Nordwest Handel

What Nordwest Handel does

NORDWEST Handel AG is a German B2B cooperative organization (Verbundunternehmen) operating in the production connection trade (PVH) since 1919. Headquartered in Dortmund, the company aggregates purchasing volumes and provides comprehensive trade services to approximately 1,320 specialist trade partners (Fachhandelspartner) across Germany and 16 European countries, connecting them with roughly 2,400 industrial supplier partners. Core service offerings span bundled purchasing, central payment regulation (Zentralregulierung), logistics, digital services, marketing support, and exclusive private-label brands (TECWERK for tools and delphis for bathroom/sanitary products).

The company's revenue model derives from margin capture on aggregated purchasing volumes, fees on centralized payment and logistics services, and recurring revenue from digital platforms including the DataConnect product master data platform and the NIS partner portal. Distribution is executed through a centralized warehouse in Gießen (operated by logistics partner Rhenus SE & Co. KG since 2005) handling approximately 300,000 articles, with a new warehouse facility under construction in Alsfeld, Hesse. The technology stack includes the proprietary DataConnect platform (BSFZ-certified for R&D), the NIS partner portal, and the FachWerk system concept for operational standardization across trade partners.

For FY2025, NORDWEST reported Geschäftsvolumen (business volume) of €4,654.4 million, approximately flat versus the prior year (+0.2%). The company has been publicly listed since 1999 (Düsseldorf Stock Exchange) and additionally trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange General Standard since 2013. The group operates subsidiaries including Nürnberger Bund PVH GmbH (acquired 2007), the Austrian branch NORDWEST Handel GmbH, factoring unit TeamFaktor NW GmbH, and data portal e-direct Datenportal GmbH.

Name

Nordwest Handel

Legal name

NORDWEST Handel AG

Website

https://nordwest.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

NORDWEST Handel AG is a German B2B cooperative organization serving approximately 1,320 specialist trade partners across 16 European countries in steel, construction, trades & industry, and building services via aggregated purchasing, central regulation, logistics, and digital services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Wholesale Distribution / Trade Cooperative (Produktionsverbindungshandel)

NAICS

Hardware Merchant Wholesalers (423710), Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers (423510)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Hybrid Retail-Wholesale Membership Clubs (B2B2C) (CRAEADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction, Hardware & MRO Supply Clubs (Trades/Contractors) (CRAEAEAG), Automotive, Tools & Industrial Supplies (B2B) (CRAEAEAH)

Keywords

• Wholesale distribution services
• B2B trade cooperative
• Specialist trade procurement
• Steel construction supply
• Building services distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Dortmund

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bundled Purchasing Services: NORDWEST bundles purchasing volumes of approximately 1,320 specialist trade partners to negotiate favorable terms with suppliers. Revenue derives from margin capture on aggregated purchasing volumes across steel, construction, trades & industry, and building services product categories.
2. Central Regulation (Zentralregulierung): Central payment and invoicing service for trade partners, managing payment flows and credit terms across the partner network.
3. Logistics and Fulfillment: Central warehouse operations in Gießen handling approximately 300,000 articles. New central warehouse being built in Alsfeld. Services include goods receiving and distribution to trade partners.
4. Digital Services: Digital data logistics, digital sales tools, and digital process solutions including DataConnect product master data platform, NIS portal, and online ordering systems.
5. Marketing and Consulting Services: Marketing support, framework agreements, factoring, customer service, shopfitting and POS, FachWerk system concept, maintenance services (meine-wartung.de), skills recruitment (Fachkräfte finden), training (TrainingsWerk), and business succession planning for trade partners.
6. Exclusive Brand Sales: Exclusive brands TECWERK (formerly PROMAT) and delphis provide proprietary product lines to trade partners, with approximately 25,000 pages in catalogs and brochures.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Nordwest Handel AG is a publicly traded German B2B cooperative (Verbundunternehmen) in the Produktionsverbindungshandel (PVH / production connection trade) sector that bundles the purchasing volume of approximately 1,320 specialist trade partners across steel, construction, trades & industry, and building services. It delivers centralized procurement, central logistics and warehousing, factoring, exclusive brand programs, and digital member services (DataConnect, NIS portal, FachWerk) to its member trade partners.

Product overview

NORDWEST Handel AG is a B2B cooperative/association (Verbundunternehmen) in the Production Connecting Trade (PVH) sector, serving approximately 1,320 specialist trade partners across Germany and Europe with a business volume of €4.65 billion. The company does not offer a unified software product but rather a portfolio of commercial and digital services. Core offerings span four product categories: Steel, Construction, Trades & Industry, and Building Services. Exclusive brands include TECWERK (tools, rebranded from PROMAT in 2025) and delphis (bathroom/sanitary products, founded 1980). Digital services include DataConnect (product master data platform with BSFZ research certification), NIS (partner portal), Digital Sales, Digital Processes, and Digital Data Logistics. The FachWerk system concept helps partners systematize operations. Supporting services include Factoring, Framework Agreements, Marketing, Central Payment, Logistics (central warehouse in Gießen, new facility in Alsfeld), Training, Shopfitting/POS, and company succession advisory. The company operates as a buying/marketing cooperative connecting industrial suppliers with specialist retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TECWERK: Exclusive brand for tools and tool technology, formerly PROMAT (rebranded in 2025 after 38 years).
• delphis

