Andines

What Andines does

Andines (legal name: SCOP Andines, transforming to SCIC in 2025) is a French fair-trade import and wholesale cooperative founded in 1987 and headquartered in Stains, Île-de-France. It imports and distributes a catalog of 2,000+ food and artisan products — including organic dry goods, oils, wines, pasta, chocolates, coffee, and handicraft jewelry — sourced directly from peasant and artisan producer cooperatives across 10+ countries (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala, Burkina Faso, Niger, Cambodia, Palestine, Lebanon, Italy, and France). Producers are prepaid under fair-trade principles, and products carry organic certifications including FR-BIO-01, IT-BIO, COAE, and Ecocert.

The cooperative's primary go-to-market is B2B wholesale to independent boutiques and collective purchasing groups (AMAPs, groupements d'achats) across France, with pricing quoted on request and standard pack sizes (bottles/cans by 6, dry goods by 12, coffee by 20). A secondary direct-to-consumer channel runs through the Stains showroom (30 avenue Louis Bordes, open weekdays 10h-18h), supplemented by presence at regional fairs and farmers markets. Marketing relies on an organic catalog website, Facebook and Instagram accounts, and event-driven community engagement (film screenings, debates, tasting sessions). No proprietary technology stack is in evidence; the site is a SPIP-based CMS hosted by cooperative Neuronnexion.

Ownership is fully cooperative: 29 sociétaires hold €133,799 in social capital, with the Association Les Amis d'Andines (52 individual members) embedded as a support association. The cooperative is governed on a one-shareholder-one-vote basis and operates without external equity ownership, venture capital, or subsidiaries. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; headcount sits in the 11-50 range (5-7 reported circa 2013), and the active legal transition to SCIC in mid-2025 signals a deliberate broadening of the stakeholder base rather than a capital raise.

Name

Andines

Legal name

SCOP Andines

Website

https://andines.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Andines is a French fair-trade workers' cooperative founded in 1987 that imports and wholesale-distributes 2,000+ organic food and artisan products from producer cooperatives across 10+ countries to independent boutiques, purchasing groups, and showroom retail customers across France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fair Trade Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (4251), All Other Specialty Food Retailers (445298)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Ethnic Groceries & Shelf-Stable Foods Wholesale (AFAIAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ethnic Spices, Herbs & Seasonings Wholesale (AFAIAIAF), Ethnic/International Bulk & Wholesale Grocers (CRAHAMAE), Specialty Condiments, Sauces & Pickles Wholesale (AFAIAIAJ)

Keywords

• Fair trade wholesale
• Organic food distribution
• Artisan product import
• Cooperative wholesaler
• Peasant agriculture products

Headquarters

HQ city

Stains

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale distribution of fair trade products: Andines imports and distributes fair trade products (food and artisan goods) primarily to independent boutiques and purchasing groups (B2B wholesale). The cooperative also sells directly to consumers through its showroom and at fairs and markets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Andines is a French workers' cooperative (SCOP) that imports and wholesale-distributes fair trade food products (organic dry goods, olive oils, wines, coffee, tea, pasta, chocolates) and artisan crafts (Tuareg jewelry) sourced from peasant and artisan producer cooperatives across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. It sells primarily to independent boutiques and collective purchasing groups in France, with secondary direct retail through its Stains showroom and at fairs and markets.

