GRESS GRUPPEN AS
Gress Gruppen AS is a Norwegian strategic purchasing alliance for large HORECA organizations, jointly owned by Compass Group, Radisson Hotel Group, and Scandic Hotels. It operates the GRESS.NET purchase-to-pay platform and negotiates 250+ supplier agreements, mediating approximately 3 billion NOK in annual member procurement volume.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersOslo, Norway
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What GRESS GRUPPEN AS does
Gress Gruppen AS is a Norwegian strategic purchasing alliance for large HORECA (hotel, restaurant, catering) organizations, founded in 1997 and jointly owned in equal 33.34% stakes by Compass Group, Radisson Hotel Group, and Scandic Hotels. Operating from Oslo with 12 full-time equivalents and approximately 22 million NOK in annual revenue, the company pools procurement volume across its members — whose combined revenue in Norway totals 32 billion NOK — to negotiate supplier terms and run a structured purchasing process. Gress mediates approximately 3 billion NOK in annual trading volume through 250+ negotiated supplier agreements, giving it a stated 15% share of the Norwegian HORECA market.
The company's core technology is GRESS.NET, a comprehensive purchase-to-pay platform delivered in partnership with Millum AS (the underlying electronic HORECA marketplace, ~10 billion NOK trade volume) and Horecamarket AS (an 80%-owned subsidiary and Millum agent). The platform supports ordering, goods reception and approval, pre-accounting, payment approval directly into members' financial systems (notably Visma), and GRESS.NET Analytics, which processes millions of transactions to inform tender processes, renegotiations, and price adjustments. Supporting tools include the OneTrust Third-Party Due Diligence platform, Sedex for ethical supply-chain transparency, and Profitbase AS for analytics — the latter covering compliance with the Norwegian Transparency Act.
Gress generates revenue through recurring membership fees paid by member organizations and transaction-related fees tied to procurement volume flowing through negotiated agreements. Distribution is B2B direct to enterprise members, supplemented by the annual GRESS Messen trade fair at Nova Spektrum (record ~1,800 attendees in 2024). The company does not pursue external fundraising, has no public listing, and operates exclusively within Norway.
GRESS GRUPPEN AS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GRESS GRUPPEN AS
- Legal name
- GRESS GRUPPEN AS
- Website
- https://gressgruppen.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gress Gruppen AS is a Norwegian strategic purchasing alliance for large HORECA organizations, jointly owned by Compass Group, Radisson Hotel Group, and Scandic Hotels. It operates the GRESS.NET purchase-to-pay platform and negotiates 250+ supplier agreements, mediating approximately 3 billion NOK in annual member procurement volume.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GRESS GRUPPEN AS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Procurement & Sourcing Services
- NAICS
- Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (425120)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Catalog & eProcurement Enablement (Punchout, Item Master) (BPAAAJAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Compliance, Risk & Supplier Due Diligence (KYC/ESG/Sanctions) (BPAAAJAK), Third-Party Risk, Vendor Due Diligence & Supply Chain Compliance (BPAEAPAG), Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Platforms (BPAEAPAA)
Keywords
Where GRESS GRUPPEN AS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oslo
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
GRESS GRUPPEN AS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership/Subscription Fees: GRESS charges membership fees to member organizations for access to the purchasing consortium, collective negotiation services, and the GRESS.NET platform.
- Transaction/Commission Revenue: Revenue generated through procurement volume via GRESS.NET platform and negotiated supplier agreements. The company has annual trading volume of approximately 3 billion NOK through its negotiated supplier contracts.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
GRESS GRUPPEN AS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GRESS GRUPPEN AS operates a strategic purchasing consortium for large HORECA organizations in Norway, pooling collective buying power to negotiate 250+ supplier agreements on behalf of its members. It delivers the GRESS.NET purchase-to-pay software platform (in collaboration with Millum AS and 80%-owned subsidiary Horecamarket AS) covering ordering, goods reception, pre-accounting, payment approval, and analytics processing millions of transactions. The offering is supplemented by the annual Gress Messen trade fair and the structured Gress Methodology for joint tenders and supplier risk management.
