What Hawesko AG does

Hawesko Holding SE is a publicly listed Hamburg-based wine and champagne trading group, operating as Germany's largest trading house for premium wines and one of the most significant wine providers globally. The company operates through 14 wholly-owned subsidiaries organized into three complementary segments: E-Commerce (online wine shops HAWESKO, Vinos, and WirWinzer), Retail (brick-and-mortar chains Jacques' Wein-Depot in Germany and Wein & Co. in Austria, acquired in 2018), and B2B Distribution (wholesale operations including Wein Wolf, Abayan, Grand Cru Select Distribution, and Globalwine, serving approximately 16,000 restaurants and retailers across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). The group offers over 25,000 premium wines, with many distributed exclusively in DACH markets.

The business operates a multi-channel distribution platform combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce, physical retail consultation, and B2B wholesale distribution under a unified holding structure. Revenue is generated through transactional sales across all three channels, with €622 million reported in FY2025 and an adjusted EBIT margin of 4.2%. Hawesko processes over 7 million orders annually and serves both fragmented consumer demand and a concentrated B2B hospitality customer base. Distribution operations are supported by an integrated logistics network including a recently relocated warehouse in Worms.

The group monetizes through three complementary go-to-market motions: (1) direct-to-consumer online wine sales via proprietary e-commerce platforms, (2) retail sales through owned brick-and-mortar wine depots offering in-person consultation and tasting experiences, and (3) B2B wholesale distribution maintaining close relationships with approximately 16,000 restaurants and retailers. The company has paid consecutive dividends for over 22 years and is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange Prime Standard and Hamburg Stock Exchange under ticker HAW. Recent leadership expansion in late 2025 and early 2026 across all three segments signals strategic preparation for the next phase of growth, while ongoing AI integration initiatives target personalization and operational efficiency improvements.

Name

Hawesko AG

Legal name

Hawesko Holding SE

Website

https://hawesko-holding.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Hawesko Holding SE is Germany's largest trading house for premium wines and champagne, operating 14 subsidiaries across E-Commerce (HAWESKO, Vinos, WirWinzer), Retail (Jacques' Wein-Depot, Wein & Co.), and B2B Distribution (Wein Wolf, Abayan) segments serving consumers, restaurants, and retailers across DACH markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wine Distribution and Retail

NAICS

Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fine Wine & Luxury Spirits Retail (CRANABAE), Alcohol Importers & Brand Owners (Wholesale) (CRAOAIAB)

Keywords

• Wine distribution
• Premium wine retail
• Online wine sales
• B2B beverage wholesale
• Wine e-commerce

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. E-Commerce Sales: Direct-to-consumer online wine sales through multiple digital platforms including HAWESKO, Vinos, and WirWinzer
2. Retail Wine Sales: Brick-and-mortar retail sales through Jacques' Wein-Depot and Wein & Co. stores
3. B2B Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale distribution to approximately 16,000 restaurants and retailers across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hawesko Holding SE is Germany's largest trading house for premium wines and champagne, operating across three complementary sales channels: E-Commerce (online wine shops including HAWESKO, Vinos, and WirWinzer), Retail (Jacques' Wein-Depot and Wein & Co. brick-and-mortar stores offering consultation and tastings), and B2B Distribution (wholesale supply of over 4,000 wines to approximately 16,000 restaurants and retailers across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, many held under exclusive distribution rights). The group bundles 14 entrepreneurially managed premium wine trading companies under one holding structure with a portfolio exceeding 25,000 premium wines.

