Find distributors and retail buyers in the Nordics

Identifying the top retail chains in the Nordics where you can sell your products is relatively easy. Approaching and convincing them is a much bigger challenge.

It may be a better strategy to find a distributor first who can help you to get your products in smaller chains or individual stores, and then help you to get to the big names. Or to start online.

In this article you will find more information on the retail market and guidance on how to convince retailers and distributors to work with you.

Distributor

The Nordic countries, comprising Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, are known for their high living standards, advanced economies, and well-developed welfare states. These nations feature among the world’s most competitive, innovative, and globalized economies. Business opportunities for foreign companies are abundant, particularly in green energy, technology, healthcare, and sustainable development sectors.

The Nordics are leading in renewable energy projects, digital services, and health tech innovations, providing a conducive environment for investment and collaboration. Their commitment to sustainability, innovation, and social welfare makes them attractive for businesses aiming to invest in stable, forward-thinking markets.

Main supermarket chains in the Nordics

  1. ICA Gruppen – A leading retail company in Sweden, also active in Norway.
  2. Coop Norden – Operates in all Nordic countries, with a significant presence in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
  3. Kesko – A major player in Finland, also operating in other Nordic countries through various formats.
  4. S Group – A Finnish retailer known for its supermarket chain as well as department stores and other services.
  5. NorgesGruppen – The largest retail group in Norway, operating several chains across the country.

Other retail chains in the Nordics

The Nordics boast a variety of prominent retail chains known for their expansive presence across the region. In Sweden, H&M and IKEA are globally recognized brands originating from the country, specializing in fashion and furniture/home goods respectively.

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How to start? Distributors, retailers or online?

If you have a consumer product that you can’t sell directly from your home country to your end customer, you need at least one step in between. This can be a distributor (who also acts as wholesaler or importer), a big retailer directly, or it can be a large web shop. Let’s look at the pro’s and con’s of each option.

Distributors

  • Distributors are used to import, store and physically distribute a product.
  • They normally don’t invest in promoting your product to consumers.
  •  They are the best chance to get your product in the market so that you can gather sales data.

Large retailers

  • Retailers are very risk averse, may ask for a listing fee before  they put your product on the shelves.
  • They can help you promote your product in their stores and in their magazines, but will also ask a fee for this.
  • They are the quickest route to the mass market, if you can convince them.

Online

  • Specialised web shops may have a greater interest in your product than general web shops.
  • They can experiment more easily with pricing and ways of promoting.
  • Volumes may be lower, but working with web shops is still a good way to collect reviews and get brand awareness.

How to draft your distributor pitch?

You should put a lot of emphasis on drafting a good distributor pitch. Even if you already have great sales materials for your end-users, this often does not make clear what the benefits are for a potential agent, distributor or retailer to work with you. 

When you approach potential sales channels with your standard documentation, chances are high that they are holding of. If you make it crystal clear what are the benefits for them, like in the example presentation, you will get a much higher response rate.

Please note that it helps to put concrete data in your presentation. You may think it is sensitive, but just know the secret is in how you achieve the rotation or the low returns level, not in the data itself. So share it here, in order to get the right attention.

Key question of any distribution partner: how much will I earn?

Distributors are risk averse, they know the portfolio they have and tend to be happy with it. They can’t just add a product or service to their range, since it will cannibalize on others:

  • A retailer has to take another product from the shelf to make space.
  • A web shop only can push about 20 products on the home screen, the rest is in the ‘long tail’.
  • A wholesaler with representatives will only offer his retail clients a limited choice to increase the chances on a sales transaction. If they push your product, they need to stop pushing another one.

Finding distributors in other countries