Product overview
GRESS GRUPPEN AS operates as a strategic purchasing alliance for large-scale HORECA (hotel, restaurant, catering, shipping, service) operators in Norway. The company offers a unified platform ecosystem centered on GRESS.NET, a comprehensive purchase-to-pay software solution developed in collaboration with Millum AS and Horecamarket AS. GRESS.NET serves as the core operational platform supporting goods ordering, supplier communication, goods reception, financial approval workflows, and advanced analytics (GRESS.NET Analytics) processing millions of transactions. Supporting this platform is Millum, the leading electronic HORECA marketplace with approximately 10 billion NOK in trade volume, along with the structured Gress Methodology for standardized procurement processes. The company also organizes Gress Messen, an annual trade fair connecting members with suppliers. Together, these products enable the company to negotiate supplier agreements on behalf of members and facilitate efficient procurement across more than 250 agreements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GRESS.NET: Purchase-to-pay digital platform developed in collaboration with Millum AS and Horecamarket AS, providing ordering, goods reception, pre-accounting and payment functionality for members
Products and services
- GRESS.NET Purchase-to-Pay Platform A comprehensive purchase-to-pay software platform delivered in collaboration with Millum AS and subsidiary Horecamarket AS, supporting goods ordering, structured receipt of orders, goods reception and approval, pre-accounting, and payment approval directly into members' financial systems (e.g., Visma). For large HORECA member organizations of the Gress purchasing consortium.
- GRESS.NET Analytics Analytics module processing millions of transactions through GRESS.NET to provide procurement teams with insights used in tender processes, supplier renegotiations, and price adjustments. Delivered to member companies and partners (e.g., Profitbase AS) for reporting and analytics.
- Gress Messen Annual Trade Fair Annual closed trade fair for GRESS member companies and contracted suppliers, serving as a marketplace and relationship-building event with morning seminar, exhibition, networking event, and banquet dinner. For HORECA suppliers and GRESS consortium member buyers.
- Gress Methodology Structured procurement methodology with supporting software tools for analyses, mapping, and pre-qualification of potential new suppliers, enabling consistent and optimized purchasing processes across member companies.
Quantifiable outcome
- Members achieve approximately one-third reduction in product assortment while meeting needs through optimized wholesale partnerships
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use GRESS GRUPPEN AS
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
GRESS GRUPPEN AS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature5 records
GRESS GRUPPEN AS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- Scandic HotelscoreOne of three co-owners (33.34%) of Gress Gruppen AS. Scandic Hotels joined the collaboration in 2009 after acquiring Rica Hotels. Represents one of the largest hotel operators in the Nordic region.
- Compass GroupcoreCo-owner (33.34%) of Gress Gruppen AS. Major international catering and support services company. In 2024, Compass Group acquired 4Service.
- Radisson Hotel GroupcoreCo-owner (33.34%) of Gress Gruppen AS. One of the largest hotel groups globally with properties across multiple brands.
- Millum AScoreTechnology partner delivering GRESS.NET purchase-to-pay platform. Millum AS is the leading electronic marketplace for the HORECA market. Horecamarket AS is agent for Millum AS.
- Horecamarket AScore80% owned subsidiary of Gress Gruppen AS, established in collaboration with Millum AS. Delivers the GRESS.NET portal to Gress members and is agent for Millum AS.
- Bama Storkjøkken (Bama-gruppen)majorMajor Norwegian wholesaler with direct contractual relationships with producers and sub-suppliers. Handles import and distribution of produce to Gress members.
- Kolly (Reitan Retail)majorMajor Norwegian wholesaler handling import and distribution of goods to Gress members. Has direct contracts with producers and sub-suppliers.
- SedexsupportingGlobal online platform for ethical supply chain data exchange. Used by Gress for mapping, follow-up and verification of supplier compliance regarding human rights, working conditions, H&S, environment and governance.
- OneTrustsupportingThird Party Due Diligence platform providing risk assessment based on public information and external sources (Dow Jones) for identifying risks related to corruption, sanctions, modern slavery and economic crime.
