HGK eG

What HGK eG does

HGK Hotel- und Gastronomie-Kauf eG is a German purchasing cooperative (Einkaufsgenossenschaft) founded in 1982 and headquartered in Hannover, serving approximately 3,300 member businesses in the hospitality sector — primarily independent hotels, restaurants, and gastronomy operations across Germany. The cooperative aggregates member purchasing volume (EUR 550 million in centrally regulated turnover) across a curated network of 500+ supplier partners in food, beverage, non-food, and services categories, providing collective buying power, central invoicing and payment management (Zentralregulierung), and payment guarantee services (Delkrederehaftung) that individual operators could not access independently.

The cooperative's digital platform comprises six core modules — HGK-AllOrder (digital ordering), HGK-BackOffice (invoice and document management), HGK-ChefsCockpit (BI dashboard), HGK-E-Rechnung (e-invoicing compliance), HGK-E-Learning (staff training), and HGK-Online-Website (website builder) — supplemented by mobile apps for ordering and back-office tasks. Adjacent service lines include renovation and modernization consulting, sustainability advisory, and community networking events. Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining recurring membership fees (EUR 300/year baseline for the lowest tier) with transaction-based fees on centrally regulated purchasing flows, plus margins on group purchasing programs such as HGK-BestPrice and HGK-Einkauf plus.

Distribution is high-touch and field-led: regional Gebietsleiter conduct on-site visits to independent operators, supported by an inside sales team and digital self-service tools. The cooperative is member-owned and member-governed, with no external shareholders, no venture funding, and affiliation with Genossenschaftsverband e.V. (Genoverband) as its statutory audit association. HGK competes indirectly with broader industry groups such as DEHOGA and other regional purchasing alliances, but its scale (3,300 members, EUR 550M GMV, 44-year operating history) and integrated digital toolset differentiate it from purely traditional buying groups.

Name

HGK eG

Legal name

HGK Hotel- und Gastronomie-Kauf eG

Website

https://h-g-k.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HGK eG is a German purchasing cooperative founded in 1982 that serves 3,300 independent hotel, restaurant, and gastronomy businesses across Germany with collective buying power, central invoicing, and a suite of digital procurement and back-office management tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Purchasing Cooperative Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Business Support Services (5614), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHACAK

Sustainability & ESG Consulting

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Management Consulting

SECONDARYBPAHAFAJ

ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Risk, Compliance & Governance Advisory

SECONDARYTHACAGAJ

Sustainability, ESG & Responsible Lodging Sourcing

Travel & Hospitality/Business Travel & Corporate Travel Management/Corporate Lodging Programs & Hotel Sourcing

Keywords

• Hospitality purchasing cooperative
• Group procurement services
• Central invoicing management
• Hotel supplier network
• Gastronomy e-procurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannover, Niedersachsen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cooperative Membership Fees: HGK operates as a purchasing cooperative (Einkaufsgenossenschaft). Members pay annual service fees, with a stated fee of EUR 300/year for members with centrally regulated revenue under EUR 50,000. The cooperative generates revenue through central regulation fees, delcredere services, and membership contributions.
2. Central Regulation and Delcredere Services: HGK provides Zentralregulierung (central invoicing and payment management) and Delkrederehaftung (payment guarantee) for supplier transactions with member businesses. This generates revenue through service fees embedded in the transaction flow.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HGK eG is a German purchasing cooperative (Einkaufsgenossenschaft) serving approximately 3,300 hotel, restaurant, and gastronomy member businesses. It aggregates demand across members to negotiate better terms with 500+ supplier partners, then provides centralized invoicing and payment management (Zentralregulierung), payment guarantees (Delkredere), and a suite of proprietary digital tools (HGK-AllOrder ordering, HGK-BackOffice document/invoice management, HGK-ChefsCockpit KPI dashboard, HGK-E-Rechnung, HGK-E-Learning, HGK-Online-Website builder), plus mobile apps and advisory services in renovation and sustainability.

