DER KREIS Einkaufsgesellschaft für Küchenfachgeschäfte AG

What DER KREIS Einkaufsgesellschaft für Küchenfachgeschäfte AG does

DER KREIS Einkaufsgesellschaft für Küchenfachgeschäfte AG is a Swiss purchasing consortium (Einkaufsgesellschaft) founded in 1985 and headquartered in Hünenberg, Canton of Zug, that aggregates purchasing power and provides marketing infrastructure for independent kitchen specialty retailers across Switzerland. Operating under the Küchenspezialisten brand via kuechenspezialisten.ch, the cooperative maintains a nationwide network of quality-checked kitchen studios and showrooms, connecting homeowners with local specialists for kitchen planning, renovation, design consultation, and purchase. The current CEO is Peter Achermann, and the core staff numbers 9 employees. The company is privately held with no disclosed parent, venture capital, or public listing, and is registered as a Swiss Aktiengesellschaft (CHE-108.733.526).

The company's product surface consists of three components: a partner ecosystem aggregating 30+ kitchen furniture brands (Nobilia, Nolte Küchen, Häcker, LEICHT, next125, Ballerina, Beckermann, Pronorm, Rempp, Schüller, SachsenKüchen, Rotpunkt, Impuls, Artego, KH System), household appliance brands (Miele, Gaggenau, Siemens, Liebherr, Bauknecht, ASKO), sink/faucet brands (Franke, BLANCO), ventilation brands (Falmec, ERGÄ, Fors), and accessory brands (Systemo, Ribag, Störi Licht, Baxar); a national online directory with postal-code-based store-locator search (radius up to 50 km); and an editorial content offering including a free 100-page printed magazine and ongoing web magazine covering kitchen trends, architecture, recipes, and lifestyle content. The technology stack is minimal, limited to PIWIK web analytics for visitor tracking. Distribution follows an exclusively B2B2C model through the affiliated independent kitchen specialty store network; DER KREIS does not operate its own retail locations.

Revenue derives from membership/network fees paid by affiliated kitchen studios and from collective purchasing agreements with brand suppliers that yield cooperative-level economics. The company expanded its offering in 2024 with the Wohnmöbel (living furniture) program and continues to invest in trade-fair presence (Bauen & Modernisieren Zürich 2026) and editorial amplification of partner product launches (Franke Mythos Water Hub, Gaggenau Serie Expressive, Liebherr XL-XXL Line). Geographic operations are confined to Switzerland, with no disclosed cross-border activity.

Name

DER KREIS Einkaufsgesellschaft für Küchenfachgeschäfte AG

Legal name

DER KREIS Einkaufsgesellschaft für Küchenfachgeschäfte AG

Website

https://kuechenspezialisten.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DER KREIS is a Swiss purchasing cooperative founded in 1985 that aggregates buying power and marketing infrastructure for independent kitchen specialty retailers across Switzerland, serving homeowners seeking kitchen planning and renovation through the nationwide Küchenspezialisten network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hünenberg

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Purchasing Consortium Revenue: DER KREIS operates as a group purchasing organization (Einkaufsgesellschaft) that aggregates purchasing power for independent kitchen specialty retailers. The consortium negotiates favorable terms with kitchen manufacturers and appliance brands, generating revenue through collective purchasing agreements and membership/network fees from affiliated kitchen studios.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DER KREIS is a Swiss purchasing consortium (Einkaufsgesellschaft) that aggregates procurement volume for independent kitchen specialty retailers (Küchenfachgeschäfte) and operates the consumer-facing "Küchenspezialisten" brand and network. Through a nationwide directory of quality-checked kitchen studios and showrooms, end consumers can locate local specialists by postal code, access kitchen planning guidance, view partner kitchen furniture and appliance brands, and request consultations. The organization earns recurring revenue through membership and network fees from affiliated kitchen studios in exchange for negotiated manufacturer terms.