- Nova SpektrumsupportingVenue partner for annual GRESS Messen trade fair (formerly Norges Varemesse). Located in Lillestrøm, provides exhibition facilities and services.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GRESS GRUPPEN AS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Gastronovi: Nordic procurement and back-office SaaS for restaurants and hotels, providing ordering, invoicing and supplier management. Comparable to Gress's GRESS.NET platform functionality for HORECA operators.
- MarketMan: Cloud-based restaurant procurement and inventory management platform used by hospitality chains. Comparable to GRESS.NET as a digital purchase-to-pay and supplier-management tool for HORECA operators.
Broad incumbents
- Menigo Foodservice: Sweden's largest HORECA distributor and wholesaler, supplying restaurants, hotels and catering with broad-line food products. Comparable to Gress as a Nordic HORECA procurement/distribution channel, though Menigo is a wholesaler with its own logistics rather than a purchasing consortium.
- Bidfood: One of the UK's largest HORECA foodservice wholesalers and procurement partners. Comparable as a HORECA-focused distribution and procurement-services incumbent.
- Sodexo: Global food services and facilities management company operating across HORECA. Comparable as a large HORECA procurement organization, though Sodexo runs its own service operations rather than functioning as a member-owned purchasing consortium.
- Martin & Servera: Leading Swedish HORECA wholesaler owned by Axel Johnson, offering groceries and non-food to hotels, restaurants and catering. Comparable as a major HORECA supply-chain intermediary in the Nordic region.
- Brakes Group: Major UK and European HORECA foodservice wholesaler with broad product ranges and procurement support for hospitality operators. Comparable to Gress in serving large HORECA accounts with consolidated purchasing.
- Servera: Swedish HORECA-focused foodservice distributor part of the Axfood group. Comparable to Gress as a Nordic HORECA distribution and procurement-support player.
Direct peers
- Innkjøpsgruppen: Swedish sister organization established by Gress's members (Radisson SAS, Norlandia, Rica, Strömma) in 2003. Operates the same collective HORECA purchasing model in Sweden, making it the closest direct peer.
Others
- Compass Group: Global contract foodservice and support services company and one of Gress's three co-owners (33.34%). While not a peer in the competitive sense, Compass Group operates internal procurement at global scale relevant to benchmarking Gress's value proposition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
GRESS GRUPPEN AS social profiles
Digital presenceGRESS GRUPPEN AS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
GRESS GRUPPEN AS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GRESS GRUPPEN AS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
GRESS GRUPPEN AS subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
GRESS GRUPPEN AS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GRESS GRUPPEN AS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GRESS GRUPPEN AS
What does GRESS GRUPPEN AS do?
GRESS GRUPPEN AS operates a strategic purchasing consortium for large HORECA organizations in Norway, pooling collective buying power to negotiate 250+ supplier agreements on behalf of its members. It delivers the GRESS.NET purchase-to-pay software platform (in collaboration with Millum AS and 80%-owned subsidiary Horecamarket AS) covering ordering, goods reception, pre-accounting, payment approval, and analytics processing millions of transactions. The offering is supplemented by the annual Gress Messen trade fair and the structured Gress Methodology for joint tenders and supplier risk management.
Is GRESS GRUPPEN AS a public or private company?
GRESS GRUPPEN AS is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was GRESS GRUPPEN AS founded?
GRESS GRUPPEN AS was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is GRESS GRUPPEN AS based?
GRESS GRUPPEN AS is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does GRESS GRUPPEN AS make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership/Subscription Fees are the primary driver. The others are transaction/Commission Revenue.
Who are GRESS GRUPPEN AS's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Gastronovi and MarketMan. Broad incumbents are Menigo Foodservice, Bidfood, Sodexo, Martin & Servera, Brakes Group and Servera. Innkjøpsgruppen is listed as a direct peer. Compass Group is listed as an others.
Does GRESS GRUPPEN AS have an API?
No public API is recorded for GRESS GRUPPEN AS.
What industry is GRESS GRUPPEN AS in?
GRESS GRUPPEN AS's product category is Procurement & Sourcing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAAAJAI, Catalog & eProcurement Enablement (Punchout, Item Master), with a secondary code of BPAAAJAK, Compliance, Risk & Supplier Due Diligence (KYC/ESG/Sanctions). Its NAICS code is 425120.