Product overview

HGK eG operates as a purchasing cooperative (Einkaufsgenossenschaft) for the hospitality industry, offering a platform-plus-modules architecture. The digital solutions portfolio includes HGK-AllOrder (ordering platform), HGK-BackOffice (accounting/invoice management), HGK-ChefsCockpit (executive dashboard/KPI tool), HGK-E-Rechnung (e-invoicing), HGK-E-Learning (training platform), and HGK-Online-Website (website builder). Purchasing benefits are delivered through HGK-BestPrice, HGK-Einkauf plus, and HGK-Einkaufsgruppen (group purchasing). Mobile apps for order management and back-office operations complement the web-based offerings. The cooperative also provides renovation consulting, networking events, and sustainability advisory services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HGK-AllOrder: Digital ordering platform for member establishments
• HGK-BackOffice
• HGK-ChefsCockpit
• HGK-E-Rechnung
• HGK-E-Learning
• HGK-Online-Website
• HGK-BestPrice
• HGK-Einkauf plus
• HGK-Einkaufsgruppen

Products and services

• HGK-AllOrder Digital ordering platform enabling hospitality cooperative members to place orders with 500+ supplier partners, view pricing, and manage procurement centrally.
• HGK-BackOffice Back-office management application for paperless invoice verification, central document storage, and financial administration for member hospitality businesses.
• HGK-ChefsCockpit Executive KPI and analytics dashboard giving hospitality operators central access to key business metrics for targeted operational control and decision-making.
• HGK-E-Rechnung E-invoicing solution supporting members with electronic invoice processing in compliance with German e-invoicing regulations.
• HGK-E-Learning Digital learning and training platform for hospitality staff development and continuing education.
• HGK-Online-Website (Webbaukasten) Website builder and hosting solution that allows members to create and self-manage modern, responsive websites for their hotel or restaurant.
• HGK-BestPrice Best-price guarantee purchasing program ensuring members receive competitive pricing through aggregated cooperative purchasing volume.
• HGK-Einkauf plus Enhanced purchasing program offering additional procurement advantages and exclusive deals for cooperative members.
• HGK-Einkaufsgruppen Group purchasing organization structure enabling collective buying power for member hospitality businesses.
• HGK Order App Mobile ordering application enabling cooperative members to place orders and manage procurement on-the-go, including receipt scanning via camera and voice-to-text note input.
• HGK BackOffice App Mobile companion app for back-office tasks including invoice verification and receipt documentation management.

Quantifiable outcome

• EUR 550 million in centrally regulated revenue through the platform
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• HGK Supplier Partners (500+)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 500 supplier partners across Food, Beverage, Non-Food, and Services categories provide products to HGK member businesses. Partners benefit from 100% payment guarantee, digital ordering access through HGK-AllOrder, and direct access to 3,300 member establishments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• METRO AG: Major European cash-and-carry wholesaler (METRO/Selgros) supplying hospitality businesses. Represents the broadest competitive overlap on procurement pricing, though METRO sells to rather than competes as a cooperative.
• Transgourmet Deutschland: German cash-and-carry and delivery specialist for the hospitality sector, part of the Coop Group. Competes with HGK on pricing for food and non-food assortment across the same independent operator base.

Direct peers

• GV-Partner: German purchasing cooperative network for collective gastronomy and hotel procurement. Closely comparable in cooperative governance, supplier aggregation, and hospitality member services.
• CHEF'S CULINAR: German foodservice wholesale and procurement specialist with digital ordering and broad assortment for hospitality. Direct competitor in the same German market with overlapping product categories and target customers.
• Avendra: North American hospitality procurement services provider offering supplier aggregation, contract negotiation, and procurement technology. Analogous business model to HGK, though at much larger scale and operating in a different geography.
• Service-Bund: Large German purchasing and service cooperative for foodservice and hospitality operators with a multi-category supplier portfolio and digital ordering solutions. Comparable to HGK's cooperative procurement and SaaS model.
• EGV Lebensmittel für die Gastronomie: German purchasing cooperative focused on food and beverage procurement for hospitality. Operates a similar central invoicing and supplier aggregation model targeting the same SMB hospitality customer segment.
• HOGAST: Austrian-headquartered purchasing cooperative serving the hotel and gastronomy sector across the DACH region. Most direct analog to HGK by structure, member-supplier model, and target customer base.

Regional players

• Bidfood UK: UK-based foodservice distributor serving hospitality operators with broad assortment and digital ordering. Comparable as a regional procurement counterpart, though structured as a distributor rather than a member cooperative.

Emerging players

• FrischeParadies: Specialist German gourmet and fresh-produce supplier serving top-end gastronomy. Operates as a premium supplier alternative within HGK's category and competes for direct procurement relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HotelGastronomieKauf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hgk-hannover
• Instagraminstagram.com/hgkeg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 HGK eG