Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Active in retail & consumer goods since 1989. Companies include IKEA, H&M, Castorama, Kingfisher (B&Q), Delbard, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Compo and Berlin Packaging France including the iconic French brand Le Parfait. I asked ChatGPT to describe me, but you know it's always a bit exaggerated. Kristian Van de Cauter has been active in retail and consumer goods since 1989, building an international career across leading companies such as IKEA, H&M, Castorama, Kingfisher (B&Q), Delbard, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, COMPO and now as General Manager of Berlin Packaging France, including the iconic French brand Le Parfait. Known for his energetic and unconventional approach, Kristian combines strategic thinking with creativity, commercial instinct, and a strong entrepreneurial mindset. He is also the owner of Paradisi, a wine & spirits business in Aalst, Belgium, and co-owner of Den Biekerf, the city’s oldest café. With extensive experience in retail, branding, consumer goods, and transformation, Kristian is recognized for challenging conventional thinking and building businesses with passion, momentum, and personality. He prefers thinking “outside the box” — or sometimes “without a box” at all. Outside of business, his passions include music, wine, football (RSC Anderlecht), the sea, the sun, and the “wine & dine” lifestyle. With a true rock ’n’ roll spirit, Kristian brings energy, authenticity, and boldness into everything he does — whether in business, hospitality, branding, or life itself.
Berlin Packaging France is the French operating entity of Berlin Packaging, the world’s largest hybrid supplier of glass, plastic, and metal packaging, as well as closures. Serving key markets such as food & beverage, wine & spirits, and cosmetics, Berlin Packaging France delivers end-to-end packaging solutions that combine design & innovation, manufacturing services, and customer-centric supply chain solutions. Headquartered in Nice (470 Promenade des Anglais), the company operates a strong national footprint with sites in Sorgues, Merpins, Codognan, La Réole, and Mouguerre, enabling close proximity to customers and market expertise across France. Berlin Packaging France is also the owner of Le Parfait, an iconic French brand renowned for its glass jars and lids for home preserves—combining heritage, quality, and everyday usability.
With 90 million jars and accessories sold worldwide, Le Parfait have built an excellent reputation, which goes far beyond the borders of France, in B2C and B2B markets. Born in Reims at the beginning of the 1930s, Le Parfait brand has always been the essential reference for French know-how in the art of living and preservation through sterilization. Le Parfait jars and terrines, with the orange rubber seal and unique engraving, are a French symbol that crosses generations and moves hand in hand with customer needs.
Paradisi Wines: Import & sales of fine & creative wines Specialized in South African wines Indie Wine & liquor shop in Aalst (Belgium) Esplanadestraat 20. Co-owner till 2021 of small vineyard project in Lantignié (Beaujolais) were Syrah and Viognier vines have been planted in 2009. Launched under Les Galopines (Viognier) and Les Serines (Syrah) in 2011. Check website www.paradisi.be for more info! Paradisi Consulting & Management Retail & marketing consulting & management Specialized in diy & garden-related business Strategic & operational expertise - range construction - key account strategies - new product development - marketing plan - media & trade marketing plan - reorganization advisory - expertise in garden related products and retail - store concepts - buying office set-up, direct import, private label - brand activation & sponsoring advising - turnaround and change management - new market advice for companies wanting to enter French or Benelux gardening market
The oldest café/bar of Aalst!
Le Club Génération JARDIN, founded in 2006, brings together business leaders from the Garden and Green Spaces sector whose aim is to strengthen the ties among various market participants: Garden Centers, Hypermarkets and DIY Stores, LISA, Wholesalers, Marketplaces, and Pure Players. An active Generation, attentive to developments, always ready to share its expertise, successes, questions, know-how, and lifestyle. Under the impetus of the internet and internet culture, consumer behaviors, and by extension commerce as a whole, are profoundly changed. Since 2019, the Club has expressed its desire to fully live and support the accelerated transformation of Distribution alongside all Brands. The DNA of the Club is rooted in co-construction and co-development, creation, and sharing of values.
COMPO France is a major player in the market for garden products aimed at amateur gardeners. COMPO France manufactures and markets potting soils, fertilizers, lawn seeds, treatments, herbicides, and pest control products under the brands Algoflash, Algoflash Naturasol, Clairland, Barrière à Insectes, Barrière à Rongeurs, and Barrière Répulsive. COMPO France has a brand portfolio in line with consumer expectations—Algoflash and Algoflash Naturasol for the maintenance and beautification of plants (www.algoflash.fr), Clairland for weed control and maintenance of outdoor surfaces (www.clairland.fr), Barrière à Insectes, Barrière à Rongeurs, and Barrière Répulsive for pest control (www.barriere-a-insectes.fr, www.barriere-a-rongeurs.fr, www.barriere-repulsive.fr), and Undergreen, a range specially tailored to the needs of urban gardeners (www.undergreen.fr). COMPO France is part of COMPO Group, a leader in Europe and a supplier of nutrition and plant protection products for amateur gardeners with 15 subsidiaries abroad. The COMPO Group is a company with internationally recognized brands distributed in over 100 countries.
Management of sales & marketing teams of the French subsidiary of the German Compo gmbh Group with headquarters in Münster, Germany. Compo France: Team of 62 people. Member of the board Complete range of potting soils, fertilizers, house hold insecticides & plant protection products sold to the food, DIY, garden centers & agricultural channels. Major brands in the French market: Algoflash, Clairland & Barrière à Insectes Bio brand launched in 2015: Algoflash Naturasol. Rodenticides brand launched in 2016: Barrière à Rongeurs Urban brand Undergreeen launched in 2018 Compo France is member of Génération Jardin Le Club www.generationjardin.com Manager of the year 'Trophée Jardin Plus' 2016, 2017 & 2019 Supplier of the year 'Trophée Jardin Plus' 2018