What Surfachem Deutschland does

Surfachem Deutschland GmbH is a German speciality chemical distributor headquartered in Wendelstein, Bavaria, that operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the UK-based 2M Holdings Limited (founded 2004, chaired by Mottie Kessler MBE). Originally founded in 1981 as FrankenChemie and acquired by 2M Group in 2018 before being rebranded, the company distributes a comprehensive portfolio of speciality chemical ingredients to manufacturers in the Personal Care & Cosmetics and HI&I (Household, Industrial & Institutional Care) sectors across the DACH region, Benelux, and select Eastern European markets. Its product portfolio spans surfactants, emollients, preservatives, active ingredients, peptides, ceramides, and humectants sourced from leading manufacturers including Evonik, Shell Chemicals, Givaudan, ADM, Kalichem, Sandream Specialties, and Eurosicura, marketed partly under the proprietary SURFAC brand and SURFAsorb trademark.

The company's core technology stack centers on speciality chemical distribution augmented by formulation laboratory capabilities across its European network (UK, France, Germany), with the German operation participating in a group capability that produces over 100 formulations annually. Surfachem Deutschland also operates raw material filling under cosmetic GMP guidelines and maintains RSPO certification covering 100+ certified ingredients, with ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification achieved in December 2019. The company's proprietary Skinphony formulation concept and registered brand assets including SURFAsorb reflect modest but real product differentiation efforts within its distribution mandate.

Commercially, Surfachem operates a sales-led go-to-market supplemented by channel partner relationships through the 2M Holdings network (subsidiaries in Brazil, France, Germany, Poland, UK, Benelux, Nordic countries). Revenue is generated primarily through transactional distribution margins on ingredient sales (transaction fee model), supplemented by professional services revenue from laboratory formulation work, stability testing, and technical support. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, negotiated per-customer based on volume and specifications. The company maintains relationships with over 1,000 customers, targets enterprise manufacturers, and reaches customers in over 65 countries through the broader 2M Group network, with the parent company exporting to over 90 countries. Marketing is executed through industry trade shows (SEPAWA, In-Cosmetics Global, IFSCC Congress, HPCI, Cosmetic Business), technical webinars, content marketing, sample request systems, and LinkedIn engagement.

Name

Surfachem Deutschland

Legal name

Surfachem Deutschland GmbH

Website

https://surfachem.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Surfachem Deutschland is a German speciality chemical distributor (Wendelstein, Bavaria) serving Personal Care, Cosmetics, and HI&I manufacturers across DACH, Benelux, and Eastern Europe with ingredients from Evonik, Shell Chemicals, Givaudan, ADM, and others, supported by formulation laboratories and technical services as part of 2M Holdings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Speciality Chemical Distribution

NAICS

Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246)

SIC

Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Institutional (I&I) Cleaning Chemicals (IMAEABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty Surfactants & Performance Additives (IMAEABAL)

Keywords

• Speciality chemicals distribution
• Personal care ingredients
• Cosmetic raw materials
• Industrial cleaning chemicals
• Formulation laboratory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wendelstein

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Speciality Chemical Distribution: Surfachem generates revenue through distribution of speciality chemical ingredients to manufacturers in the personal care, cosmetics, and HI&I sectors. They act as an intermediary between chemical manufacturers (suppliers) and formulation companies (customers), earning margins on product sales.
2. Laboratory and Technical Services: Value-added services including formulation development, stability testing, and technical support to customers. These services help drive ingredient sales while providing technical expertise to customers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Surfachem Deutschland is an international distributor of speciality chemical ingredients supplying manufacturers in the Personal Care & Cosmetics and HI&I (Household, Industrial & Institutional Care) markets. It distributes products from leading chemical producers (Evonik, Shell Chemicals, Givaudan, ADM, Sandream Specialties, Kalichem, Eurosicura) and complements distribution with value-added formulation laboratory services and sample management across its European footprint.