Product overview

DER KREIS is a purchasing cooperative (Einkaufsgesellschaft) for kitchen specialty retailers (Küchenfachgeschäfte) operating in Switzerland. Their offering consists of a network of qualified kitchen specialists providing comprehensive kitchen planning and consultation services, along with access to an extensive portfolio of partner kitchen furniture brands (including Nobilia, Nolte Küchen, next125, Häcker, LEICHT, Ballerina, Beckermann, Pronorm, Rempp, Schüller, SachsenKüchen, rotpunkt, impuls, Artego, and KH System) and premium household appliance brands (including Miele, Gaggenau, Siemens, Liebherr, Bauknecht, and ASKO). Additional partner offerings include sinks and faucets (Franke, BLANCO), ventilation systems (Falmec, ERGÄ, FORS), and accessories (Systemo, Ribag, Störi Licht, Baxar). DER KREIS also publishes a free 100-page kitchen magazine covering trends, appliances, materials, and recipes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Küchenspezialisten (Kitchen Specialists) Network Nationwide Swiss network of quality-checked independent kitchen specialists and cabinetmakers offering personal consultation and full-service kitchen purchasing support to homeowners.
• Kitchen Planning (Küchenplanung) Services End-to-end kitchen planning services covering brand selection, kitchen configuration, purchasing guidance, and design checklists, delivered through member kitchen specialists for homeowners undertaking new-build or renovation projects.
• Küchenmagazin (Kitchen Magazine) Free 100-page kitchen magazine covering kitchen trends, appliance functions, materials, recipes, and lifestyle content, available by mail order to consumers as a content marketing and lead-generation tool for the network.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NobiliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading German kitchen manufacturer featured as a key brand partner. Nobilia produces quality kitchen furniture showcased through DER KREIS kitchen specialists across Switzerland.
• Nolte KüchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman kitchen manufacturer Nolte Küchen is a featured brand partner, offering contemporary kitchen designs through the DER KREIS network.
• Häcker KüchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHäcker Küchen is a key German kitchen manufacturer partner, providing modern kitchen solutions showcased in Swiss showrooms.
• Leicht Küchen AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss kitchen manufacturer Leicht Küchen AG is a featured brand partner, offering premium German-Swiss kitchen designs.
• next125coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium German kitchen brand next125 is featured as a brand partner, offering high-end kitchen designs.
• BallerinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman kitchen manufacturer Ballerina is a featured brand partner in the DER KREIS network.
• MielecoreTechnology or IntegrationPremium Swiss-German appliance manufacturer Miele is a key partner, providing high-quality household appliances (ovens, cooktops, refrigeration, dishwashers) featured in kitchen showrooms.
• GaggenaucoreTechnology or IntegrationPremium German appliance manufacturer Gaggenau is a featured partner, offering professional-grade kitchen appliances including the Expressive series.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationSiemens home appliances including the StudioLine series are featured brand partners in the kitchen network.
• LiebherrcoreTechnology or IntegrationLiebherr is featured as an appliance partner, offering premium refrigeration solutions including the XL-XXL Line.
• FrankecoreTechnology or IntegrationFranke is a key partner providing innovative kitchen sinks and faucets including the award-winning Mythos Water Hub multifunction faucet.
• BlancocoreTechnology or IntegrationBlanco is a featured partner offering sinks, faucors, and accessories including the BLANCO UNIT integrated system.
• BeckermannminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman kitchen manufacturer Beckermann is a featured brand partner.
• Pronorm Einbauküchen GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman kitchen manufacturer Pronorm is a featured brand partner.
• Rempp Küchen GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman kitchen manufacturer Rempp is a featured brand partner.
• Rotpunkt KüchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss kitchen manufacturer Rotpunkt is a featured brand partner.
• Schüller Möbelwerk KGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman kitchen manufacturer Schüller is a featured brand partner.
• SachsenküchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman kitchen manufacturer Sachsenküchen is a featured brand partner.
• ImpulsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman kitchen manufacturer Impuls is a featured brand partner.
• ArtegominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman kitchen manufacturer Artego is a featured brand partner.
• KH-System Möbel GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman kitchen manufacturer KH-System is a featured brand partner.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Miele: Global premium appliance manufacturer and a core DER KREIS partner brand. Competes indirectly by offering premium appliances through its own retail channels, and represents both a partnership opportunity and a strategic dependency for the Swiss network.
• XXXLutz: Large European furniture and kitchen retail group that competes with independent kitchen specialists on price, assortment, and showroom footprint. A structural threat to DER KREIS's member studios' volume and pricing power.
• V-ZUG: Swiss premium kitchen appliance manufacturer and a natural counterpart in the Swiss premium kitchen value chain. While V-ZUG is a brand supplier to the DER KREIS network rather than a competing consortium, it competes for premium kitchen budget share at the consumer level.
• IKEA: Global home furnishings and kitchen retailer whose modular kitchen line competes aggressively for value-oriented kitchen buyers. Pressures the lower end of the independent kitchen specialist segment that DER KREIS's member studios serve.

Regional players

• Mobexpert: Large Eastern-European kitchen and furniture retail group. Comparable in operating a kitchen retail network, but does not overlap geographically with the Swiss market.

Direct peers

• KüchenTreff: German nationwide network of independent kitchen specialist retailers operating under a shared brand and cooperative structure. A textbook direct peer given overlapping value proposition: curated kitchen studio network, shared marketing, and aggregated supplier negotiation.
• MHK Group (Möbel- und Handelskontor): Leading German purchasing cooperative for kitchen specialists and furniture retailers, aggregating purchasing power for independent member studios. Closely mirrors DER KREIS's consortium model, member-network structure, and revenue mechanics.
• GARANT-Möbel: Germany/Austria/Switzerland purchasing and marketing cooperative for furniture and kitchen retailers. Operates a similar group-purchasing concept with shared branding across independent member showrooms, including Swiss footprint.
• Küchen Partner: German kitchen specialist cooperative with a network of independently owned kitchen studios. Comparable in business model, member profile, and target customer to DER KREIS's Küchenfachgeschäft network.
• DER KREIS Systemzentrale GmbH: The German parent/originating organization behind the 'DER KREIS' purchasing cooperative model for kitchen and furniture specialists. Operates the same Einkaufsgesellschaft concept at scale in Germany and across multiple European markets, making it the most direct functional peer to the Swiss entity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/der-kreis-einkaufsgesellschaft

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 DER KREIS Einkaufsgesellschaft für Küchenfachgeschäfte AG