Migros facts for kids
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Migros headquarters in Zurich
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Native name
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Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund
Fédération des coopératives Migros Federazione delle cooperative Migros |
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| Cooperative | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | August 1925 |
| Founder | Gottlieb Duttweiler |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Supermarkets, food industry, petrol, electronics, books, home-wares, etc. |
| Revenue | 32.00 billion CHF (2024) |
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Operating income
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668 million CHF (2021) |
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Number of employees
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97,541 (2021) |
Migros is Switzerland's biggest retail company. It is also the largest supermarket chain and the largest employer in Switzerland. Migros is one of the forty largest retailers in the world. It is set up as a cooperative federation, which means it is owned by its more than two million members.
Migros helped start a large retail company in Turkey also called Migros. This company became fully independent from Migros Switzerland in 1975.
The name "Migros" comes from French words. "Mi" means half or mid-way, and "gros" means wholesale. So, the name suggests prices that are halfway between regular retail prices and wholesale prices. The company's logo is a big orange M. People often call Migros "the orange giant".
Contents
History of Migros
Migros was started in 1925 in Zurich, Switzerland. It was founded by Gottlieb Duttweiler. His idea was to sell just six basic food items at very low prices.
Early Days and Mobile Shops
At first, Duttweiler sold only coffee, rice, sugar, pasta, coconut oil, and soap. He sold these items from five lorries (trucks) that traveled from village to village. This way, he could sell directly to people who didn't have easy access to markets.
Other businesses didn't like this idea because it cut out the middleman. They tried to stop producers from selling to Migros. To fight back, Migros started making its own products. They began with meat, milk, and chocolate.
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Duttweiler and his drivers added more products. In 1926, the first Migros store opened in Zurich. His second store, in Ticino, was set up as a cooperative. This was a hint of how the company would grow.
Becoming a Cooperative
By 1941, Gottlieb Duttweiler had built many stores. But in that year, he decided to give the business to his customers. He changed all his privately owned companies into regional cooperatives. These cooperatives were then led by the Federation of Migros Cooperatives. This means that the customers became the owners of Migros.
Expanding Services
Migros quickly grew beyond just selling food.
- In 1935, Duttweiler started the Hotelplan travel agency.
- In 1942, Migros launched a weekly magazine called Wir Brückenbauer. It is now known as Migros Magazine.
- Other new ventures included restaurants in 1952.
- Filling stations (Migrol) opened in 1954.
- Language schools (Eurocentres) started in 1956.
- The Migros Bank was founded in 1957.
- An insurance company began in 1959.
In 1948, an economist named Elsa Gasser suggested that Migros stores use the self-service method. This idea helped Migros become Switzerland's most successful supermarket chain.
International Growth and Changes
In 1954, Migros entered the Turkish market. They formed Migros Türk with the Istanbul City Council. However, Migros Switzerland sold its share of Migros Türk in 1975. Migros Türk is now the largest retailer in Turkey.
It wasn't until 1993 that Migros opened another supermarket outside Switzerland. This one was in Thoiry, near Geneva, France.
In 1986, Migros opened its first recreation park, Säntispark.
Focus on Sustainability
In 1995, Migros introduced its "Migros Bio" organic label. These products follow strict organic guidelines. In 2017, they added "Migros Bio Suisse" for organic products with at least 90% Swiss ingredients.
In October 2012, Migros bought the German food store chain Tegut. However, in 2013, Migros sold its four Migros-branded stores in Germany.
In 2016, Migros announced it would stop giving out free plastic bags at check-out. They had tested this in one area since 2013. The test showed a 90% drop in plastic bag use. Migros was the first to do this across Switzerland, starting on November 1, 2016. Any money made from selling plastic bags goes to environmental projects.
In 2024 and 2025, Migros sold several parts of its business. These included bike shops, DIY stores, electronics, furniture, sports shops, travel agencies, and cosmetic factories. This was done to focus on four main areas in Switzerland: food retail, non-food retail, banking, and health.