Product overview

Surfachem Deutschland is an international distributor of speciality chemicals, part of the 2M Group. The company offers a comprehensive SURFAC™ portfolio of speciality chemical ingredients primarily for Personal Care and Cosmetics and HI&I (Household, Industrial & Institutional Care) markets. They distribute products from major suppliers including Evonik, Shell Chemicals, Givaudan, ADM, Sandream Specialties, Kalichem, and Eurosicura. In addition to ingredient distribution, Surfachem provides laboratory services including formulation development, stability testing, and technical support across their European network of laboratories in the UK, France, and Germany. Sample management services are also offered through the group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SURFAC™ Portfolio A broad proprietary portfolio of speciality chemical products and solutions distributed by Surfachem Deutschland for Personal Care & Cosmetics and HI&I (Household, Industrial & Institutional Care) applications, sourcing ingredients from multiple leading manufacturers.
• SURFAsorb® A registered specialty chemical product brand within the Surfachem portfolio of speciality ingredients, distributed for personal care and related applications.
• Formulation Laboratory Services Value-added laboratory services including new idea development, market research, trend identification, formulation advice, stability testing, problem solving and processing/scale-up guidelines, delivered through Surfachem's network of formulation laboratories in the UK (Huddersfield), France and Germany, producing over 100 formulations per year.
• Sample Management Services Sample management, storage and distribution services for speciality chemical ingredients, supported by an online sample request system that allows customers to order evaluation samples for testing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced electricity usage at distribution centre by 31% and carbon dioxide emissions by 6%
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sandream SpecialtiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 January 2022New distribution partnership announced for specialty ingredients. Sandream provides naturally derived ingredients including pigments, powders, and oils for cosmetics.
• AspangerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 November 2021Aspanger appointed Surfachem as new distribution partner in the Personal Care sector for mineral-based ingredients.
• Evonik Goldschmidt UKcoreOthers · 28 August 2020Site in Milton Keynes acquired by 2M Group and renamed 2M Manufacturing Limited. Surfachem had marketed products from this site for over 20 years.
• Ingretech SAScoreOthers · 23 September 2019French speciality ingredient and formulation know-how distribution business acquired by 2M Group in 2019. Founded 6 years prior by Aline Serre, Aldo Ravanelli, Alfredo Rocchi, and Sergio Sala.
• FrankenChemie (Franken-KosmetikChemie-Handel)coreOthers · 5 September 2018Acquired by 2M Group in 2018 and renamed Surfachem Deutschland. Founded in 1983, FrankenChemie was a long-standing distribution partner to Evonik Industries AG.
• EvonikcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvonik is a key supplier partner for Surfachem. Surfachem distributes Evonik's extensive range of speciality ingredients including surfactants, emollients, active ingredients, and cosmetic formulations. Evonik selected Surfachem as distributor for UK and Ireland in 2008.
• Shell ChemicalscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShell Chemicals is a key supplier partner. Surfachem distributes Shell Chemicals products and was selected as distributor for UK and Ireland in the early 1990s.
• GivaudancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading flavour and fragrance company whose ingredients are distributed by Surfachem into personal care and cosmetics applications.
• ADM (Archer Daniels Midland)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorADM ingredients are distributed by Surfachem for personal care and cosmetics applications.
• KalichemcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian ingredient manufacturer whose products are distributed by Surfachem for personal care applications. New distribution partnership established in 2021.
• EurosicuraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIngredient supplier whose products are distributed by Surfachem.
• Omni-chem 136minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest network of independent chemical distributors. 2M Group works with Omni-chem 136 to leverage combined assets and provide responsive supply chain support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nordmann, Rassmann (Nordmann): German specialty chemicals and natural raw materials distributor serving personal care, home care, food, and industrial segments. Comparable to Surfachem Deutschland as a German-rooted value-added distributor with principal-led supply and technical / formulation support across DACH and broader Europe.
• Barentz International: Dutch-headquartered specialty ingredients distributor focused on personal care, home care, and human nutrition. Closely comparable to Surfachem as a principal-led, technically supported specialty distributor with European laboratories and a stated emphasis on sustainable ingredient portfolios.
• Azelis: Belgian-headquartered global specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor serving personal care, HI&I, and pharma among other end markets. Directly comparable as a value-added specialty distributor with strong formulation support, similar principal-supplier model, and pan-European / global coverage via acquisitions.
• IMCD N.V. Dutch specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor with strong personal care, home care, and industrial care coverage across Europe. Highly comparable business model of pairing tier-1 principal partnerships with application laboratories and technical sales, primarily serving formulators and brand owners in the same customer segments as Surfachem Deutschland.
• Biesterfeld AG: German-headquartered specialty chemicals distributor active across personal care, home care, and industrial applications in Europe. Comparable to Surfachem Deutschland in DACH focus, value-added distribution with technical services, and structured supplier partnerships with leading ingredient manufacturers.
• Caldic B.V. Dutch specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor serving personal care, home care, food, and pharma end markets. Directly comparable to Surfachem Deutschland through a value-added distribution model combining formulation support and tier-1 principal relationships across Europe and beyond.

Broad incumbents

• Univar Solutions: North-American-headquartered global chemical and ingredients distributor with established European presence in personal care, HI&I, and industrial specialties. Overlaps with Surfachem Deutschland in target end markets and specialty distribution model, but significantly larger and broader in industrial and commodity exposure.
• Brenntag SE: German-headquartered global market leader in chemical distribution with a Lifescience segment covering personal care, pharma, and HI&I. Overlaps materially with Surfachem Deutschland in product categories and customer base, but operates at vastly larger scale with broader industrial and commodity chemicals exposure beyond the specialty / value-added niche.

Regional players

• Omya International: Swiss specialty chemicals distributor and producer of functional minerals and ingredients for personal care, HI&I, and industrial applications. Adjacent peer — overlapping in target end markets and Swiss/DACH regional anchor, though Omya also operates upstream production rather than purely distribution.
• Manuchar Group: Belgian-headquartered chemical distribution group active across Europe, Africa, and Asia. Comparable as a specialty and commodity chemicals distributor serving FMCG and industrial customers, though with a heavier geographic focus outside Surfachem Deutschland's core DACH / Benelux / Eastern Europe footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surfachem-deutschland

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Surfachem Deutschland