What Wort & Bild Verlag does

Wort & Bild Verlag is a privately held German health media publishing group headquartered in Baierbrunn, founded by Rolf Becker with the first issue of Apotheken Umschau in January 1956. The company operates a multi-brand portfolio of nine special-interest health magazines (including flagship Apotheken Umschau, Diabetes Ratgeber, Senioren Ratgeber, ELTERN, medizini, HausArzt-PatientenMagazin, Ärztlicher Ratgeber, and PTA Woman) distributed primarily through Germany's network of approximately 12,000 stationaere Apotheken (local pharmacies). The company has expanded beyond print into a branded audio platform (gesundheit-hoeren.de with multiple podcasts including 'ne Dosis Wissen, Siege der Medizin, Taxi ins Mich, and Endlich 60!), digital content hubs, and a book series (Apotheken Umschau Ratgeber) in cooperation with Edel Verlagsgruppe. Apotheken Umschau is recognized as Germany's most-read health magazine and celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2026 with a European Magazine of the Year award.

Name

Wort & Bild Verlag

Legal name

Wort & Bild Verlag

Website

https://wortundbildverlag.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Wort & Bild Verlag is a privately held German health media publishing group best known for Apotheken Umschau, Germany's most-read health magazine, distributed through the nation's pharmacy network alongside other health titles, podcasts, B2B services, and digital health investments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Media Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Health, Fitness & Wellness Magazines (MPAJAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health, Wellness & Fitness Trade Publishing (MPAJAAAL), Health, Wellness & Pharmacy Marketplaces (CRAFABAF)

Keywords

• Consumer health publishing
• Pharmacy magazine distribution
• Medical journalism content
• Health podcast production
• Patient education publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Baierbrunn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Print Magazine Sales: Sale of health magazines (Apotheken Umschau, Diabetes Ratgeber, Senioren Ratgeber, medizini, etc.) primarily through pharmacy distribution network
2. Advertising Revenue: Advertising and sponsorship across print and digital platforms reaching millions of health-conscious consumers and healthcare professionals
3. Book Publishing: Sale of health-related books and guides through book trade and pharmacies in cooperation with Edel Verlagsgruppe
4. Digital Products and Subscriptions: Digital content subscriptions, podcast premium content, newsletters, and digital health offerings
5. Corporate Services and Events: Parliamentary evenings, campaign events, corporate health initiatives, and B2B services through subsidiaries like Vita Health Media
6. Digital Health Investments: Strategic investments in digital health startups (BodyFast, Curacado) and health tech ecosystem through Isartal Health Media subsidiary

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Wort & Bild Verlag publishes and distributes a portfolio of consumer health magazines (notably Apotheken Umschau, Germany's most-read health magazine, plus Diabetes Ratgeber, Senioren Ratgeber, ELTERN, medizini, HausArzt-PatientenMagazin, Ärztlicher Ratgeber, PTA Woman, and the new Apotheken Umschau Medicus) primarily through Germany's pharmacy network. The portfolio is complemented by the gesundheit-hören.de podcast platform, the Apotheken Umschau Ratgeber book series, B2B services for healthcare professionals and pharmacies (Apotheken Umschau Pro, 720 Health Media, Vita Health Media), and a digital health investment portfolio via Isartal Health Media (BodyFast, Curacado, Forte Health).

Product overview

Wort & Bild Verlag is Germany's leading health media house operating a multi-brand magazine portfolio distributed primarily through local pharmacies (stationäre Apotheken), alongside digital platforms, B2B services, and health-tech investments. The core offering consists of nine branded consumer magazines — Apotheken Umschau (flagship, 70-year anniversary in 2026, most widely read health magazine in Germany), Diabetes Ratgeber, Senioren Ratgeber, ELTERN, medizini (children's poster magazine, ages 5–12), HausArzt-PatientenMagazin, Ärztlicher Ratgeber, PTA Woman, and gesundheit-hören.de (podcast/audio platform). These are supplemented by B2B brands including Apotheken Umschau Pro (professional subscription for healthcare workers), 720 Health Media (pharmacy marketing services), and Vita Health Media (B2B events/campaigns). The publisher has expanded into digital health through subsidiaries Isartal Health Media and Isartal Ventures, with stakes in BodyFast (intermittent fasting app, 50M+ downloads), Curacado (pharmacy delivery platform), and the Forte Health joint venture (digital health consultancy with Forte). The company also publishes the book series 'Apotheken Umschau Ratgeber' and launched a new print magazine, Apotheken Umschau Medicus, in January 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Apotheken Umschau: Germany's most-read health magazine, published bi-weekly since 1956, providing reliable health information.
• Diabetes Ratgeber
• Senioren Ratgeber
• ELTERN
• medizini
• HausArzt-PatientenMagazin
• Ärztlicher Ratgeber
• gesundheit-hören.de
• PTA Woman
• Apotheken Umschau Pro
• Apotheken Umschau Medicus

