Five delivery vehicles hit the streets of Zurich in 1925, marking the debut of the Migros grocery operation. Gottlieb Duttweiler launched this enterprise with a strategy to lower costs by eliminating intermediaries between producers and the public. This approach fundamentally altered the retail landscape in Switzerland, forcing the company to manufacture its own goods when established suppliers attempted boycotts.
The Cooperative Model
By 1941, Duttweiler and his wife, Adele Duttweiler, converted Migros into a cooperative structure, effectively transferring ownership to its customers. This transformation included a mandate that a specific percentage of total revenue be allocated to cultural, athletic, and hobby-related initiatives. This funding supported the establishment of Migros-club-schools and diverse recreational courses. In 1956, the group integrated the Ex Libris book club, and in 1958, Duttweiler founded the Migros Bank to further expand the company's financial services.
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Duttweiler navigated a dual career as an entrepreneur and a politician. In 1936, he established the Alliance of Independents, or Landesring der Unabhängigen. His legislative service included multiple terms in the Swiss National Council between 1935 and 1962, with a period in the Swiss Council of States from 1949 to 1951. Throughout his tenure in Bern, he served as a vocal supporter of women's suffrage in Switzerland, positioning his political and commercial interests toward broader social reforms.
Logistics and Expansion
The operational reach of Migros extended into international shipping and property management. The Federation of Migros Cooperatives commissioned the cargo ship Adele, which was built at the H. C. Stülcken Sohn shipyard in Hamburg and launched on 15 July 1952. The vessel was named for and christened by Adele Duttweiler. Additionally, Duttweiler initiated the development of the Park im Grüene, commonly known as Dutti-Park, which later served as the location for the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute in Rüschlikon.
Fast facts
- Born: 1888, Zurich
- Died: 1962, Zurich
- Founder: Migros
- Political Party: Alliance of Independents
- Burial Site: Cemetery Rüschlikon
- Languages: German, Swiss German
Questions readers ask
What happened to the ownership of Migros?
In 1941, Gottlieb and Adele Duttweiler transferred ownership of the company to its customers as a cooperative.
Did Duttweiler hold political office?
Yes, he served in the Swiss National Council for several terms between 1935 and 1962, and in the Swiss Council of States from 1949 to 1951.
