In January, the fashion house Schild became part of the Migros Group. Through the takeover of Schild by Magazine zum Globus, the two companies became the new number one on the Swiss fashion market, with sales of CHF 1 billion. The Schild brand was retained and all staff were kept on.
The marketing programme "Von uns. Von hier." (From us. From here.) highlights the uniqueness of M-Industry. Migros is the world's only retailer to produce a large part of its product range itself. Risoletto and Handy washing-up liquid, for example, can only be found in Migros stores.
M-Budget and Migros are the two best brands in Switzerland, according to the Brand Predictor study by Havas Worldwide Switzerland. The study determines the best brand based on a combination of the two categories "Dynamism" and "Trustworthiness". Nespresso came third.
Migros enjoys the best reputation among Switzerland's leading 52 companies, according to GfK Business Reflektor 2014. The survey is based on 3'500 interviews, which rate aspects such as image, quality, innovation, emotional components and sustainability. Migros thereby regained top spot.
With the takeover of SweetWorks Inc., Chocolat Frey enhanced its presence on the North American market. SweetWorks operates a production site with 200 employees in Buffalo, New York. It also owns the subsidiary Oak Leaf Confections Co. in Toronto, which employs 250 people.
In May, Migros won the Swiss Ethics Award for its commitment to animal-friendly husbandry abroad. The Swiss Excellence Forum presents the award every two years to companies that make a special commitment to ethical practices.
In May, the car-sharing platform sharoo, operated by Migros and its strategic partners "Die Mobiliar" and "Mobility", was launched in Zurich, Bern and Lucerne. The start-up is based on the idea of private car owners renting out their vehicles. Users can find and book a car via the website or the app.
By concluding the 2015-2018 National Collective Labour Agreement (N-CLA), Migros has enhanced the benefits of the previous N-CLA, with a particular focus on family policy, including longer maternity and paternity leave as well as equal treatment of same-sex partnerships and unmarried couples.
At the start of 2014, Migros became the first Swiss retailer to recover and recycle household plastic bottles from all its stores. In August, the company's efforts were recognised with the 2014 Swiss Recycling Award in the "Organisation" category. The judges praised the industry leader for its innovation in particular.
By November, more than one million customers had registered in Migros' web and app landscape. They thereby enjoy access to selected services and the online shops of Migros Group companies. The remarkable figure also reflects the growing importance of online retailing for Migros.
In December, Migros was named "Retailer of the Year Switzerland" in the "Food" category. The survey asks consumers to rate the price, service and product ranges of different retailers. It is one of the most important surveys in Europe.
The renowned ratings agency oekom research assessed the social and ecological commitment of 140 retailers worldwide. With a B+ grade, the Migros Group achieved by far the best result in the comprehensive rating, making it the world's most sustainable retailer.
The Migros Christmas song went straight to number one in the charts, selling 61'632 copies in just five weeks. Migros customers thereby donated more than a million francs to people in need throughout Switzerland; the amount was doubled by Migros.
