Lindner GmbH Fruchtimport und Handelsgesellschaft

What Lindner GmbH Fruchtimport und Handelsgesellschaft does

Lindner GmbH Fruchtimport und Handelsgesellschaft, operating as Lindnerfood, is a family-owned fresh food wholesale distributor headquartered at the Frankfurt Frischezentrum in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Founded in 1981 with roots dating to 1950, the company offers over 6,000 SKUs across nine product categories — fresh fruit and exotics, vegetables and herbs, ready-cut convenience produce, potato products, dairy, delicatessen (Feinkost), eggs and egg products, dry goods, and EU-certified organic products — serving professional foodservice customers in the Rhein-Main region and, through the CF Foodservice network, nationwide across Germany.

The company's underlying infrastructure is a closed cold chain that is maintained voluntarily (not legally required for produce), encompassing multi-zone refrigerated warehouses with continuous temperature monitoring, a proprietary refrigerated delivery fleet of 3.5t to 12t vehicles equipped with drive and standing cooling plus cold curtains, and the Frankfurt Frischezentrum wholesale market where trade customers can pick up orders from midnight. Order intake runs 24/7 through the proprietary Chefslist mobile app (iOS and Android), phone, and email, with night-shift inside sales and early-morning delivery windows. The DIANA private label brand covers premium citrus from Valencia, Spain, and the proprietary "Vitamin Q" quality management system bundles product, infrastructure, logistics, and service standards into a single quality promise.

Lindnerfood generates revenue through B2B wholesale transaction pricing on fresh produce, convenience products, and logistical delivery services, with individual customer terms governed by AGB (net payment terms, no skonto). The go-to-market is a direct enterprise field-sales model organized by customer segment — dedicated account managers and outside sales representatives cover Hotels, Restaurants/Cafés, Catering, Staff Catering (Betriebsverpflegung), Specialist Retail, Care, Schools/Kindergartens, Bakeries/Butchers, and Wholesale Customers — complemented by the self-serve Chefslist app and the wholesale market pickup channel. The customer base spans small bakeries to enterprise hotels and healthcare facilities, with concentration risk spread across multiple verticals and no single anchor customer identified. Ownership is fully private and family-controlled, with no institutional investors, public listing, or funding rounds disclosed.

Name

Lindner GmbH Fruchtimport und Handelsgesellschaft

Legal name

Lindner GmbH Fruchtimport und Handelsgesellschaft

Website

https://lindnerfood.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lindnerfood is a family-owned Frankfurt-based fresh food wholesaler distributing over 6,000 SKUs of produce, dairy, and convenience products to professional foodservice customers across the Rhein-Main region, with nationwide reach through the CF Foodservice network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh Food Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers (4244), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (42448), Packaged Frozen Food Merchant Wholesalers (42442), Other Grocery and Related Products Merchant Wholesalers (42449)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Broadline Foodservice (Multi-Category) Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refrigerated/Chilled Foods Wholesale (Deli, Prepared, Fresh Pasta, etc.) (AFAIAHAB), Health, Organic & Natural Grocery Wholesale (AFAIABAI), Organic Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Wholesale (AFAIAJAF)

Keywords

• Fresh food wholesale
• Fruit and vegetable distribution
• Foodservice supply
• Refrigerated logistics
• Convenience produce

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt am Main

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fresh Produce and Food Product Sales: Core revenue from wholesale distribution of fresh fruits, vegetables, convenience products, dairy, eggs, frozen goods, and dry products to professional customers. Products sold as raw materials or pre-processed (Ready Cut, convenience). Revenue generated through per-transaction pricing with net payment terms.
2. Delivery and Logistics Services: Fee-based delivery service using the company's own refrigerated fleet (3.5t to 12t Kühlfahrzeuge) covering the Rhein-Main region. Customers can pick up orders directly at the Frankfurt Frischezentrum wholesale market.
3. Private Label Brand Sales (DIANA): Revenue from proprietary private label brand DIANA covering oranges, citrus fruits, clementines, and tomatoes. The brand commands premium pricing based on superior quality and edible peel characteristic.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lindnerfood is a family-owned B2B fresh food wholesaler that distributes over 6,000 SKUs — fresh fruit and exotics, vegetables, herbs, ready-cut convenience produce, dairy, eggs, delicatessen, dry goods, and organic products — to professional foodservice customers in the Rhein-Main region and nationwide through the CF Foodservice network. Operations are anchored in a closed cold chain maintained from supplier to customer using a company-owned refrigerated fleet, with 24/7 order placement via the proprietary Chefslist app and direct pickup at the Frankfurt Frischezentrum wholesale market.

