news aktuell GmbH

EMD's Retail Group further consolidates its position with Axfood from Sweden / The international retail alliance EMD is continuing to expand its importance in the cooperation with the A-brand industry.

25.6.2025 08:30:00 CEST | news aktuell GmbH | Press Release

Share

Pfäffikon/Switzerland, 13/06/2025: By effectively combining forces to benefit its millions of retail customers, European Marketing Distribution (EMD) has risen to the top of the international trade alliances with this formula. The latest example of this successful strategy is the integration of the Swedish Axfood Group, an EMD member since 1995, which will join the EMD Retail Group in 2026.

To clarify: while EMD and its member companies focus on the procurement and marketing of successful private label products, EMD members united in the Retail Group also implement cross-border services and marketing concepts in partnership with leading multinational A-brand manufacturers.

Philippe Gruyters, Managing Director of EMD: Axfood is a highly valued EMD member. With Axfood joining our international on-top business, we can further expand our strong offering in the very dynamic Scandinavian market. Photo: EMD.
Philippe Gruyters, Managing Director of EMD: Axfood is a highly valued EMD member. With Axfood joining our international on-top business, we can further expand our strong offering in the very dynamic Scandinavian market. Photo: EMD.

In the Retail Group, Axfood from Sweden collaborates with selected prominent and successful retail companies in their respective home countries, including the Euromadi Alfa Group from Spain, ESD Italia and Superunie from the Netherlands. RTG International, a German company, is another key member of the Retail Group. RTG members include Globus, Bartels-Langness, Bünting, Klaas & Kock, Kaes, Netto Nord (Salling Group), Rossmann and Tegut. Each of these well-established German retailers is particularly renowned and popular in its respective home region.

We work closely with industry partners, whether they supply A-brands or private labels.

The core tasks for the EMD Retail Group members and new member Axfood are clearly defined: promoting and marketing established and highly sought-after top brand products (including country-specific innovations and variations of these A-brands) that are essential for customers in international retail. The EMD Retail Group cooperates with the most renowned manufacturers in the industry, including these A-brands.

The Axfood Group, together with the purchasing company Dagab, is a major player in Sweden.

Axfood, Sweden's top retailer (with distribution formats such as the discounter Willy's and the full-range retailers Hemköp and City Gross), has been a valuable EMD member for 30 years through its purchasing company Dagab. The Axfood Group already has a market share of over 25 per cent in its home market.

The distribution network supplied by Dagab, which includes product ranges and services, consists of over 7,000 stores and partner shops. The group's total turnover now reaches 7 billion euros.

Axfood's recent inclusion in the EMD Retail Group underscores the ongoing strength of the partnership in the international retail sector. Peter Holm, Vice President at Dagab, commented on the membership of the Retail Group: 'We are delighted to join this unique group of retailers who work closely with the international A-brand industry. The cooperative and balanced approach adopted by EMD is in alignment with our vision of building and successfully continuing business with our industry partners.'
Philippe Gruyters, Managing Director of EMD, is also very pleased: ‘Axfood is a highly valued EMD member. With Axfood joining our international on-top business, we can further expand our strong offering in the very dynamic Scandinavian market.'

About EMD:

European Marketing Distribution AG, headquartered in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, has been recognised in the consumer goods industry as an efficient and powerful partner for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) since 1989. In particular, it develops and procures highly efficient and sustainably produced private label concepts for the benefit of consumers. The EMD head office also supports and realises global partnerships in the area of on-top agreements with the largest brand manufacturers.
Including the associate member Lotte from South Korea, the EMD member companies in Europe and Asia currently represent an external retail consumer turnover of approx. 200 billion euros in 16 countries.

The member companies of European Marketing Distribution (EMD) are active in the following markets:

Austria: MARKANT

Netherlands: Superunie

Belgium: Colruyt

Norway: Unil/NorgesGruppen

Czech Republic: MARKANT

Portugal: EuromadiPort

Denmark: Dagrofa

Slovakia: MARKANT

France: Francap

South Korea: Lotte

Germany: RTG International

Spain: Euromadi

Italy: ESD Italia

Sweden: Dagab/Axfood

Luxemburg: Colruyt

Switzerland: MARKANT

In addition to South Korea and Japan, associate member Lotte is also active in the Chinese, Vietnamese and Indonesian markets.

For further information:

Donati & Rosmanith
Uwe Rosmanith
Triq ir-Rumani, 3
Xlendi, XLN1431
Malta
Phone: +49 171 9706644
uwe@rosmanith.de
rosmanith@bettercommunications.mt

Images

Philippe Gruyters, Managing Director of EMD: Axfood is a highly valued EMD member. With Axfood joining our international on-top business, we can further expand our strong offering in the very dynamic Scandinavian market. Photo: EMD.
Philippe Gruyters, Managing Director of EMD: Axfood is a highly valued EMD member. With Axfood joining our international on-top business, we can further expand our strong offering in the very dynamic Scandinavian market. Photo: EMD.
Download
Philippe Gruyters, Managing Director of EMD: Axfood is a highly valued EMD member. With Axfood joining our international on-top business, we can further expand our strong offering in the very dynamic Scandinavian market. Photo: EMD.
Philippe Gruyters, Managing Director of EMD: Axfood is a highly valued EMD member. With Axfood joining our international on-top business, we can further expand our strong offering in the very dynamic Scandinavian market. Photo: EMD.
Download

Subscribe to releases from news aktuell GmbH

Subscribe to all the latest releases from news aktuell GmbH by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from news aktuell GmbH

10 Years of the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg: Spectacular Concert Hall Celebrates Its Success Story2.9.2026 08:03:55 CEST | Press Release

HAMBURG -The opening of the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg will mark its tenth anniversary on 11 January 2027. At the start of the anniversary season, the spectacular concert hall presented key figures from its success story: annual attendance at classical concerts in Hamburg has tripled since the Elbphilharmonie opened. 7.4 million people have attended around 6,400 concerts and events at the Elbphilharmonie, while 29.5 million have visited the Plaza, the public viewing platform 37 metres above ground. Ten years after opening the Elbphilharmonie has become a landmark of Hamburg and an internationally established concert venue. Its impact extends far beyond the concert hall itself: its architecture, public Plaza and a programme combining musical excellence with a spirit of discovery have transformed the perception of Hamburg as a city of music. What was once a controversial construction project has become a concert hall that inspires the people of Hamburg as much as artists, orchestras and cur

Planned Multi-Billion-Euro Investment in Infrastructure and Digitalization: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the Companies of Schwarz Group Form Groundbreaking Partnership27.8.2026 12:57:24 CEST | Press Release

The companies of Schwarz Group aim to invest up to 5.6 billion euros by 2033 in the construction of a data center, strengthening critical infrastructure in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Digital Sovereignty: The investment is intended to promote the development and operation of cloud and AI solutions under German law, thereby fostering value creation in Germany and Europe. Sustainability: Plans include the exclusive use of renewable energy during regular operations, the development of a district heating network, and state-of-the-art air cooling to ensure the ecological efficiency of the data center. Blueprint for Germany: The first flagship projects of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state government and Schwarz Digits include a digital building permit system and the introduction of OpenDesk in the education sector.

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye