The verdict in three sentences
For a 110-employee industrial biscuit maker, a three-language rebuild costs EUR 12,000 to 25,000 excl. VAT in 2026, and the distributor portal adds EUR 6,000 to 14,000 depending on the number of documents and access levels. The real gain is not brand image: it is the end of manually sending logistics sheets, HD visuals and IFS certificates, which gives the export team back about 6 hours a week. Plan 10 to 14 weeks, timed before trade shows (SIAL, ISM) so you can present the portal to importers.
What a B2B food website budget covers
A biscuit maker selling to retail chains and export markets has two very different audiences: retail buyers and importers who want reliable data, right away. The public site reassures (know-how, plant, certifications, ranges), the private area saves time.
| Item | 2026 range (EUR excl. VAT) | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, sitemap, workshops with export and quality | 1,500 to 3,000 | Number of departments involved |
| Custom design (brand, templates, product photos) | 3,000 to 6,500 | Existing brand reused or not |
| Public site and CMS development | 4,500 to 9,000 | Number of templates, SKU catalogue |
| 3-language version (FR, EN, ES or DE) | 1,500 to 3,500 | Translation supplied or produced |
| Technical SEO, URL migration, redirects | 1,000 to 2,000 | Size of the old site |
| Testing, training, go-live | 500 to 1,000 | Number of editors to train |
| Total rebuild | 12,000 to 25,000 |
The low end matches a catalogue of about sixty SKUs with translation supplied by the client. The high end matches 200+ SKUs with filters by range, allergens and pack formats.
The distributor portal: the module that pays for the project
The distributor portal replaces e-mail threads and transfer links that expire. Each importer logs in and downloads the latest version of each document, with an access history.
| Distributor portal feature | 2026 range (EUR excl. VAT) | Export benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts per importer and per country | 1,000 to 2,000 | Access limited to authorised ranges |
| Logistics sheets (palletisation, EAN, best-before, weight) | 1,500 to 3,500 | No more hand-sent spreadsheets |
| HD visuals and packshot library | 1,000 to 2,500 | Bulk download, ready-to-use formats |
| IFS certificates, allergen sheets, attestations | 1,000 to 2,500 | Automatic expiry alerts |
| Download log | 500 to 1,500 | Proof of distribution during audits |
| ERP or PIM connection for sheets | 1,000 to 2,000 | Data always up to date |
| Total distributor portal | 6,000 to 14,000 |
What matters to an export director: the IFS certificate validity date must be visible and current. An importer who receives an expired certificate can block a listing. The portal makes that risk visible before the buyer sees it.
A realistic 10 to 14 week plan
| Phase | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping and document inventory | 2 weeks | Sitemap, list of sheets and access rights |
| Design | 2 to 3 weeks | Mock-ups of public site and private area |
| Public site development | 3 to 4 weeks | Complete French site |
| Distributor portal | 2 to 3 weeks | Accounts, media library, certificates |
| Translations, testing, go-live | 1 to 2 weeks | English and Spanish versions, redirects |
The critical path is rarely development. It is collecting up-to-date logistics sheets and HD visuals, often scattered across quality, marketing and export. Assign an internal owner with 3 to 4 hours a week during the project.
Mini case study
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Thomas, export director of a 110-employee biscuit maker, manages 25 importers. His assistant spends about 6 hours a week sending sheets, visuals and certificates. At a loaded cost of EUR 38 an hour, that is EUR 228 a week, or about EUR 10,500 over 46 working weeks. The distributor portal, billed at EUR 10,000 excl. VAT, pays for itself in just under a year on that single line, not counting avoided version errors. The full project (EUR 20,000 public site + EUR 10,000 portal) is then funded in about three years by time saved, and the portal becomes a sales argument with new importers.
FAQ
What total budget should a mid-sized biscuit maker plan?
For a three-language site with a distributor portal, the 2026 order of magnitude is EUR 18,000 to 39,000 excl. VAT. Most projects of this profile land between EUR 25,000 and 30,000.
Can we launch the public site before the distributor portal?
Yes, it is common: the public site goes live in 8 to 10 weeks, the portal follows 3 to 4 weeks later. That lets you hit a trade-show date without rushing access rights.
Can logistics sheets come from our ERP?
Yes, if the ERP offers an export or an API. The connection costs EUR 1,000 to 2,000 and avoids re-keying the 200 to 300 fields of an average catalogue.
How do we handle ranges reserved for certain countries?
Each importer account is tied to one or more countries and ranges. A Spanish distributor only sees SKUs approved for its market, which prevents ordering errors.
How long does it take the team to update the portal?
After a half-day training, adding a certificate or a visual takes under 5 minutes. Expiry alerts arrive 30 days before the deadline.
Let's scope your project. Send us your catalogue, number of importers and target languages, and we will price the public site and distributor portal with a schedule built around your next trade show. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
