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01/09/2026
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Employee share ownership: a cornerstone of our DNA and a source of shared pride since 1993

Giving employees a stake in the company’s capital is a philosophy that originated in 1993 within the STEF Group. This philosophy has a name: employee share ownership – a scheme designed to ensure that everyone can benefit from the Group’s growth, regardless of their role or the country in which they work. Let’s find out more about it together.

Journée WeSTEF Italie
WeSTEF Italy Day

Key takeaways

  • Since 1993, employee share ownership has been a founding principle of the STEF Group, underpinned by the Company Savings Plan and the ACTIONS STEF fund.
  • The scheme has been rolled out across eight countries, with arrangements tailored to each national legal framework.
  • Since 2026, WeSTEF has provided a common identity for this share ownership scheme at European level.

A conviction embedded in our DNA since 1993

It all began in France with the creation of the FCPE ACTIONS STEF, the company-sponsored investment fund that enables employees to become shareholders. This employee share ownership scheme, based on employee savings, relies on regular contributions, an employer match and collective management of the shares. 

Within the Group, this equity participation has always been seen as a way of safeguarding our independence, sharing the value created and building a shared culture together. A win-win model for both the company and its employee savers.
 

Journée WeSTEF France
WeSTEF France Day

Employee share ownership is a cornerstone of the STEF Group’s corporate culture and independence. It forms the foundation of a collective journey that has spanned more than 30 years. In practical terms, this means that each and every one of our staff members can contribute to the development of our Group and share in its success. It is not merely a financial mechanism; it is a source of motivation and shared commitment.

Stanislas LEMOR
CEO of STEF Group

The challenge: making share ownership accessible to everyone, everywhere

Offering the same benefits to all employees, from warehouses to head offices, across eight countries with different legal frameworks: that is the real feat. 

Each company within the Group has its own legal framework and its own terms and conditions for subscription and allocation; it is up to us to adapt the savings scheme – the PEG in France, and other schemes elsewhere – whatever form the scheme takes in each country. 

Among the possible options for giving staff a stake in the company – such as share options or free share allocations – the Group has opted for employee share ownership, which is more in keeping with its collective culture. A scheme designed country by country, so that all employees, without exception, can invest in the future of their company.

Employee share ownership strengthens the bond between managers and their teams. It involves everyone in the Group’s entrepreneurial journey. In a rapidly changing world, it also provides a guarantee of stability and a vision for the future. When you are a shareholder in STEF, you are not simply an employee; you are a key player in our shared endeavour.

Jean-Yves CHAMEYRAT
Head of Human Resources at STEF Group

WeSTEF: a shared identity for eight countries

In 2026, this share ownership scheme was given a common name: WeSTEF. A name, a logo and a slogan – ‘Commit, invest, move forward together’ – to convey the same sense of belonging in every country. 

With Switzerland joining the scheme, all countries are now united around this shared heritage. This milestone brings the whole of Europe together around a single principle: success is always built collectively and over the long term.

Affiche EN WeSTEF

A collective commitment that is bearing fruit

  • In 2026, 74 per cent of the STEF Group’s capital is held by senior managers and employees, 18 per cent of which is held via the ACTIONS STEF staff share scheme.
  • More than 12,700 staff members have invested in WeSTEF, a figure that demonstrates a long-term commitment and a collective investment in the future.

What we have been building since 1993 is no accident: it is a collective journey that continues to unfold every day, country by country.

Our DNA is the bond that unites the people who make up the STEF Group with the company they are growing, together.

Journée WeSTEF Espagne
WeSTEF Spain Day

Would you like to join a Group where everyone can become a shareholder?

Find out about our commitments to our teams and our career opportunities.