Product overview

Lindnerfood is a family-owned fresh food wholesale and distribution company operating from Frankfurt's Frischezentrum, serving the Rhein-Main region with over 6,000 products. The core offering consists of fresh produce categories (Obst & Exoten, Gemüse, Kressen & Kräuter), ready-cut convenience items (Ready Cut), dairy products (Molkereiprodukte), fine foods (Feinkost), eggs, dry goods, and organic products. The portfolio is organized around their proprietary DIANA brand for premium citrus, alongside partner brands Napuro, Cold'n'Fresh, and Weidefrische through the CF (Customized Foodservice) network. Key services include refrigerated logistics delivery, self-pickup at the wholesale market, and the Chefslist digital ordering app. The company maintains a closed cold chain from producer to customer and has been operating since 1950 with over 40 years as a GmbH.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DIANA: A premium own-brand covering oranges, lemons, clementines, and tomatoes. The brand originates from a Spanish citrus producer whose dog was named Diana. The oranges feature edible peels and are hand-picked in Valencia according to strict quality criteria.
• CF Foodservice
• Vitamin Q
• Napuro
• Cold'n'Fresh
• Weidefrische

Products and services

• Obst & Exoten (Fruit & Exotics) Fresh fruit including berries, stone fruit, citrus, tropicals and exotic varieties sourced globally, providing produce in premium quality for professional kitchens and retail.
• Gemüse, Kressen & Kräuter (Vegetables, Cress & Herbs) Comprehensive vegetable selection including leafy, flowering, legume, sprout, stem and root vegetables, plus fresh cress and culinary herbs sourced regionally and internationally.
• Ready Cut Pre-cut, kitchen-ready fresh produce prepared in any desired form (washed, peeled, cubed, sliced, chopped, quartered) just-in-time after order placement for maximum freshness.
• Kartoffelprodukte (Potato Products) Wide range of potato products including mash, dumplings, gnocchi, roesti, fries, boiled potatoes, potato cubes, baked potatoes and gratin, available in various convenience levels from raw to pre-cooked.
• Molkereiprodukte (Dairy Products) Milk, cheese, yogurt and dairy products including regional and organic options, featuring brands like Weidefrische for quality dairy with German-origin milk.
• Feinkost (Delicatessen) Fine food selection including antipasti, delicatessen salads, dressings, dips, sauces such as Frankfurter Grüne Soße, sandwiches, wraps, to-go items, juices, smoothies and fruit salads.
• Eier und Eiprodukte (Eggs and Egg Products) German-origin eggs and egg products including organic eggs in various pack sizes, pasteurized hard-boiled eggs for communal catering, and liquid egg products.
• Trockenprodukte (Dry Products) Dry goods including pasta, flour, grains, vinegar, oils, sauces, nuts (classic and exotic varieties), and seasonal chocolate-covered fruits, all meeting high quality standards.
• Bioprodukte (Organic Products) EU-certified organic produce including vegetables and dry goods, sourced from certified organic farms with personal relationships with growers ensuring organic quality and freshness.
• DIANA Private Label Brand Premium own brand featuring sun-ripened oranges with edible peel, also including lemons, clementines and tomatoes, sourced from Valencia region Spain and known for hand-picked quality.
• Chefslist Bestellapp (Ordering App) Mobile ordering application (available for iOS and Android) enabling 24/7 ordering with customer-specific templates, order history tracking and favorites management.
• Refrigerated Delivery Service Delivery service using the company's own refrigerated fleet (3.5t to 12t Kühlfahrzeuge) covering the Rhein-Main region with closed cold chain from supplier to customer.
• Frischezentrum Wholesale Market Pickup Direct customer pickup at the Frankfurt Frischezentrum wholesale market, with extended-hours pickup window (Mon–Fri 00:00–08:00, Sat 02:00–07:00) for trade customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products delivered daily fresh to customers through night-shift operations starting at midnight, with delivery service hours Mon-Fri 07:00-19:00 and Sat 07:00-10:00
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles9 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• CF Foodservice (Customized Foodservice)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCF Foodservice is a nationwide network of over 30 fresh food wholesalers providing comprehensive fresh and convenience product coverage across Germany (from Flensburg to Berchtesgaden). Lindnerfood is both a delivery partner and shareholder (Gesellschafter) of CF. The partnership enables nationwide coverage with uniform quality and hygiene standards while maintaining maximum regionality. CF operates under the motto 'Von Profis für Profis' (By professionals, for professionals) and provides customers with a single point of contact for uniform quality at identical prices.
• DIANA Brand (Own Private Label)flagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLindnerfood owns the brand rights to DIANA, a premium private label for oranges, citrus fruits, clementines, and tomatoes. Products sourced primarily from the Valencia region of Spain, selected by experienced picker Juan, hand-harvested based on size and sweetness criteria, and individually hand-wrapped in paper (no chemical coating, edible peel). DIANA products are sold through Lindnerfood's distribution channels.
• Napuro, Cold'n'Fresh, Weidefrische (CF Private Labels)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCF Foodservice's proprietary private label brands including Napuro, Cold'n'Fresh, and Weidefrische. Weidefrische is a quality brand for dairy products featuring German-origin milk, quark, and yogurt in natural or fruit varieties. These brands are distributed by Lindnerfood as part of the CF network.
• Frankfurt Airport / International Supply Chain PartnersminorOthersInternational supply chain partners enabling direct sourcing of exotic fruits via Frankfurt Airport. Overseas products arrive through ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, and Bremen and reach Lindnerfood within hours. North African products also arrive quickly. The airport enables 'erntefrisch' (harvest-fresh) delivery of exotic products.
• Regional Hessian Farmers and GrowersminorOthersEngaged regional farmers from the Frankfurt area who supply seasonal produce including apples, strawberries, asparagus, and vegetables through day-fresh harvests. Year-round greenhouse-grown regional products also sourced. All partners commit to the same quality standards as Lindnerfood. Notably, the Gartenbaubetrieb Böttcher from Bürstadt supplies over 20 fresh herb varieties year-round, and Griesheim farms supply daily-fresh salads for Frankfurt's salad bars.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chefs Culinar Nord GmbH & Co. KG: German foodservice wholesaler supplying restaurants, hotels, and catering with fresh, frozen, and convenience products, with regional cash & carry markets and a delivery fleet. Closely comparable business model — multi-category HoReCa delivery plus wholesale market pickup — and a direct competitor for HoReCa accounts in overlapping regions.
• Weiling GmbH: Germany's largest organic wholesale distributor, supplying organic produce, dry goods, and convenience to specialist retail and HoReCa. Comparable in the organic and natural foods wholesale segment that Lindnerfood addresses with its 476+ organic SKUs and EU-Bio certification.
• Lehmann Natur GmbH: German organic and natural foods wholesaler serving specialist retail, HoReCa, and catering customers. Comparable organic wholesale model and customer overlap, particularly in fresh organic produce and convenience categories.
• CF Foodservice partner wholesalers (e.g., other regional CF partners): Other regional fresh wholesalers within the CF Foodservice network that operate comparable business models in their respective regions — fresh produce and convenience distribution to HoReCa under shared quality standards. Direct comparables by business model, even though geographically non-overlapping.

