Weinberg Capital Partners

Investment year
2017
Lead team
P. Klocanas
A. Guillen
www.ecfgroup.com
  • Expertise
    LBO
  • Fund
    WCP#2
  • Status
    Disposed
  • Geographical area
    France / World
  • Business sector
    Distribution

Company overview

ECF is Europe’s leading distributor of tableware, kitchenware, disposables and hygiene products for professionals in the hospitality and food industry as well as the healthcare and social sector. The group’s sales network is structured around four distribution channels: direct sales, 38 stores operated by franchise partners, six directly operated stores and distance sales. ECF offers nearly 45,000 products distributed via a state-of-the-art logistics system. The group’s main export markets are the Benelux countries, the United Arab Emirates and Australia.

Our approach

With our support since 2017, ECF has completed some 15 acquisitions. In 2019, the group began its managerial transition by appointing Christophe Alaux as Chairman and CEO, with Thierry Drecq named to the Supervisory Board.

For 2022 as a whole, e-commerce is expected to account for nearly 10% of ECF’s sales.

Key   figures

“Professionalism, performance and proximity to customers are the three key values that underpin our corporate culture and our business model. This mindset is filtered through everything we do. It strengthens our ability to act collectively and ensures that the group is aligned around a shared vision and common goals. It also motivates our employees to embrace change, as we continually adapt together to an ever more demanding market.”
Christophe Alaux – Chairman and CEO of ECF

Making a difference

In line with its ESG strategy, ECF focuses its efforts in the following areas:

  • Protecting the environment, with eco-friendly substitutes used in place of plastics in the group’s warehouses, energy audits carried out at all sites, greener and more responsible alternatives to traditional products offered for sale, etc.
  • Human resources, with regular monitoring of key performance indicators, Great Place to Work® employee surveys, configuration of user-friendly workspaces.
  • For the betterment of society, with donations to and involvement in the initiatives of non-profits located near the group’s head office in the Paris suburb of Grigny.

ESG in focus

For all of its business activities, ECF applies the “avoid – reduce – offset” approach.
Over the past four years, ECF has expanded the range of eco-friendly products offered in its catalogue by 36%, and added 90 FSC-certified products in 2021.