Product overview

Andines is a French cooperative (SCOP - Société Coopérative et Participative) that imports and distributes fair trade products from peasant farmers and artisan producers. The company operates primarily as a wholesaler serving independent shops and buying groups. Their product portfolio includes: organic dry goods (lentils, quinoa, rice, bulgur, freekeh, beans, sesame, sugar), olive oils (especially from Palestine with organic certifications), various French organic wines, craft products (Tuareg jewelry from Niger), Italian Libera Terra pasta products, chocolates and cocoa, coffees/teas, jams, canned goods, spices, dried fruits, snacks, beers, ciders, and beverages. The products come from multiple countries including France, Palestine, Ecuador, Cambodia, Burkina Faso, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, Niger, and Italy. The cooperative emphasizes fair trade principles and maintains certifications including FR-BIO-01, IT-BIO, COAE, and Ecocert for organic products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Organic dry goods (lentils, quinoa, rice, bulgur, freekeh, beans, sesame, sugar) Certified organic (FR-BIO-01) fair trade dry goods including green and coral lentils, white/black/red quinoa, jasmine and red rice from Cambodia, fine bulgur, freekeh, Palestinian maftoul, black beans from Ecuador, striped sesame from Burkina Faso, and cane/brown sugar from Ecuador. Sold in standardized pack sizes (500g, 800g, 1kg) for retail and wholesale customers.
• Fair trade olive oils (notably Palestinian extra virgin) Fair trade and certified organic extra virgin olive oils led by Palestinian production, alongside French organic virgin walnut oil (from Unicoque cooperative), hemp seed oil, camellia oil, and a tri-omega blend (hemp, sunflower, rapeseed). Marketed to retailers and consumers seeking traceable, organic oils.
• French organic wines Range of FR-BIO-01 certified French wines from organic producers, distributed by Andines (e.g., Mas d'Intras cuvées Alphonse, Rustique, Merlot, Grenache-Syrah, rosé Isidora; Bergerac, Bordeaux, Ardèche, Minervois wines). Sold wholesale to retailers and at the showroom with periodic tasting events hosted by the winemaker.
• Libera Terra Italian organic pasta IT-BIO certified Italian pasta range from Libera Terra cooperative, including traditional shapes (Anelli, Busiate, Caserecce, Penne Rigate, Fusilli, Linguine, Paccheri, Rigatoni, Spaghetti) plus artisan pasta made from ancient wheat varieties with flavors such as curcuma, nettle and tomato (300g). Targeted at retailers and consumers seeking organic Italian pasta with a cooperative provenance.
• Fair trade artisan jewelry (Tuareg necklaces from Niger) Handcrafted Tuareg necklaces from artisan cooperatives in Niger, made with leather laces, silver fittings and ebony pendants. Sold at the showroom, online and at fairs as part of Andines' artisan craft offering alongside food products.
• Fair trade coffee, tea and herbal infusions Range of fair trade coffee, tea and herbal infusions from cooperative producers. Sold retail through the catalog and wholesale in standardized pack sizes (coffee by 20 units per case).
• Organic chocolates and cocoa products Organic chocolate bars and cocoa-based products sourced from fair trade producers, distributed wholesale and at retail through the Andines catalog.
• Organic jams and preserves Organic jams and fruit preserves from fair trade and organic producers, offered via the Andines catalog to wholesale and retail customers.
• Organic spices and seasonings Organic spice and seasoning range sourced from fair trade producers, sold wholesale and at retail through the Andines catalog.
• Organic dried fruits Organic dried fruit assortment from fair trade producers, distributed wholesale and at retail through the Andines catalog.
• Organic snacks and sweets Organic snack and confectionery range including quinoa-based snacks, biscuits, caramel and chocolate spreads, sold wholesale and at retail via the Andines catalog.
• Organic beers and ciders Organic beer and cider range from cooperative and small producers, distributed wholesale and at retail through the Andines catalog.
• Bulk dried products (vrac) Bulk (vrac) dried food range including rice, quinoa, lentils and sesame available in 5kg, 25kg and 55kg formats with pricing on request, intended for professional/wholesale buyers and bulk consumers.
• Non-alcoholic beverages Range of non-alcoholic beverages from fair trade and organic producers, distributed wholesale and at retail through the Andines catalog.