Broad incumbents

• EDEKA Foodservice Stiftung & Co. KG: National foodservice arm of the EDEKA group, supplying fresh produce, convenience, and grocery to HoReCa across Germany. Comparable in multi-category foodservice distribution and customer overlap, but with far larger purchasing scale and a national network versus Lindnerfood's regional density.
• Transgourmet Deutschland GmbH & Co. OHG: One of Germany's largest foodservice wholesalers (part of the Coop Group), operating a broad multi-category fresh, frozen, and dry assortment to HoReCa customers. Directly comparable as a broadline foodservice wholesaler serving restaurants, hotels, and catering — though at significantly greater national scale than Lindnerfood.
• Selgros Cash & Carry (Transgourmet subsidiary): Cash & carry foodservice format operated by Transgourmet in Germany, serving HoReCa and small businesses with broad assortment including fresh produce. Comparable in the wholesale market / cash & carry pickup model that complements delivery for HoReCa buyers.
• METRO Deutschland GmbH: Germany's largest cash & carry and foodservice distributor, serving HoReCa and trade customers with a broad assortment including fresh produce, convenience, and frozen. Overlaps with Lindnerfood in HoReCa customers and broadline assortment, but operates at national scale across cash & carry and delivery formats.

Regional players

• Bodan Großhandel für Naturkost GmbH: Regional organic wholesaler in southern Germany serving natural food retailers and HoReCa. Comparable in organic product distribution and HoReCa focus, though operating in a different region than Lindnerfood's Rhein-Main base.
• Frischezentrum Frankfurt competitors (e.g., Märkte/Obstgroßhändler am Frankfurter Großmarkt): Other fresh produce wholesalers and importers operating from the Frankfurt wholesale market, sharing the same Frischezentrum pickup channel and serving overlapping Rhein-Main HoReCa customers. Direct local competitors in fresh fruit and vegetable distribution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lindnerfood
• Instagraminstagram.com/lindnerfood
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lindner-gmbh-fruchtimport-handelsgesellschaft

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Lindner GmbH Fruchtimport und Handelsgesellschaft