Hardy Schmitz Group

Hardy Schmitz Group (Hardy Schmitz Gruppe) is a German owner-managed electrical wholesale group headquartered in Rheine, North Rhine-Westphalia. Founded in 1925 by the Westphalian merchant Hardy Schmitz as an agency and commission business for textile-industry factory supplies, the company added electrical articles to its portfolio about ten years later and has since grown into a specialist electrical wholesaler (Elektrofachgroßhandel) serving trade, industry and commerce. The group today comprises Hardy Schmitz GmbH, the electrical wholesale core, and Yello Netcom GmbH, a value-added distributor and system provider for commercial and industrial network technology, alongside the affiliated Schmitz Kabel GmbH and the Swiss network specialist DDS Netcom AG. Hardy Schmitz GmbH distributes a broad and deep portfolio of more than 500,000 branded articles from well-known manufacturers, operates one of Germany's largest cable warehouses, and runs a wide-reaching branch network. Its product range covers electrotechnical installation materials, industrial electrics, automation and control technology, cables and lines, lighting, data connection, building control, communication and antenna technology, electrical building services and photovoltaics. For industrial customers the company designs and implements supply and logistics concepts and manufactures low-voltage switchgear and controls; it also executes automation, building control and lighting systems from planning to construction, and supplies electrotechnical components for wind-turbine production on a manufacturer-independent basis. Its own brand RED covers lighting and electrical accessories, while the Hardyeco business field provides products and services for energy use. The group positions itself under the motto "Elektrofachgroßhandel mit Serviceplus" (electrical wholesale with service plus), emphasizing needs-based, service-oriented and sustainable partnership. As a medium-sized family business it stresses flexibility and fast decision-making. Hardy Schmitz is a member of the DEHA purchasing and marketing cooperative, through which it offers e-business support such as the Tecselect partner programme and the Elektrotreff internet platform for trade businesses. The group celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025, opened new branches in Bremen and Düsseldorf, and continues to expand its branch and logistics footprint. Its sister company Yello Netcom operates in Germany and Austria, while DDS Netcom serves the Swiss market.

The Hardy Schmitz Group traces its origins to 1925, when Hardy Schmitz, a merchant from Westphalia, founded an agency and commission business in factory supplies for the textile industry in Rheine. About ten years later, the trading of electrical articles was added to the company's portfolio. In 1951 the first branch of Hardy Schmitz was established in Meppen in the Emsland region. A second branch followed in Stadtlohn in 1987. In 1995 the company joined the DEHA purchasing and marketing cooperative, and in 1998 another branch was opened in Münster, followed by a fourth in Leer in 2000, a fifth in Rheda-Wiedenbrück in 2007, and a sixth in Bremen in 2025. Also in 2025, a further branch was opened in Düsseldorf. In 1999 the subsidiary Yello Netcom GmbH was founded in Rheine, focusing on Ethernet provider services with network architectures, particularly in the field of industrial manufacturing networks. In 2003 the logistics centre for cables and lines opened in Herzlake with 4,500 m² and 15,000 stocked articles. In 2007 the sales company Schmitz Kabel GmbH was founded, also headquartered in Rheine, and the Swiss network specialist DDS Netcom AG was integrated into the group. The group has received recognition for its corporate management and training commitment: in 2006 it received the Ausbilderpreis from EWG Wirtschaftsförderung for special efforts in creating and maintaining apprenticeship positions, and in 2009 the AXIA-Award for exemplary corporate governance, awarded by the Deloitte Institute. In 2025 the company celebrated its 100th anniversary with a year of events, including the in-house trade fair HARDY Connect! and the opening of new branches in Bremen and Düsseldorf. The Düsseldorf branch initially opened in temporary premises in summer 2025 and moved to its final location at Höherweg 287 in the SEGRO Park Düsseldorf-Flingern in spring 2026.

• 2026

  Düsseldorf branch moved to its final location at Höherweg 287 in the SEGRO Park Düsseldorf-Flingern.

• 2025

  100th anniversary; sixth branch opened in Bremen; further branch opened in Düsseldorf (temporary premises in summer).

• 2009

  Received the AXIA-Award for exemplary corporate governance from the Deloitte Institute.

• 2007

  Fifth branch opened in Rheda-Wiedenbrück; Schmitz Kabel GmbH founded; Swiss network specialist DDS Netcom AG integrated into the group.

• 2006

  Received the Ausbilderpreis from EWG Wirtschaftsförderung for efforts in creating and maintaining apprenticeship positions.

• 2003

  Logistics centre for cables and lines opened in Herzlake with 4,500 m² and 15,000 stocked articles.

• 2000

  Fourth branch opened in Leer.

• 1999

  Subsidiary Yello Netcom GmbH founded in Rheine.

• 1998

  Third branch opened in Münster.

• 1995

  Joined the DEHA purchasing and marketing cooperative.

• 1987

  Second branch opened in Stadtlohn.

• 1951

  First branch opened in Meppen, Emsland.

• 1935

  Trading in electrical articles was added to the company's portfolio.

• 1925

  Hardy Schmitz founded an agency and commission business in factory supplies for the textile industry in Rheine.

Owner-managed specialist electrical wholesaler with service plus, serving trade and industry with a broad and deep branded portfolio, large cable warehouse and nationwide branch network.

• RED own brand

  Own brand covering lighting and electrical accessories, including house number lights, LED ceiling lights, dimmer sets and 3-phase spotlights.

• Hardyeco

  Business field providing products and services for energy use.

• Yello Netcom GmbH

  System provider and value-added distributor for commercial and industrial network technology, delivering active and passive network components and services.

• Schmitz Kabel GmbH

  Sales company offering cables and lines for various applications in trade and industry.

• DDS Netcom AG

  Swiss network specialist offering Ethernet solutions for industrial environments and office communication solutions.

1. 1Elektrogroßhandel für Handwerk & Industrie | HARDY SCHMITZhardy-schmitz.de
2. 2Über unshardy-schmitz.de
3. 3Pressebereichhardy-schmitz.de
4. 4Markenwelt Elektro-Großhandel | Unsere Top-Lieferanten & Partnerhardy-schmitz.de
5. 5Hardy Schmitz Gruppede.wikipedia.org
6. 6Hardy Schmitz Groupwikidata.org