While many companies are currently taking a cautious approach due to persistently weak economic indicators, rising costs and an uncertain business environment, the BERNER Group is deliberately pursuing a different course: bold investments in its core busin ess, expansion of its international sourcing network and promotion of its own product innovations to move even closer to its customers.
BERNER Relies on Growth from Its Own Strength
While many companies are currently taking a cautious approach due to persistently weak economic indicators, rising costs and an uncertain business environment, the BERNER Group is deliberately pursuing a different course: bold investments in its core business, expansion of its international sourcing network and promotion of its own product innovations to move even closer to its customers. With this counter - cyclical strategy , the B2B specialist gained market share in fiscal year 2025/2026, maintained revenues at around €1.1 billion and increased profitability.
“Companies that only start investing when the economy has fully picked up again often arrive too late,” says Peter Schmidt, CEO responsible for the core business Omnichannel Trading Holding with the BERNER and BTI by BERNER brands. “We are deliberately using the current market weakness to sustainably strengthen our competitive position and lay the foundation for the next phase of growth. Our financial stability grants us the freedom to act independently and execute our decisions through our own strength."
Customer Centricity Delivers Results
A key factor behind the company’s positive performance is its consistent customer focus. “Especially in uncertain times, reliability, speed and proximity to customers are crucial,” emphasizes Schmidt. “Our business model is based on understanding exactly what our customers need and reliably providing them with the right solutions.” The strategy is delivering results: across all divisions, BERNER acquired and won back more customers than in the previous year. Sales volumes also increased across the Group. Markets in Iberia (+8%) and parts of Eastern Europe, particularly the Czech Republic/Slovakia sub-region (+7%), showed particularly strong revenue momentum. The Group also grew its key-account business, recording double-digit growth rates in large-customer business in countries including Norway, Switzerland and Spain.
Resilient Supply Chain
To safeguard this development, the BERNER Group is continuing to advance its logistics offensive. At its headquarters in Künzelsau alone, the company invested €5 million in modernizing and automating its distribution center. Further expansions and upgrades were also implemented in Spain, Portugal, France, Austria and at the European central warehouse in Kerkrade, the Netherlands.
At the same time, sourcing for screws, tools and other sensitive product categories has been diversified to protect supply as effectively as possible against risks such as geopolitical tensions and disrupted transport routes. To this end, BERNER has established new global procurement partnerships and opened international procurement offices in Turkey, India and Hong Kong. Another strategic lever for a resilient supply chain is the Group’s increasing development, production and distribution of its own chemical products, such as the innovative Degreaser Pro, which enables automotive professionals to clean vehicle parts more sustainably while being gentler on materials. “Reliable delivery and product availability are increasingly becoming competitive factors,” emphasizes Schmidt. “Companies that deliver reliably even in turbulent times earn trust – and trust determines customer relationships.”
Omnichannel Sales
For BERNER, trust is personal. While many companies are currently cutting jobs or leaving vacant positions unfilled, the B2B specialist therefore increased the number of its field sales employees during the past fiscal year and also improved their retention. The majority of revenue comes from around 5,000 sales professionals who advise customers directly every day – recently with additional support from artificial intelligence. At the same time, the Group is gradually strengthening its alternative sales channels. Its physical depots increased revenues by 7% in 2025/2026 compared with the previous year. E-commerce also developed positively in most countries. BERNER Germany, for example, recorded 7% growth in its online business.
Owner Speaks Out Clearly
“We can be very proud of what we have achieved together as a team. Especially under the current conditions, these successes cannot be taken for granted,” says owner Christian Berner. “Too much bureaucracy, excessive cost burdens, a lack of planning certainty and too little political courage to tackle urgently needed reforms – and, above all, to implement them quickly and decisively – are noticeably slowing growth in Europe. As a family-owned company, we think and act for the long term. We cannot change the economic environment. But we can decide how we respond to it. And we have consciously chosen to continue investing and to take responsibility for future generations.”
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