Valora is a focused, leading convenience provider

With the sale of Naville Distribution and the sale of the Naville property in Geneva, Valora was able to successfully conclude the transformation of the Group into a focused convenience and food service provider. The focus also fell on the further optimisation of the network of sales outlets in Switzerland and Germany and the expansion of the Ditsch/Brezelkönig retail formats.
At the same time, the integrated value chain was strengthened with the own brands ok.– in Germany and Caffè Spettacolo in Switzerland and Germany as well as the increasing use of Ditsch bakery products in the own convenience stores. We also pushed ahead with the expansion of production capacities for pretzel and bakery products for third-party customers.
The selection of food and beverages on offer was also expanded across the entire kiosk and convenience business. For example, around 100 sales outlets in Switzerland were equipped with Starbucks coffee machines and approximately 650 with Caffè Spettacolo machines.
At the same time, various new digital offers were launched, including the Caffè Spettacolo app that allows customers to place orders while on the move and to pay via the app, the scan&go pilot project aimed at increasing transaction speeds during rush hour periods, and the establishment of a Retail Analytics team. The objective is to tailor new offers better to customer needs with simple and practical digital solutions and to increasingly position Valora as a service partner.

These numerous initiatives lay a good foundation for our medium- to long-term growth plans. The strategy provides a clear focus:
growth and expansion, efficiency, a performance-driven culture and innovation.

2015 saw Valora reach a number of key strategic milestones resulting in an increase in overall efficiency across the Group.

The sale of the Trade division and the outsourcing of Swiss goods logistics operations were the final major steps concluding the implementation of Valora’s strategy of focusing on its core business. The Group’s activities are now clearly directed towards convenience and food service with a notable emphasis on pretzel product manufacturing. Thanks to the Naville acquisition, Valora also succeeded in further expanding the already substantial outlet network it operates in Switzerland. As the Naville business was integrated into Valora’s existing Swiss operations, it was also possible to raise efficiency levels across all core business functions at Retail Switzerland and to enhance the effectiveness of Group management structures.

At Retail Germany, the organisation was successfully strengthened, thus creating the basis for future growth. 2015 also saw the establishment of Valora’s fintech subsidiary, bob finance AG. This company is part of the newly created Valora Lab, whose mission is to create new digital products and services – such as the new Spettacolo coffee app.

Valora’s acquisition of the Lekkerland subsidiary Convenience Concept in January 2012, with its network of 1,300 retail outlets in Germany, was a major milestone for the Group. In early 2012, Valora also purchased the outlet network operated by Schmelzer-Bettenhausen, Austria’s largest railway-station bookseller, thus establishing a retail presence for the Group in the Austrian market. In the autumn of 2012, Valora acquired the Ditsch/Brezelkönig group of companies, further expanding its portfolio of retail formats. Ditsch/Brezelkönig’s clearly focused product range, and the additional outlet sites it has added to Group’s network, ideally complement Valora’s existing retail formats in Germany and Austria.

These initiatives have enabled Valora further to enhance its leading position in Europe’s German-speaking markets, establishing the Group as a substantial retailer with more than 3,000 outlets in four countries. The «Valora 4 Growth» strategy programme has now been successfully concluded. In the years ahead, the primary objective of the «Valora for a fast moving world» programme will be to achieve a sustained increase in profitability by focusing on Valora’s core areas of retail expertise and fully realising the Group’s outstanding potential.

Business model based on 3 core activities:

• small - outlet retail
• press & book wholesale
• distribution of branded goods

Kiosk and press wholesaling expanded, initially to Germany, then Luxembourg and Austria.

Divisions cut from 5 to 3 - Kiosk, Alimarca and Slumberland. Selecta sold.

On July 1, 1996, Merkur Holding AG becomes Valora Holding AG. Diversification strategy aims to reduce overall exposure to market volatility and reduce risk borne by investors. Companies with weak profitability replaced with higher margin firms.

The Swiss firm Allimarca AG is acquired, with further trading company purchases thereafter. Acquisition of the Consiva group in 2001 makes Valora Europe’s leading distributor of fast moving consumer goods.

The Group acquires both Schmidt Agence and Kiosk AG, whose combined Swiss outlets number 1'500.

Merkur acquires Bico, Switzerland’s leading mattress manufacturer.

Numerous acquisitions in and outside Switzerland transform the face of the Group over subsequent decades.

Merkur AG expands it network to 130 outlets and acquires «Schweizerische Kafferöstereien», a coffee roasting company.