Product overview

Hawesko Holding SE is a wine and champagne trading group operating across three complementary business segments: E-Commerce (online sales via HAWESKO, Vinos, WirWinzer), Retail (brick-and-mortar stores including Jacques' Wein-Depot and Wein & Co.), and B2B Distribution (wholesale to ~16,000 restaurants and retailers). The group comprises 14 companies offering approximately 25,000 premium wines. The company serves as a holding structure bundling entrepreneurially managed premium wine trading companies with distinct market positions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• E-Commerce Segment Direct-to-consumer online sales of premium wines, champagne, and spirits through the HAWESKO, Vinos, and WirWinzer online shops. Targets individual consumers in the DACH region with multi-brand assortment, exclusive labels, and home delivery.
• Retail Segment Brick-and-mortar wine retail depots operated under Jacques' Wein-Depot in Germany and Wein & Co. in Austria, providing in-person consultation, wine tasting, and immediate purchase of a broad assortment of premium wines.
• B2B Distribution Segment Wholesale distribution of more than 4,000 wines — many held exclusively in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland — to approximately 16,000 first-class restaurants, hotels, and retail resellers via subsidiaries Wein Wolf, Abayan, Grand Cru Select Distribution, Globalwine, Weinland, WeinArt, and Tesdorpf.
• HAWESKO (Hanseatisches Wein- und Sekt-Kontor) Premium online wine shop offering an extensive range of exclusive wines and champagne for direct consumer sales across Germany and adjacent markets; the flagship consumer e-commerce brand of the Hawesko group.
• Jacques' Wein-Depot Chain of physical wine retail depots offering personal consultation and wine tasting experiences; lets customers purchase a broad selection of premium wines on the spot to take home.
• Wein & Co. Austrian market leader for premium wines, acquired by Hawesko in October 2018; operates retail stores and an online shop in Austria offering premium wines and related expertise.
• Vinos E-commerce platform specializing in Spanish wines, offering consumers a curated range of Spanish wine selections through online direct-to-consumer sales.
• WirWinzer E-commerce platform offering German wines directly from producers to consumers, acquired by Hawesko in September 2016; provides a producer-direct purchasing experience for German wine enthusiasts.
• Wein Wolf B2B wholesale company within the Hawesko group supplying wines to restaurants, hotels, and retail resellers in the DACH region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Germany's largest wine trader with €622 million revenue in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Laithwaites (Direct Wines): UK-based direct-to-consumer wine merchant with global sourcing and a subscription model. Highly comparable to Hawesko's e-commerce platforms in assortment, exclusivity and customer engagement model.
• Majestic Wine (UK): UK specialist wine and spirits retailer with online and store channels, owned by Fortress Investment Group. Closely comparable to Hawesko in omnichannel premium wine retailing, though UK-focused.
• Berry Bros. & Rudd (BBR): Historic UK fine wine merchant with retail, B2B and cellar services. Comparable in premium positioning, exclusive agency relationships and three-century trading heritage, with a similar mix of retail and wholesale.
• Reh Kendermann: German wine group with broad private-label and branded wine portfolios distributed to retail and HoReCa across Europe. Directly comparable in terms of B2B wholesale, retailer relationships and premium tier positioning.
• Peter Mertes Group: One of Germany's largest wine producer/trader groups, selling across price tiers through retail and B2B channels. Closely comparable to Hawesko's wholesale and retail wine distribution model in Germany.

Emerging players

• Vivino (app/marketplace): Global wine marketplace and discovery app with e-commerce integrations. Indirect competitor shaping online wine purchasing behavior, particularly relevant to Hawesko's e-commerce segment strategy.
• Naked Wines plc: Online subscription-based wine retailer with global sourcing and direct-to-consumer focus. Comparable in D2C, e-commerce-first wine model and exclusive producer relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Schloss Wachenheim AG: German publicly listed sparkling wine and beverage group with distribution across retail and wholesale in DACH. Comparable scale and product mix overlap with Hawesko's B2B and retail segments, particularly in sparkling.
• Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits: Largest US wine and spirits distributor serving retailers and HoReCa. Not a direct competitor by geography, but the most relevant global benchmark for scaled wine/spirits wholesale and HoReCa distribution economics.
• Rotkäppchen-Mumm Sektkellereien: Germany's largest sparkling wine producer and distributor, with strong retail and B2B presence. Adjacent to Hawesko's premium positioning with overlap in champagne/sparkling distribution to retail and HoReCa.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hawesko-holding-ag
• Xx.com/haweskoholding

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hawesko AG