V-AUCTION LIMITED

What V-AUCTION LIMITED does

V-Auction Limited is a UK-incorporated digital marketplace subsidiary of Vollers Group that operates the Hidden Beans Spot Auction platform for trading specialty green coffee stored in Vollers warehouses across the UK, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Its core technology is a web-based auction platform that runs two complementary formats: a 4-hour Timed Auction (9:00–13:00 with Buy-Now and Auto-Bid proxy functionality, ending at a fixed time) and a Reverse Auction in which lot prices decline continuously until the first bidder accepts. Platform features include anonymous paddle numbers, sample ordering for verified bidders, and structured post-auction workflows separating coffee and transport invoicing. Registered bidders — primarily specialty coffee roasters — apply and are approved before auctions, while sellers (specialty coffee exporters such as Volcafe, Mercanta, Caravela, Algrano, Osito, and others) consign inventory already in Vollers-operated warehouses, enabling immediate shipment post-sale.

The business model is asset-light relative to the underlying commodity: V-Auction earns transaction-based commission on cleared lots, fees on samples, and is integrated with Vollers Group's logistics arm which separately invoices winners for transport. The platform is geographically focused but serves an international buyer base, with multi-event regional cadence (UK, EU/Germany, BE/NL) and a two-day Timed + Reverse auction cycle per region per quarter. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; payment terms require buyers to clear invoices within 15 days of auction. Marketing is largely organic across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and email, supplemented by the auction platform itself and leverage of Vollers' corporate relationships. No public revenue, headcount, or funding figures are disclosed, and ownership commentary indicates strategic parent ownership by Vollers Group with no institutional PE/VC backing evident in the available material.

Name

V-AUCTION LIMITED

Legal name

V-Auction Limited

Website

https://hiddenbeans.v-auction.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

V-Auction Limited is a Vollers Group subsidiary that operates Hidden Beans Spot Auction, a digital marketplace running timed and reverse auctions for specialty green coffee stored in European and UK warehouses, serving specialty roaster buyers and green-coffee seller-exporter partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Auction Transaction Fees: V-Auction earns commission on coffee lots sold through their platform. Winners receive separate invoices for coffee purchase and transport costs.
2. Sample Sales: Buyers can purchase coffee samples before the auction through the platform. Samples are specifically for bidders who intend to participate in the auction.
3. Transport/Logistics Coordination: Vollers Group organizes and invoices for transport of won lots from warehouse to buyer, separate from the coffee purchase price.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

V-Auction operates a digital auction marketplace for specialty green coffee, hosting timed and reverse auctions of warehouse-stored lots from renowned sellers. Pre-approved roasters register, bid, and purchase spot coffee held at Vollers warehouses across Europe and the UK, with Vollers Group coordinating payment collection and transport logistics for winners. Sample ordering, auto-bidding, and anonymous bidder identity support the live trading experience.

