SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOPING THE DROGERIE VON GRÜNIGEN The Drogerie von Grünigen is undergoing a change of generation. After 35 years at the helm of the company, Agata and Johann Peter von Grünigen will no longer be in charge of the day-to-day business. The next generation is ready to take up more responsibility in the family run business. Both stores in Gstaad will continue to provide specialized services in health, beauty, and well-being. The Drogerie von Grünigen is one of the businesses in the Saanenland with the longest tradition. 170 years ago the veterinarian Abraham von Grünigen founded his practice at the Chesery square. The adjacent dispensary supplied the population of Gstaad with ointments and herbal concoctions for people as well as animals. His nephew and his nephew's wife continued the business of Abraham von Grünigen after his death. The building at the Gstaadplatz was built in 1927, where the Drogerie has been situated ever since and undergone several renovations and enlargements. The famous «Benzin-Anneli» turned the business, which also had the first filling station of Gstaad, into a modern Drogerie and perfumery. Johann Peter and Agata were the fifth generation when they took over the business in 1980. They gradually specialized to become a centre for health, beauty, and well-being. Three years ago they integrated the Drogerie in the Migros Centre in Untergstaad.
The new administrative board of the Drogerie von Grünigen: Johann Peter von Grünigen, Elisabeth Huber, and Stefan von Grünigen
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The location at the Promenade in Gstaad
In September, after 35 years, Agata and Johann Peter von Grünigen will step back from the day-to-day business. Johann Peter von Grünigen will focus on strategic issues in his position as president of the administrative board. Stefan von Grünigen and his partner Elisabeth Huber, the next generation to follow, will then take a more active part. Stefan von Grünigen has known the business since he was a boy and has been fulfilling various roles within the family enterprise. After completing his education as a druggist he studied economics at the universities of Bern and Zürich and is now in a leading position in a medium-sized company. Elisabeth Huber is a graduate druggist and responsible for the politics and trade sectors of the Swiss Druggist Association. As members of the administrative board they are committed to continuing the development of the family business. Elisabeth Huber will also be the contact person for the managers of the stores in the Promenade and in Untergstaad. Both stress that «the two locations should provide an outstanding shopping experience for locals as well as our international customers. This includes professional customer consulting from a well trained team and a select line of goods.» Johann Peter von Grünigen is convinced that this gradual and ongoing transition from one
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION // GSTAADLIFE // ISSUE 6 // AUGUST 28, 2015
generation to the next is the ideal solution: «I am very happy that the business remains family run and the two locations will remain open.» The Drogerie von Grünigen has a product range of over 30'000 products for your health, beauty, and well-being: from orthodox to complementary medicine, cosmetics, organic deli food, baby and kids products, as well as a perfumery (in the store at the Promenade) with all major international brands and an array of exclusive boutique perfumes. Furthermore, in both stores pharmaceuticals are produced according to the von Grünigens’ own formulas and thus an almost 200-year-old tradition is continuing. Two graduate druggists, nine trained druggists, and six apprentices offer their expert advice and are looking forward to your next visit.
Pharmaceuticals made in-store according to their own formula