Products and services

• NORDWEST Exclusive Brands

Quantifiable outcome

• Geschäftsvolumen (business volume) of €4,654.4 million in fiscal year 2025, nearly on previous year's level (+0.2%).
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Euro CraftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince early 2022, NORDWEST joined Euro Craft, Europe's first B2B cooperation in the construction and industry sector. With solid partners, they unite more than 5,000 sites in 25 countries, strengthening the position as leader in Europe. This collaboration strengthens the position of leading material associations in Europe and national markets.
• E.I.S. Beschaffungs- und Marketing GmbH & Co. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerE.I.S. Beschaffungs- und Marketing GmbH & Co. KG from Cologne and NORDWEST have been collaborating since end of 2016. E.I.S. is an association providing procurement and marketing services.
• astedis (Association of Steel Distributors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince September 2023, five steel purchasing groups collaborate in a pan-European network under the name astedis. NORDWEST participates in this European steel purchasing cooperation.
• CARAT GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARAT Group based in Mannheim operates an ad-CARGO central warehouse and national member and partner network covering entire Germany through its logistics infrastructure.
• 3e Handels- und Dienstleistungs AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn September 2022, NORDWEST deepened its collaboration with 3e Handels- und Dienstleistungs AG, Austria's leading association of tool and material distributors. This partnership strengthens NORDWEST's position in the Austrian market.
• ComafeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2021, NORDWEST is a partner of the Spanish trade federation Comafe based in Madrid. This partnership extends NORDWEST's reach into the Spanish market.
• Euro-MatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince mid-2024, NORDWEST cooperates with Euro-Mat, a leading European platform that supports and inspires construction material distributors and key suppliers in their search for solutions for more efficient construction processes.
• BAMAKAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership with BAMAKA in Germany. BAMAKA is a purchasing and marketing organization.
• EurobaustoffminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership with Eurobaustoff in Germany. Eurobaustoff is a building materials purchasing organization.
• Stahlverbund PHOENIXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteel purchasing cooperation. Logo referenced in image gallery with RGB and CMYK versions available for download.
• HAGROminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation founded in 2005 for construction technology activities. Construction technology activities were integrated into HAGRO cooperation. Shortly after launch, HAGRO already served over 100 medium-sized specialist wholesalers.
• Nürnberger Bund Produktionsverbindungshandels GmbH (NBP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn September 1, 2007, NORDWEST acquired all shares of Nürnberger Bund Produktionsverbindungshandels GmbH, representing new growth opportunities. This subsidiary is mentioned in the LkSG complaints procedure.
• Rhenus SE & Co. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogistics partner since 2005. Central warehouse transferred to Rhenus logistics center in Gießen. Member companies benefit from significantly improved logistics and new services.
• TeamFaktor NW GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary company mentioned in LkSG complaints procedure. Located in Dortmund with contact details available.
• NORDWEST Handel GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary company mentioned in LkSG complaints procedure. Operates the Austria branch office in Salzburg.
• TOOLS FOR LIFE FoundationminorOthersInternational Help Day organized by TOOLS FOR LIFE Foundation. NORDWEST employees participate in Help Day activities for charitable purposes, supporting help and hope foundation in Dortmund in 2026.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• E/D/E (Einkaufsbüro Deutscher Eisenhändler): German purchasing cooperative headquartered in Wuppertal that aggregates buying volumes for independent specialist trade partners in steel, tools, and industrial supplies. Direct comparable to NORDWEST's steel and trades & industry verticals.
• MEGA eG: German purchasing and service cooperative for plumbing, heating, and HVAC specialist trade. Direct competitor in NORDWEST's building services (Haustechnik) vertical with similar bundled purchasing, central regulation, and logistics services.
• Eurobaustoff: German building materials purchasing organization (Verbundgruppe) operating a similar cooperative model for specialist trade partners in construction and building products. Direct comparable to NORDWEST's German construction and building services verticals, and explicitly listed as a NORDWEST partnership.
• BAMAKA: German purchasing and marketing cooperative serving trade partners with centralized procurement and services. Operates a near-identical business model to NORDWEST in the German specialist trade market and is explicitly listed as a NORDWEST cooperation partner.
• ZEG (Zentral-Einkauf-Genossenschaft): German purchasing cooperative serving independent trades businesses across multiple categories including tools, building services, and industrial supplies. Operates a cooperative model similar to NORDWEST with comparable member-based distribution.
• HAGRO BauTechnik eG: German construction technology cooperative founded in 2005 that NORDWEST co-owns. Provides specialist trade partners with construction technology products and services; comparable in cooperative structure and construction product focus.
• GC Group (Europart): European wholesale group for sanitary, heating, and plumbing products with associated specialist trade partners. Comparable to NORDWEST's building services (Haustechnik) operations and operates similar centralized procurement and logistics models.

Broad incumbents

• Travis Perkins plc: UK-listed building materials distributor serving tradespeople and specialist contractors across multiple product categories. A broader incumbent comparable to NORDWEST's construction and building services product portfolio at much greater scale.
• Würth Group: Global direct-sales specialist in fasteners, tools, and technical supplies serving trades and industry. Comparable to NORDWEST's trades & industry and tool product categories through TECWERK, and represents a broader incumbent with deeper single-product focus.
• Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment: Large European building materials distributor serving construction professionals through multiple brands (e.g., POINT.P, Raab Karcher). Represents a broader incumbent that competes with NORDWEST's construction and building services verticals at greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nordwest-handel-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Nordwest Handel