Product overview

V-Auction Limited operates V-Auction, a digital coffee auction platform that hosts the Hidden Beans Spot Auction sub-brand. The platform offers two complementary auction formats: Timed Auction (a 4-hour simultaneous bidding window with Buy Now option) and Reverse Auction (where prices decrease until claimed). The platform integrates with Vollers Group for warehouse storage and transport logistics. Additional features include auto-bidding, sample ordering, and anonymous bidding across multiple European and UK auction events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• V-Auction Platform Core digital auction platform connecting pre-approved specialty coffee roasters with warehouse-stored green coffee from renowned sellers across Europe and the UK. Provides registration, bidding, sample ordering, payment coordination, and transport organization through Vollers Group.
• Hidden Beans Spot Auction Branded auction event series offering specialty grade coffees (80+) from multiple renowned sellers held in Vollers warehouses across Europe and the UK, enabling roasters to bid on and purchase in-stock lots ready for immediate shipment.
• Timed Auction Four-hour simultaneous-bidding auction format running 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM where all lots are live at once, buyers bid at suggested increments or use Buy Now to purchase immediately, and the auction ends at 1 PM with winners notified.
• Reverse Auction Dynamic auction format where prices on all lots decrease gradually over time and the first bidder to accept the current price wins the lot immediately, with lots dropping out as they are claimed.
• Coffee Sample Sales Pre-auction sample ordering service allowing approved bidders to purchase and taste coffee samples from selected lots on the platform to evaluate cup quality before bidding.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vollers GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVollers Group is the parent company and operational partner for V-Auction. They provide warehouse storage across Europe and UK, handle logistics and transport for auction winners, and manage the overall auction operations including payment collection and coffee release.
• Curu GmbHminorOthersSpecialty grade coffee importer from Brazil's Matas de Minas region. Participates in V-Auction as a seller offering smallholder-sourced coffee.
• CaravelaminorOthersLatin American specialty coffee exporter facilitating equitable exchange between producers and roasters. Participates in V-Auction auctions as a seller.
• AlgranominorOthersOnline coffee trading platform connecting roasters and producers directly. Has facilitated over 2,500 relationships across 50+ countries. Participates in V-Auction as a seller.
• Mercanta The Coffee HuntersminorOthersFounded in 1996, supplies specialty coffee from 20 origins to roasters in 50+ countries. Has offices in UK, Berlin, Dubai, Seattle and Singapore. Participates in V-Auction auctions.
• VolcafeminorOthersGreen coffee trading company with offices in 15 origins and key destinations worldwide. Works along the value chain from processing to logistics. Participates in V-Auction.
• OsitominorOthersSpecialty coffee exporter and importer connecting roasters to producers in Colombia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Burundi, India and Mexico. Participates in V-Auction as a seller.
• Virtus Resources Partners AGminorOthersSwiss-based specialty coffee trading desk founded in 2023, sourcing Arabica beans from Latin America for European specialty roasters. Participates in V-Auction.
• AnnonaminorOthersCoffee company financing the full chain from smallholder farmer to specialty roaster. Participates in V-Auction auctions.
• Nibbio Beans LtdminorOthersGreen coffee sourcing company delivering exceptional coffee to roasters. Participates in V-Auction as a seller.
• Jotim Coffee LimitedminorOthersKenyan coffee company licensed by Kenya Coffee Directorate as trader, exporter, and roaster. Participates in V-Auction auctions.
• Tanzania Coffee HubminorOthersDedicated supplier for UK roasters and retailers seeking authentic, quality Tanzanian coffee with transparent supply chain. Participates in V-Auction.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Algrano: Online coffee trading platform connecting roasters and producers directly across 50+ countries with 2,500+ relationships. Directly competes with V-Auction in the digital green coffee marketplace space, and also participates as a seller on V-Auction.
• Belco: Specialty green coffee trader and digital platform offering transparency from origin to roaster. Comparable to V-Auction as a digital specialty coffee trading platform with focus on European roasters.
• Volcafe: Global green coffee trading company with offices in 15 origins and key destinations. Participates as a seller on V-Auction and represents the type of large-scale green coffee trader V-Auction serves as a marketplace.
• CropConnect: Digital trading platform for green coffee that connects producers and roasters through online buying. Comparable to V-Auction as a digital coffee marketplace, though focused on different origin-to-roaster flows.

Broad incumbents

• ECOM Trading: Major global coffee trading company with extensive operations across origins and consuming markets. Comparable as a large-scale incumbent in green coffee trade that V-Auction's platform aggregates.
• Caravela Coffee: Latin American specialty coffee exporter facilitating equitable exchange between producers and roasters. Participates as a seller on V-Auction and represents established specialty coffee exporters with similar origins-to-roaster focus.
• Olam Coffee: Global coffee trading division of Olam Group, one of the world's largest green coffee traders. Represents the traditional commodity trading incumbents that V-Auction's digital auction model aims to complement or disrupt.
• Mercanta The Coffee Hunters: Established specialty coffee supplier founded in 1996 with offices in UK, Berlin, Dubai, Seattle, and Singapore. Participates as a seller on V-Auction and represents a major traditional specialty coffee supplier with broader geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Beyco: Digital coffee marketplace focused on connecting producers and roasters with transparent pricing. Comparable as an emerging digital platform in the specialty coffee trading space that competes for similar buyer and seller audiences.
• Coffee Marketer: Coffee trading platform offering digital tools for producers and roasters. Comparable as a smaller-scale digital coffee marketplace in the same space as V-Auction's specialty coffee auction platform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/v.auction.vollers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/showcase/v-auction
• Instagraminstagram.com/v.auction.vollers/?mc_cid=7c6a90bfb9&mc_eid=UNIQID

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 V-AUCTION LIMITED