Valora
Encyclopedia
Valora is a Swiss retail
holding company
.
, Merkur Holding AG, and in 1996, the company was renamed to today's Valora Holding AG.
, Services and Trade
).
These three divisions’ businesses are focused on supplying consumer markets with strong sales potential.
In small-outlet retail, the Group’s Valora Retail division operates through four brand names k kiosk, avec., Caffè Spettacolo and Presse und Buch (in English, press and books). Valora Media runs the Group’s press distribution business, while Valora Trade is a major distributor of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG).
In its 2009 financial year, Valora generated some 3 billion Swiss francs in turnover and employed some 6,500 staff (on a full-time equivalent basis).
The Valora Group’s history began with the «Schweizer Chocoladen & Colonialhaus», a firm established in Olten, Switzerland in 1905. Later, this was to develop into Merkur AG, which became a holding company (Merkur Holding AG) in 1986, before adopting its present name of Valora Holding AG in 1996.
Valora Retail operates kiosk and railway station bookstores in Switzerland
, Germany
and Luxembourg
. The product range on offer encompasses press titles, tobacco products, food and non-food items, as well as services. In Switzerland
, its domestic market, Valora Retail operates a network of more than 1,000 k kiosk outlets throughout the country. In Luxembourg
, the division operates some 80 kiosks, selling newspapers, magazines, books, tobacco products, convenience articles, lottery tickets and phone cards. In Germany
, more than 1 million customers buy newspapers, periodicals, tobacco products and convenience articles from the more than 200 bookstores which Valora Retail Germany
operates at German railway stations and airports. These outlets are run under the k presse + buch and k bookstore banners. In 2009, two shops using this same concept were also opened in Switzerland
.
In more than 100 avec. outlets in Switzerland
and the first avec. German unit grocery and impulse purchase items are available after the usual shop closing times. The focus here is on essential supermarket items. Besides fresh produce, a range of private label and branded goods is on offer, as are a variety of kiosk articles.
Caffè Spettacolo brings a contemporary interpretation to classic Italian coffee culture.
, Austria
and Luxembourg
as well.
In Switzerland
, the division is the largest independent media distributor offering international press and book products. Valora Services links publishers to their retail customers in German- and Italian-speaking Switzerland
, Liechtenstein
, Austria
and Luxembourg
.
The services it provides include picking, sorting and packing, distribution and sales promotion.
s to the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry.
Its offerings include modern category and key account management services, sales, merchandising and advisory services on retail outlet yield management.
With its own distribution companies in eight European national markets, Valora Trade operates a supply network. The division provides access to more than 130 million consumers to the manufacturers of numerous internationally renowned brands.
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
.
History
Valora goes back to the Schweizer Chocoladen & Colonialhaus, which was founded in Olten, Switzerland in 1905, which later became known as Merkur AG. In 1986, Merkur AG was made into a holding companyHolding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
, Merkur Holding AG, and in 1996, the company was renamed to today's Valora Holding AG.
General
Valora is operating on a Europe-wide scale in three business areas (RetailRetail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
, Services and Trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
).
These three divisions’ businesses are focused on supplying consumer markets with strong sales potential.
In small-outlet retail, the Group’s Valora Retail division operates through four brand names k kiosk, avec., Caffè Spettacolo and Presse und Buch (in English, press and books). Valora Media runs the Group’s press distribution business, while Valora Trade is a major distributor of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG).
In its 2009 financial year, Valora generated some 3 billion Swiss francs in turnover and employed some 6,500 staff (on a full-time equivalent basis).
The Valora Group’s history began with the «Schweizer Chocoladen & Colonialhaus», a firm established in Olten, Switzerland in 1905. Later, this was to develop into Merkur AG, which became a holding company (Merkur Holding AG) in 1986, before adopting its present name of Valora Holding AG in 1996.
Valora Retail
Valora Retail runs a Europe-wide network of kiosks and other small-outlet retail units located at heavily frequented sites. The division operates a distribution system for press products, consumer staples and items for the impulse purchase market.Valora Retail operates kiosk and railway station bookstores in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. The product range on offer encompasses press titles, tobacco products, food and non-food items, as well as services. In Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, its domestic market, Valora Retail operates a network of more than 1,000 k kiosk outlets throughout the country. In Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, the division operates some 80 kiosks, selling newspapers, magazines, books, tobacco products, convenience articles, lottery tickets and phone cards. In Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, more than 1 million customers buy newspapers, periodicals, tobacco products and convenience articles from the more than 200 bookstores which Valora Retail Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
operates at German railway stations and airports. These outlets are run under the k presse + buch and k bookstore banners. In 2009, two shops using this same concept were also opened in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
In more than 100 avec. outlets in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and the first avec. German unit grocery and impulse purchase items are available after the usual shop closing times. The focus here is on essential supermarket items. Besides fresh produce, a range of private label and branded goods is on offer, as are a variety of kiosk articles.
Caffè Spettacolo brings a contemporary interpretation to classic Italian coffee culture.
Valora Services
The Valora Services division is a distributor of international press products and books. Its logistics system not only supplies media products to Valora Retail’s 1,430 or so outlets, but to third party customers in SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
as well.
In Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, the division is the largest independent media distributor offering international press and book products. Valora Services links publishers to their retail customers in German- and Italian-speaking Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
.
The services it provides include picking, sorting and packing, distribution and sales promotion.
Valora Trade
Valora Trade provides tailor-made, modular distribution and marketing solutionSolution
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the dissolving.- Types of solutions :...
s to the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry.
Its offerings include modern category and key account management services, sales, merchandising and advisory services on retail outlet yield management.
With its own distribution companies in eight European national markets, Valora Trade operates a supply network. The division provides access to more than 130 million consumers to the manufacturers of numerous internationally renowned brands.