Prix SVC Wirtschaftsraum Zürich 2018: Six companies in the running for the coveted SME prize
The Prix SVC Wirtschaftsraum Zürich 2018 is coveted. The entrepreneurial network Swiss Venture Club (SVC) awards the Prix SVC Wirtschaftsraum Zürich every two years. From a good 100 companies in the region, the expert jury has selected six renowned finalists for the sixth edition.
The sponsor and initiator of the Prix SVC awards is the Swiss Venture Club, an independent association for the promotion and support of SMEs in Switzerland. The Prix SVC Wirtschaftsraum Zürich is awarded to exemplary SMEs that impress with their innovative products and services, their corporate culture, the quality of their employees and management, and their sustainable track record. A prerequisite for nomination by the jury is a strong anchoring in the region.
The award ceremony will take place on 18 January 2018 at the Hallenstadion Zurich. Two thousand guests from business, science, politics and culture are expected to attend. Presenter Nik Hartmann will be in charge of the ceremony.
MEISTER ABRASIVES AG, Andelfingen
Meister Abrasives AG is a company specialising in the manufacture of customer-specific precision grinding tools. With its modern production facilities, it successfully meets the high demands of a wide range of industries in international competition. The Swiss quality of Meister Abrasives can be found in the automotive industry, medical technology and increasingly also in the growth market of the chip industry. The company, headed by Dr. Peter Beyer, employs around 200 people worldwide. With an export share of over 90%, Meister continues to invest in future technologies at its main production site in Andelfingen. As part of a succession solution for the second generation of the Meister family, a takeover involving the management was implemented in 2017.
PUMPSTATION GASTRO GMBH, Zurich
Pumpstation Gastro GmbH, based in Zurich, has been operating a dozen restaurants in the Zurich region and now also in Arosa since 2003. The culinary success story began with the opening of the Pumpstation restaurant in 1998 by founder and owner Michel Péclard, who combines the exceptional visitor experience with creative approaches in the kitchen in all his establishments. The restaurants bear the signature of their patron, who is responsible for the management together with Florian Weber. Pumpstation Gastro GmbH employs around 250 staff from a dozen different nations, including numerous interns and graduates of Swiss hotel management schools, where Michel Péclard also lectures.
QUALIPET AG, Dietlikon
QUALIPET has been the market leader in Swiss pet supplies for 27 years in brick-and-mortar stores and for 5 years online. The QUALIPET range comprises over 15,000 products, which can be purchased in the 90 branches or online. In the stationary trade, fish and rodents are also offered and, especially with reptiles, value is placed on sustainable and controlled Swiss breeding. In pet food, the company is now focusing on high-quality own brands that cover all needs and the requirement for "natural and organic". The family-run company was founded in 1991 by CEO Rolf Boffa and today employs 776 people and 62 trainees throughout Switzerland.
TRANSA BACKPACKING AG, Zurich
Transa Backpacking AG is the leading provider of travel & outdoor equipment in Switzerland. The company has been on the market for 40 years and today offers over 50,000 products from 570 different suppliers in ten branches and outlets. In addition to qualified advice, Transa Backpacking AG relies on its 320 employees and 19 apprentices to share their own outdoor experience. In addition to the range of services from repair to orthopaedic insoles, the company, headed by CEO Daniel Humbel, also offers its customers travel and outdoor activities, such as the Winter Festival or the themed adventure weeks, as well as numerous user courses.
REICHLE & DE-MASSARI AG, Wetzikon
The Swiss family-owned company Reichle & De-Massari is a leading international supplier in the field of information and communication technology. The company develops complete cabling solutions for high-quality data communication networks in office buildings and data centres, for industry and in telecommunications. Leading the Swiss market, Reichle & De-Massari is now active in over 40 countries and has its own market organizations on 6 continents. The company was founded in 1964 and is still 100% owned by the Reichle brothers. Under the leadership of CEO Michel Riva, R&M employs 920 people worldwide, 250 of whom including 21 apprentices at its Swiss headquarters in Wetzikon.
SCHIBLI GROUP, Zurich
The Schibli Group is a family-owned company that combines comprehensive services from the fields of electrical engineering, building services, IT, communication and automation. From electrical installation, intelligent building automation or video surveillance systems to IT infrastructure or customized cloud solutions, everything is offered from a single source. Founded in 1937 by Hans K. Schibli with four electricians as a sole proprietorship, the Schibli Group today plans, installs, services and maintains at 15 locations in Switzerland and one in Dresden. Under the leadership of Jan Schibli, CEO and owner in the third generation, the overall provider places a special focus on training and promoting the next generation of professionals with its own Schibli Academy. Of the approximately 500 employees of the Schibli Group, 90 apprentices are currently being trained in 9 different professions.
