Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute

Name

Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute

Legal name

Stiftung «Im Grüene»

Website

https://gdi.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting & Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Educational Support Services (61171), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA)

Keywords

• Retail industry research
• Strategic foresight consulting
• Executive leadership programs
• Think tank conferences
• Trend analysis services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rüschlikon

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Conference and Event Revenue: Registration fees for International Retail Summit, conferences, seminars, and evening events. Participation fees paid in advance. Pricing varies by ticket type (standard, early-bird, startup) and number of participants.
2. Commissioned Research: Custom research projects, studies, and consultations on specific topics commissioned by clients. Prices agreed in individual contracts, in CHF excluding VAT, plus material costs and travel expenses.
3. Training and Leadership Programs: Further training services including presentations, keynote speeches, coaching sessions, workshops, and multi-event programs in leadership and transformation. Billed before or at start of program.
4. Innovation Hub Licensing: Annual license fees for GDI Innovation Hub or company-specific hub, payable in advance for one year.
5. Event Venue Rental: Hire of conference and banqueting rooms with optional catering, inventory, and ancillary services at GDI's lakeside location in Rüschlikon.
6. Publication Sales: Sale of GDI studies and publications. Prices in CHF including VAT, with free downloads available for some studies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI) is an independent Swiss think-tank that conducts interdisciplinary research, produces strategic foresight studies, and delivers executive leadership programs focused on retail, consumer markets, and broader socioeconomic change. It generates revenue through commissioned research, paid conferences, leadership development, and an innovation platform licensed to organizations, supported by a non-profit foundation structure funded via Migros Culture Percentage.

Product overview

The Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI) operates as Switzerland's oldest think-tank, offering an integrated portfolio of research, foresight, and leadership services. The core offerings include: Strategic Foresight services and the GDI Major Shifts trend framework for early trend identification; the licensed GDI Innovation Hub platform for systematic trend and innovation management; commissioned Research Services producing studies on retail, food, health, and society; Impact Leadership Programs for organizational culture development; and major annual Conferences including the International Retail Summit and Food Innovation Conference. Additional offerings encompass downloadable Studies and publications, Trend Updates, a Podcast, and Newsletter. The institute also operates an Event Location venue at Park im Grüene for conferences and celebrations. The GDI is an independent foundation supported by the Migros Culture Percentage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• International Retail Summit: One of the international community's leading strategy platforms for decision-makers and thought leaders in the retail and consumer goods industries. The 76th summit is scheduled for September 2026.
• GDI Innovation Hub
• GDI Major Shifts

Products and services

• Commissioned Research Services

Quantifiable outcome

• VAUDE achieved 40% emission reduction and 27% sales growth since 2019 through trust-based leadership culture presented at GDI
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MMM-ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork partner for International Retail Summit. MMM-Club is a network for retail and consumer goods professionals.
• Swiss-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SCCC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork partner for International Retail Summit, facilitating cross-border connections.
• LebensmittelzeitungminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for International Retail Summit 2026.
• TextilwirtschaftminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for International Retail Summit 2026.
• etailmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for International Retail Summit 2026.
• BilanzminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for International Retail Summit 2026.
• Hotel SedartisminorOthersHotel allotment partner for International Retail Summit attendees. Located in Thalwil.
• Hotel BelvoirminorOthersHotel allotment partner for International Retail Summit attendees. Within walking distance of GDI in Rüschlikon.
• Intelligent Management Solutions GmbH (in-manas)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for GDI Innovation Hub platform. Additional GTC and Terms of Use apply for the licensed hub software.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Zukunftsinstitut: German trend and future research institute publishing trend reports, hosting events, and offering consulting on consumer and societal trends. Highly comparable to GDI as a DACH-based foresight think tank serving enterprise clients with research, conferences, and publications.
• TrendWatching: Global trend research firm identifying consumer trends and providing intelligence reports, training, and consulting to enterprises. Directly comparable to GDI's strategic foresight and trend framework offerings across retail and consumer goods.
• The Future Laboratory: London-based foresight and consumer trends consultancy providing research, events, and strategic guidance to brands. Comparable to GDI as a research-led consultancy delivering trend intelligence to consumer-facing enterprises.
• Mintel: Global market research firm specializing in consumer markets, product innovation, and trend analysis. Overlaps with GDI's commissioned research and consumer behaviour studies for retail and consumer goods clients.
• Institute for the Future (IFTF): California-based nonprofit think tank producing long-term foresight research, forecasts, and training programs. Comparable to GDI as a mission-driven foresight institute delivering strategic research and executive-level trend content.

Broad incumbents

• Kantar: Global data, insights, and consulting company with extensive consumer research and retail expertise. Comparable to GDI in customer overlap and consumer behaviour research, but operates at much larger scale across multiple industries.
• Roland Berger: Munich-headquartered global management consultancy with strong DACH retail and consumer goods practice. Competes with GDI for strategic advisory engagements in the same regional client base, but offers broader operational consulting scope.
• McKinsey & Company: Global management consultancy with a dedicated Consumer & Retail practice and AI-focused insights (e.g., McKinsey Global Institute). Comparable in serving enterprise C-suites on retail and consumer strategy, but at vastly larger scale.
• Bain & Company: Global management consultancy with a strong retail and consumer products practice (e.g., Bain Retail, Luxury, and Consumer Products). Overlaps with GDI in serving retail C-suites on strategic and transformation decisions.

Emerging players

• World Retail Congress: Global retail industry event and community platform convening senior retail executives. Partially comparable to GDI's International Retail Summit as a retail-focused industry event with international speaker lineups and strategic content.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GDInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gdi
• Instagraminstagram.com/gdi_institute
• Xx.com/GDInstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/GDInstitute

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute