Getränke Ahlers GmbH

What Getränke Ahlers GmbH does

Getränke Ahlers GmbH is a fourth-generation, family-owned German beverage distribution and retail company headquartered in Achim near Bremen. Founded in 1910 by Heinrich Ahlers, the company is currently led by managing directors Bernhard Henze and Andreas Henze and operates as the largest independently owned beverage specialist in northern Germany. Its commercial core is the BIG! DURST / HOL'AB! cooperative system, a franchise-style umbrella under which more than 220 legally independent beverage retailers operate under a shared brand, coordinated assortment, and joint marketing.

The company's underlying "platform" is physical rather than digital: it runs an in-house logistics operation via the related entity Ahlers und Höpfner Getränke, supported by central warehouses and a fleet of 120+ trucks delivering daily across northern Germany. Through the BIG! DURST partner network it distributes a 2,500-SKU assortment spanning beer (250+ varieties), mineral water (100+), juices (100+), soft drinks, energy drinks, spirits, wine and sparkling wine, and non-alcoholic alternatives. Adjacent service lines — event catering, ice service, equipment rental, trunk-loading, home delivery, wine consultation, and gift vouchers — extend the proposition beyond plain beverage retail.

Getränke Ahlers earns revenue principally by supplying wholesale beverage inventory to its franchise partner stores and capturing retail-level economics through the network; partners remain independent operators but rely on the central supply, branding, and marketing infrastructure. The go-to-market is primarily a channel-partner / franchise recruitment motion ([email protected]) targeting both established Getränkehändler and first-time entrants to the trade, supplemented by a digital presence (bigdurst.de, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, WhatsApp Business Channel). No public listing, external institutional investor, or active M&A program is indicated; the firm positions itself as an inhabergeführtes Familienunternehmen with a published Code of Conduct referencing the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG).

Name

Getränke Ahlers GmbH

Legal name

Getränke Ahlers GmbH

Website

https://bigdurst.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Getränke Ahlers GmbH is a fourth-generation, family-owned German beverage wholesaler and franchise operator running the BIG! DURST cooperative — 220+ retail partner stores across northern Germany served by an owned 120-truck logistics fleet and a 2,500-SKU assortment spanning beer, wine, spirits, water, juices, and soft drinks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Beverage Retail

NAICS

Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532), Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (4248)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Mixed Alcohol Specialty Retail (Beer/Wine/Spirits Combined) (CRANABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Liquor Stores (General Off-Premise) (CRANAAAA)

Keywords

• Beverage retail
• Drink wholesale
• Franchise network
• Beer assortment
• Beverage distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Achim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Beverage retail sales through franchise partner network: Getränke Ahlers GmbH operates as a cooperative franchise system (BIG! DURST / HOL'AB! brands). The parent company supplies and supports partner retail locations that sell beverages directly to consumers. Revenue is generated through wholesale supply to franchise partners and retail sales at company-owned or partner-operated stores.
2. Franchise/ License partner model: The company grants licenses to independent beverage retailers to operate under the BIG! DURST brand. Partners receive access to the brand, coordinated assortment, marketing support, and purchasing synergies while remaining legally independent entrepreneurs. The company likely generates revenue through wholesale supply to partners and/or franchise fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Getränke Ahlers GmbH operates the BIG! DURST cooperative franchise system, the largest independently owned beverage specialist retailer in northern Germany. The company supplies over 220 partner retail stores with more than 2,500 beverage articles across eight categories (beer, mineral water, non-alcoholic, soft drinks, energy drinks, juices, spirits, wine and sparkling wine), supported by an owned logistics fleet of 120+ trucks. End consumers access the assortment through partner stores plus value-added services including event catering, home delivery, equipment rental, and wine consultation.

Product overview

Getränke Ahlers GmbH operates the BIG! DURST cooperation system, a franchise-based beverage retail network in northern Germany. The offering consists of a unified brand platform (BIG! DURST) with an extensive product portfolio including over 2,500 beverage articles across eight main categories: beer (250+ varieties), mineral water (100+ varieties), non-alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, energy drinks, juices (100+ varieties), spirits, and wine & sparkling wine. Supporting the retail operations are complementary services including event catering, ice and equipment rental, trunk delivery, home delivery, wine consultation, and gift vouchers. The company positions itself as the largest independent beverage retailer in the region, serving both individual consumers and event/party customers through a network of partner stores and delivery services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HOL´AB!: A chain of over 220 beverage retail markets operated by the company and its partners, representing the largest owner-managed beverage specialist chain in northern Germany.

