SynPharma GmbH

What SynPharma GmbH does

SynPharma GmbH is an Austrian wholesale distribution company specializing in professional health and beauty products, operating exclusively within the Austrian specialist trade market. Founded in 1976 and incorporated in Salzburg on July 13, 1976, with operational activity beginning in 1977, the company is wholly owned by the German family-owned Dr. Grandel GmbH ("The Beautyness Company"). It distributes an extensive portfolio of more than 20 premium brands — including its own group brands DR. GRANDEL Kosmetik, PHYRIS, and ARABESQUE, alongside third-party brands such as Gehwol, Gerlach equipment, Speick, Biokosma, Dr. Wolz, Sanhelios, Ultrasun, Ilon, Bekunis, and Bentlon — to cosmetics institutes, foot care professionals, pharmacies, SPAs, medical supply stores, and reform houses across Austria.

The company operates a multi-channel distribution model centered on a dedicated field sales organization (Außendienst) and Beauty Consultants who provide active in-person consultation to specialist retailers, supplemented by a B2B partner portal (b2b.synpharma.at) for ordering and account management, a consumer-facing online shop (Cosmetic Gallery, launched 2013), and a certified pharmaceutical wholesale license for pharmacy supply. Pricing follows a recommended retail price list with free delivery above €150 net invoice value. The business is supported by an in-house seminar center providing ongoing training to intermediaries, modern warehouse logistics at the Hallwang (near Salzburg) headquarters, and point-of-sale sales promotion services. There is no proprietary technology platform; SynPharma's competitive position rests on four decades of distribution relationships, exclusive brand mandates, and integrated sales support rather than technology differentiation.

SynPharma's revenue model is transactional distribution and sales promotion: it purchases branded products from manufacturers (including its parent) and resells them through specialist trade channels, generating margins on the spread. Disclosed net revenue was €8.5 million for fiscal year 2017. The company operates with a very small employee base (sources vary between 6 and 30) and is led by commercial managing directors Ing. Mag. Reinhard Satzinger and Dipl.-Betriebswirt (FH) Richard Kratzer, under the ownership and strategic alignment of the second-generation Grandel family enterprise.

Name

SynPharma GmbH

Legal name

SYNPHARMA GmbH

Website

https://synpharma.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SynPharma GmbH is an Austrian wholesale distributor of professional health and beauty brands serving cosmetics institutes, pharmacies, foot care professionals, and reform houses via field sales, B2B portal, and online shop. Wholly owned by Dr. Grandel GmbH since 1976.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health & Beauty Brand Distribution

NAICS

Health and Personal Care Retailers (456)

SIC

Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122), Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Label & Contract/White-Label Beauty Distribution (CRAOAEAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare (CRABAAAF), Foot Care (Deodorizing, Anti-chafe, Callus Care) (CRADANAK)

Keywords

• Beauty brand distribution
• Pharmaceutical wholesale services
• Professional cosmetics supply
• Specialist trade distribution
• Health products wholesale

Headquarters

HQ city

Hallwang

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Brand Distribution and Sales: SynPharma generates revenue as a distribution partner for health and beauty brands in Austria, serving specialist trade channels including pharmacies, cosmetics institutes, foot care institutes, and reform houses. The company leverages its field sales organization, B2B portal, and own e-commerce shop (Cosmetic Gallery) to distribute branded products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SynPharma GmbH is an Austrian distribution and sales promotion partner for premium health and beauty brands. The company distributes professional cosmetics, foot care, and pharmaceutical/wellness products from over 20 brand partners to specialist trade channels — including pharmacies, cosmetics institutes, foot care institutes, reform houses, and SPAs — via its own field sales force, Beauty Consultants, B2B partner portal, and the Cosmetic Gallery online shop.

Product overview

SynPharma GmbH is a distribution company for health and beauty products in Austria, not a product manufacturer. The company distributes over 20 professional beauty and health brands through specialized trade channels including cosmetics institutes, foot care professionals, pharmacies, drugstores, reform houses, and medical supply retailers. The core portfolio includes DR. GRANDEL Kosmetik and PHYRIS for professional skincare, ARABESQUE for decorative cosmetics, Gehwol for foot care, and various health supplement brands like Dr. Wolz, Sanhelios, and Ultrasun. The company operates its own B2B partner portal and Cosmetic Gallery online shop, providing sales promotion, marketing support, and training services to specialist retailers in Austria through an internal sales force and field sales organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DR. GRANDEL Kosmetik: Professional cosmetics brand with active ingredient ampoules, developed and produced in Germany for over 70 years.
• PHYRIS Skin Care Concept
• ARABESQUE Make-up Collection
• DR. GRANDEL Health Products
• Gehwol
• Gerlach-Technik
• Dr. Wolz
• Bekunis
• Sanhelios
• SPEICK
• BIOKOSMA
• DUL-X
• Ultrasun
• Ilon
• Bentlon
• Cosmetic Gallery

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Dr. Grandel GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Grandel GmbH is the parent company (Mutterhaus) and sole shareholder of SynPharma GmbH. SynPharma is closely connected to Dr. Grandel and follows the same company philosophy (Leitsterne). Dr. Grandel is a family-owned beauty and health company founded in 1947 by Dr. Felix Grandel, now in its second generation under Michael Grandel, with operations in over 40 countries.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• dm drogerie markt GmbH + Co. KG: Germany's largest drugstore chain with a strong Austrian presence, distributing mass-market beauty, health, and personal care products. Competes with SynPharma's specialist trade customers (pharmacies, reform houses) for end-consumer spend.
• Douglas GmbH: Europe's leading omnichannel beauty retailer with ~1,800 stores and a large e-commerce platform. Overlaps with SynPharma as both distribute premium beauty brands (including ARABESQUE, DR. GRANDEL categories) and serve beauty consumers.
• PHOENIX Group: One of Europe's largest pharmaceutical wholesale distributors serving pharmacies across multiple countries. Comparable to SynPharma as both operate regulated B2B pharmaceutical/health distribution to pharmacies, though PHOENIX is far larger and pan-European.
• Alliance Healthcare: European pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor serving pharmacies, hospitals, and doctors. Comparable business model to SynPharma's pharmaceutical wholesale arm serving Austrian pharmacies, but at much greater scale and breadth.
• Notino: Europe's largest online beauty retailer distributing hundreds of premium beauty brands direct-to-consumer. Overlaps with SynPharma in beauty brand distribution and competes for the same brand principals' attention.
• Müller Holding GmbH & Co. KG: German drugstore and beauty retail chain with broad beauty/health assortment. Direct competitor to SynPharma's specialist trade customers and operator of own-brand beauty distribution.
• Sanacorp eG: German pharmaceutical cooperative wholesaler serving ~8,000 member pharmacies. Comparable to SynPharma as a pharma wholesaler supplying independent pharmacies with health products and supplements.

Emerging players

• Flaconi GmbH: Berlin-based pure-play online beauty retailer distributing premium beauty brands direct to consumers in DACH. Increasingly competes with SynPharma's Cosmetic Gallery online shop and for the same brand principals.

Direct peers

• Dr. Babor GmbH: German professional skincare company that both manufactures premium skincare products and operates its own distribution network to cosmetics institutes and spas in DACH. Closest direct comparable in business model — owned brand + specialist trade distribution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/synpharma

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 SynPharma GmbH