Quantifiable outcome

• Prepayment of producers ensures they receive fair compensation before product delivery
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ASPAL (Association de Solidarité avec les Pays d'Amérique Latine)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014ASPAL distributes artisanal products (handicrafts, jewelry, pottery, textiles) from Peru alongside Andines, sourcing from Asaripe and Cosart networks of artisan cooperatives. Both structures have distributed these products for several years.
• Mas d'IntrascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMas d'Intras is a French wine producer whose wines (including cuvée Alphonse, cuvée Rustique, Merlot, Grenache-Syrah, and rosé Isidora) are distributed by Andines. Tasting events are hosted at the Andines showroom, such as the December 2023 event with winemaker Denis Robert.
• Réseau MingacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinga is a solidarity economics network of which Andines is a founding member. The network promotes fair trade, food sovereignty, and alternative economic models. Minga co-produces documentaries and educational resources referenced by Andines.
• Coopérative Pointcarre (Saint-Denis)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPointcarre is a cooperative based in Saint-Denis, listed as a partner alongside Andines, suggesting collaboration in the local solidarity economy ecosystem.
• Les Amis d'AndinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLes Amis d'Andines is a support and solidarity association with 52 individual members. It organizes events, publishes newsletters (bulletins), and provides financial support through capital subscriptions. Marie-Christine Callet serves as President.
• Confédération paysannecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndines collaborates with the Confédération paysanne (French small farmers union) on events, film screenings, open days, and advocacy for food sovereignty, peasant agriculture, and short supply chains. The Confédération's local chapters (Amis de la Conf) co-organize public events at the Andines showroom.
• Libera TerraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLibera Terra supplies pasta products (Anelli, Busiate, Caserecce, Fusilli, Linguine, Paccheri, Rigatoni, etc.) certified organic/IT-BIO to Andines. This is a new partnership started in 2020.
• Maison de la Noisette (La Chabraque)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Maison de la Noisette supplies chocolate hazelnut spreads and creams (La Chabraque range, Onctueux de chocolat) certified FR-BIO-01 to Andines.
• Coopérative Agricole UnicoqueminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnicoque supplies walnut oil (Huile vierge de noix de France) to Andines, distributed under the cooperative's branding.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Réseau Minga: French solidarity-economy network of which Andines is a founding member — adjacent rather than competitive; provides advocacy, events, and ecosystem support for fair-trade and alternative-economy enterprises like Andines.

Broad incumbents

• Biocoop: France's largest organic retail cooperative with hundreds of stores nationwide; competes with Andines' customers for organic shelf space and offers comparable fair-trade and organic SKUs at much greater scale.
• La Vie Claire: Major French organic and natural products retail chain with national footprint; offers overlapping fair-trade and organic assortment to independent-retail customer base that Andines serves wholesale.

Direct peers

• Ethiquable: French fair-trade food cooperative (SCOP) importing and distributing products from small producer cooperatives to independent retailers — near-identical business model, governance structure, and target customer base as Andines.
• Alter Eco: France-based fair-trade company specializing in organic and fair-trade food products (rice, quinoa, chocolate, coffee) sold through mainstream retail — directly comparable in product mix and fair-trade sourcing model.
• Pronatura: French organic and fair-trade food wholesaler distributing to independent organic retailers — comparable B2B wholesale model serving the same indie organic shop customer base as Andines.
• Émile Noël: French producer of organic oils, condiments, and specialty foods distributed through organic and fair-trade retail channels — comparable in product categories (oils, condiments) and organic/fair-trade positioning.
• Artisans du Monde: French fair-trade network running both retail boutiques and wholesale distribution of food and artisan goods from producer cooperatives — directly comparable channel mix (B2B wholesale + retail storefront) and mission.
• Solidar'Monde: French fair-trade importer-wholesaler sourcing from producer cooperatives in the Global South for distribution to French retailers — same product categories, sourcing geography, and B2B wholesale model as Andines.
• Ethnos: French fair-trade wholesaler importing and distributing food and craft products from artisan cooperatives worldwide to specialty retailers — highly comparable import-wholesale model and customer segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lacooperativeandines
• Instagraminstagram.com/andinescoop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/andines

Compliance9 records

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 Andines