOUT PRO. VPI mortar and tile adhesive products highlighted in promotional campaigns.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
SAMSE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gedimat: French independent building materials cooperative with a network of local négoce branches. Its branch-network distribution model and balanced pro/consumer customer base closely mirror SAMSE's positioning.
- Point.P: Saint-Gobain Distribution's négociant banner for building materials in France, operating a comparable branch-network model serving construction professionals and homeowners. It is the closest national competitor to SAMSE in product range, customer mix, and service-oriented négoce distribution.
- BigMat France: French arm of the BigMat European cooperative of independent building materials dealers. Operates with a comparable négoce model, multi-branch presence, and pro/homeowner customer mix, making it a direct competitor for SAMSE's professional contractor accounts.
- VM Matériaux: French regional building materials distributor serving construction professionals and homeowners. Operates with a similar négoce branch network and product portfolio centered on construction, renovation, and finishing materials.
- Descours & Cabaud: French regional distributor of construction materials and supplies, with a comparable multi-branch négoce model serving building professionals and public-works clients across several French regions.
- Tout Faire Matériaux: French cooperative of independent building materials dealers serving construction professionals and individuals. Operates with a comparable regional branch model and product mix overlapping with SAMSE's core categories.
- Chausson Matériaux: Independent French regional building materials distributor with a multi-branch network focused on construction professionals. Comparable in product breadth, pro-customer orientation, and regional density model.
Broad incumbents
- Mr.Bricolage: French home-improvement retailer operating both owned stores and affiliated independent outlets. Comparable in carrying home improvement and building materials, but skewed toward consumer DIY rather than the pro-heavy négoce model SAMSE emphasizes.
- Leroy Merlin: Major French home-improvement and DIY retailer with a broad assortment and large-format stores. Overlaps with SAMSE on consumer-side renovation materials but is far larger, more retail-oriented, and less focused on the professional contractor segment.
- Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment: Parent division of Point.P and Cedeo; a much larger, multi-banner building materials distributor in France with broader geographic reach, deeper product range, and stronger procurement scale than SAMSE.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SAMSE social profiles
Digital presenceSAMSE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
SAMSE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SAMSE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SAMSE subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
SAMSE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SAMSE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SAMSE
What does SAMSE do?
SAMSE is a French building materials distributor (négoce) that sells construction materials, tools, and related products through a network of over 90 physical agencies and an e-commerce website. The company supplies structural materials, insulation, roofing, carpentry, wood panels, doors and windows, floor and wall coverings, outdoor products, public works materials, tools, hardware, and electrical/plumbing/heating products to building professionals and individual homeowners across the Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, and PACA regions of France.
Is SAMSE a public or private company?
SAMSE is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was SAMSE founded?
SAMSE was founded in 1973. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is SAMSE based?
SAMSE is headquartered in Grenoble, France, in the Europe region.
How does SAMSE make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Building Materials Sales are the primary driver. The others are delivery Services and professional Services.
Who are SAMSE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gedimat, Point.P, BigMat France, VM Matériaux, Descours & Cabaud, Tout Faire Matériaux and Chausson Matériaux. Broad incumbents are Mr.Bricolage, Leroy Merlin and Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment.
Does SAMSE have an API?
No public API is recorded for SAMSE.