German pharmacy chain takes over traditional Swiss company: Selling Franz Carl Weber was no child’s play

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Marcel Dobler (43) can clearly see the contradiction regarding the sale of toy dealer Franz Carl Weber (FCW). Is he avoiding the question of whether he sold his shares on the phone, laughing or crying? After some thought, he says: “This solution is the best for the company’s future. It was always about that for me.”

One thing is clear: “Franz Carl Weber was and is a matter of the heart for me,” says Dobler. The National Councilor and co-founder of Digitec became a shareholder in FCW in 2018 and, along with other investors, saved the traditional toy business from the bankruptcy of the French Ludendo Group.

back to the roots

So now that the German pharmacy chain Müller is taking over 100 percent of the shares in FCW, the parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. For the Swiss toy industry, this means a return to roots in two senses.

FCW was founded in Zurich in 1881 by Bavarian immigrant Franz Philipp Karl Friedrich Weber. He had previously earned his spurs as a businessman at a toy export company in Germany and the Zurich pharmacy Fisler. Thus, the company fell into the hands of the Germans, led by Müller Handels AG Schweiz.

The sale was everything but child’s play. The search for a solution for the renewed toy chain started two years ago. “We also sought partners for an overseas acquisition company,” Dobler says. But hopes were dashed, so only the sale to Müller remained.

Leverage purchasing power

Müller is a giant with over 900 branches in seven countries. The pharmacy chain has 69 branches in Switzerland and sells not only powders, creams and shower gels, but also toys – mostly at very reasonable prices. Compared to this empire, FCW is tiny with 23 stores and 196 employees.

Dobler isn’t afraid of the new internal competition: “FCW scores with expert advice and top-rated positions.” In addition, the Swiss chain should benefit from the purchasing power of the Germans in the future. If you order toys from close to 900 branches, you can get very different prices from a small Swiss specialist retailer.

Although Dobler has sold his stake, he will continue to pull the strings as a board member. “Sales means no change for employees and customers, and there are no plans to reduce that.” On the contrary: Dobler told Blick that expansion of the branch network is possible and several locations are currently being evaluated.

Source :Blick