Products and services

• Bier (Beer) Sortiment Over 250 varieties of beer including Pilsener, Weizen, Helles, Dunkel, IPA, Kölsch, regional specialties, and international options, available as individual bottles, six-packs, cases, or barrels for end consumers.
• Mineralwasser (Mineral Water) Sortiment Over 100 varieties of mineral water including still, medium, and sparkling options in glass bottles, suitable for sports, fine dining, and baby food preparation.
• Alkoholfrei (Non-Alcoholic) Sortiment Non-alcoholic beers, wines, sparkling wines, and spirits offering the same quality and experience without alcohol content.
• Softdrinks Sortiment Carbonated beverages including cola, lemonade, iced tea, tonic, and trendy regional sodas in various sizes from 0.2L to 1L bottles.
• Energy-Drinks Sortiment Energy drinks providing quick energy boosts, available in various colors and flavors, many kept refrigerated for immediate consumption.
• Saft (Juice) Sortiment Over 100 varieties of juices including apple, orange, cherry, banana, mango, pineapple, and exotic options, primarily in eco-friendly reusable glass bottles.
• Spirituosen (Spirits) Sortiment High-proof spirits including rum, gin, vodka, whiskey, Korn, liqueurs, regional and seasonal specialties, special editions, and ready-to-drink cocktails.
• Wein & Sekt (Wine & Sparkling Wine) Sortiment Comprehensive wine selection from Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and overseas, plus sparkling wines including Prosecco, Crémant, and Champagne across all price ranges.
• BIG! DURST Veranstaltungs- und Event-Service Event planning, setup, catering, bar and service staff for events, managed by professional service providers for consumer parties and corporate functions.
• BIG! DURST Ice-Service Professional ice cooling service ensuring proper temperature for beverages, with decorative wine and sparkling wine chilling options.
• BIG! DURST Leih-Service Rental of draft systems, bars, beer tent furniture, parasols, and standing tables for parties and events.
• BIG! DURST Kofferraum-Service Assistance loading purchased beverages into customers' car trunks by BIG! DURST staff at partner stores.
• BIG! DURST Home-Service / Lieferservice Regular or on-demand beverage delivery service bringing drinks directly to customers' homes.
• BIG! DURST Wein-Shop Specialized wine consultation and sales with expert recommendations on food pairings, serving both connoisseurs and beginners.
• BIG! DURST Geschenk-Gutschein Gift vouchers allowing recipients to choose their preferred beverages or fund their own celebrations at BIG! DURST partner stores.
• BIG! DURST Kooperationssystem (Franchise / Partner Program) A cooperation/franchise system under the BIG! DURST brand enabling independent beverage retailers to operate under a unified brand with shared marketing, logistics, and assortment support. The company recruits established retailers and entrepreneurs entering the beverage trade, who remain legally independent while benefiting from the umbrella brand.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ahlers und Höpfner GetränkecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRelated logistics and supply entity Ahlers und Höpfner Getränke operates alongside Getränke Ahlers GmbH. Together they form the largest independently owned beverage specialist wholesale and full-assortment supplier in northern Germany, managing the distribution of products from central warehouses to the partner store network.
• Independent beverage retailers (BIG! DURST franchise partners)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe company recruits independent drink retailers and new entrepreneurs to operate under the BIG! DURST brand. Partners remain legally independent while benefiting from brand association, purchasing synergies, coordinated assortment, and marketing support. The company supplies partners and provides operational support. Partners include established retailers and startup entrepreneurs in the beverage trade.
• H&K+S / Agentur für WerbungminorOthersExternal agency responsible for the concept, design, and implementation of the BIG! DURST website and digital presence.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Getränke Essmann: Family-owned German beverage retail and wholesale group with regional store networks and logistics. Closely comparable in heritage, family-ownership profile, and multi-category beverage assortment.
• Dursty Getränkemärkte: German beverage retail chain offering beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks, and event services through standalone stores. Closely mirrors BIG! DURST's assortment, service layer, and target consumer.
• Getränke Hoffmann: One of the largest independent beverage retail chains in Germany, with a similar franchise/cooperative model, broad multi-category assortment, and regional store networks — directly comparable to BIG! DURST.
• Trinkgut: Edeka Group's national beverage retail chain in Germany. Operates standalone Getränkemärkte with broad beer, wine, and spirits assortments, directly comparable to BIG! DURST's store concept and supply model.

Emerging players

• Flaschenpost: Digital-native German beverage delivery company offering fast home delivery of beer, water, soft drinks, and wine. Competes with BIG! DURST's home-delivery service from a technology-first angle and is rapidly scaling regionally.

Others

• Handelshof: German cash-and-carry and food-service wholesaler carrying broad beverage ranges to professional buyers. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but relevant for benchmarking beverage wholesale economics.

Broad incumbents

• Lekkerland: Germany's leading convenience and beverage wholesaler supplying travel retail, forecourt, and convenience stores. Comparable in the wholesale-to-network dimension, though serving convenience rather than standalone beverage retail.
• Edeka Getränke: Beverage retail arm of the Edeka cooperative, including the Trinkgut banner. Larger incumbent that competes directly with BIG! DURST in northern Germany with greater scale and grocery cross-shop.
• REWE Getränke: Beverage retail concept operated within and alongside the REWE supermarket network. Larger, more diversified incumbent competing for the same German beverage-retail basket with the advantage of one-stop grocery cross-shop.

Regional players

• GVS Getränke Vorab: Cooperative beverage wholesaler serving independent Getränkemärkte in parts of Germany with assortment, logistics, and marketing support. Comparable cooperative wholesale role but operates in a different region than BIG! DURST.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BIGDURST
• Facebookfacebook.com/BIGDURST
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/getr%C3%A4nke-ahlers-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/big.durst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Getränke Ahlers GmbH