Case study: How a major consumer health company unlocked energy savings and control across Europe with Trio

Energy Supply

In a volatile energy market, Europe’s leading consumer health and pharmaceutical companies are under pressure to cut costs, strengthen controls, and reduce operational risk, all without disrupting supply. One such company engaged Trio to bring discipline, transparency, and measurable value to its multi-country energy portfolio spanning France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Sweden.  

The results: six-figure annual savings, meaningful risk mitigation, and higher confidence in every decision.

The challenge

A pan‑European footprint meant dealing with multiple suppliers, market regimes, and regulatory nuances. In each case, the client needed to eliminate hidden charges and overbilling, drive down costs through competitive procurement, build reporting that leaders could trust, and maintain continuity without overpaying.

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What Trio did

In France, Trio’s optimisation team identified a misapplied NACE classification driving excess CEE charges. Trio challenged €489,237.46 in unnecessary costs and navigated a structured, three‑party engagement with the client and supplier. The supplier proposed a €92,324.70 refund across gas and electricity, conditional on maintaining existing supply contracts. While legal and regulatory constraints limited full reimbursement, the combination of refund and cost avoidance delivered €195,819.48 in quantified savings. 

Leveraging market analysis, competitive tendering, and direct negotiations, Trio secured improved commercial terms, often with incumbent suppliers to minimise transition risk. 

In Greece, Trio helped the client achieve a 16.9% reduction in their gas bill and an 18% reduction in their electricity bill with an incumbent supplier. 

In Germany, the client saw a 9.8% reduction in their electricity bill, in Italy a reduction of 15.6%, and in Spain a reduction of 18.3%, all with the firm’s incumbent suppliers — outcomes that balanced price and continuity, capturing market opportunities while ensuring uninterrupted service for the client. 

Across all EU operations, Trio aligned reporting to the client’s requirements, adding month‑on‑month percentage analyses for sharper visibility into cost evolution and consumption trends, strengthening financial control throughout the continent. 

Trio developed a forward-looking model incorporating commodity and non‑commodity dynamics, inflation assumptions, and refined methodologies. Stakeholders throughout the firm praised the clarity, quality, and smooth execution of the model, which transformed planning from reactive to strategic. 

Finally, Trio produced a custom intelligence report focused on the client’s portfolio realities, incorporating pricing dynamics, market trends, and risk factors, enabling better timing and structure on future buys and negotiations. 

Trio introduced dedicated invoice reporting to track outstanding invoices, follow‑ups, and resolution timelines, improving transparency and control.  

In day‑to‑day account management, Trio’s rapid responses, clear communication, and proactive issue resolution earned high client satisfaction and kept operations running smoothly across all markets. 

The impact, summarised

  • €195,819.48 in quantified savings from optimisation in France, through refunds and cost avoidance 
  • Annual procurement savings across Greece, Germany, Italy, and Spain through disciplined tendering, with reductions ranging from 9.8% to 18.3%, including €144,188.27/year in Greece (electricity) and €106,185.33/year in Italy (electricity) 
  • Stronger governance via enhanced monthly and multi‑year reporting, enabling faster, more confident decisions 
  • Improved cash control and transparency in invoice collection. 
  • Preserved supply continuity while improving commercial terms. 
Why Trio?

Trio combines rigorous analytics and negotiation with operational pragmatism. With global expertise spanning more than 30 countries and territories, Trio meets clients where they are, keeping the right suppliers when that’s best, while squeezing out inefficiencies and guarding against regulatory missteps. The outcome is measurable financial value, reduced risk, and a reporting backbone that leaders trust. 

If your European energy portfolio needs both sharper pricing and tighter control, Trio can deliver the discipline, speed, and market insight to make it happen — without the disruption.