Products and services

• Apotheken Umschau Germany's most widely read health magazine, published every two weeks and distributed exclusively through local pharmacies. Provides evidence-based health journalism with the highest quality standards; awarded European Magazine of the Year multiple times.
• Diabetes Ratgeber Health magazine providing competent, current, and easily understandable information for people living with diabetes, helping them manage their condition effectively.
• Senioren Ratgeber Magazine offering comprehensive tips and concrete help for women and men aged 60 and above, covering topics of particular interest to seniors including care costs, health, and lifestyle.
• ELTERN Magazine accompanying families from pregnancy through their child's primary school years, providing expert tips and ideas for a healthy family life - entertaining, well-researched, and authentic.
• medizini Children's poster magazine (ages 5-12) covering health, animals, nature, science, and puzzles. Published since 1974 (originally as 'Medi & Zini'), available exclusively in pharmacies with a monthly print run of approximately 937,750 copies (IVW 3/2025).
• HausArzt-PatientenMagazin Magazine containing easily understandable and medically sound information designed to facilitate communication between patients and their doctors.
• Ärztlicher Ratgeber Magazine providing reliable and well-researched information for expectant couples on pregnancy, birth, and the first baby year.
• PTA Woman Magazine and brand targeting pharmacy technicians (Pharmazeutisch-Technische Assistenten, PTA), providing professional and personal content for this audience.
• Apotheken Umschau Medicus Premium print magazine launched January 2026 covering medical history - its turning points, missteps, and breakthroughs - with reportages, essays, interviews, and large photo spreads. Sold at kiosks.
• gesundheit-hören.de Podcast Platform Branded podcast/audio platform distributing multiple health podcast series including 'ne Dosis Wissen, Siege der Medizin, Taxi ins Mich, Frau Doktor übernehmen Sie!, gepflegt gefragt, Endlich 60!, Impact, and The Sex Gap. Available via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and gesundheit-hören.de.
• Apotheken Umschau Pro B2B subscription offering and professional platform from Apotheken Umschau targeting healthcare professionals (physicians, pharmacists, psychotherapists, nursing staff). Includes the daily podcast 'ne Dosis Wissen' and exclusive professional content.
• Apotheken Umschau Buchreihe (Ratgeber) Book series published by Wort & Bild Verlag in cooperation with Edel Verlagsgruppe, sold in bookstores and pharmacies. Titles include guides on Multiple Sklerose, Krebs, Depression, Demenz, Bluthochdruck, Diabetes Typ 2, Osteoporose, and more.
• 720 Health Media Wholly owned subsidiary of the Wort & Bild Verlagsgruppe focusing on health media marketing and communication services for pharmacy chains and health industry clients. Led by Ronja Böhlke.
• Vita Health Media Subsidiary agency of the Wort & Bild group organizing B2B events and campaigns such as the 'nexxt level' menopause event series, parliamentary evenings on health policy topics, and the 'no stigma!' YouTube series. Led by Dr. Nicole Lauscher and Jonas Gehrling.
• Forte Health Digital-Health-Powerhouse joint venture between Isartal Health Media (Wort & Bild subsidiary) and Forte (digital consultancy); combines health media reach, ecosystem expertise, and technology/transformation skills to drive digital transformation in healthcare via data, technology, and AI. Clients include BIOTRONIK, DRK Kliniken Berlin, Labor Berlin, Korian, medudy.
• BodyFast Munich-based health-tech company offering one of the world's leading intermittent fasting and healthy nutrition apps; over 50 million downloads worldwide; subscription-based personalized nutrition programs; invested in by Isartal Health Media (Wort & Bild subsidiary) as part of the publisher's digital health growth strategy.
• Curacado Regional pharmacy ordering and delivery platform enabling Click & Collect for local pharmacies; founded by Nuremberg pharmacist Ralf König; Wort & Bild acquired a majority stake to expand its digital business for stationäre Apotheken.

Quantifiable outcome

• Apotheken Umschau is Germany's most-read health magazine reaching millions of readers bi-weekly
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• FortecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Joint venture to create 'Forte Health' - a Digital-Health-Powerhouse combining Wort & Bild's health media expertise with Forte's technology and transformation capabilities. Aims to drive digital transformation in healthcare through strategic consulting, digital implementation, and scalable solutions. Develop HealthTech subsidiary of Isartal Health Media merged into the joint venture.
• BodyFastcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026Strategic investment and partnership through Isartal Health Media in Munich-based Health-Tech company BodyFast, which developed one of the world's leading intermittent fasting and healthy nutrition apps with over 50 million downloads globally. Partnership aims to scale evidence-based health content into digital products and expand into international revenue models.
• CuracadocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2018Majority acquisition of Curacado, a regional ordering and delivery platform for pharmacies founded by Ralf König from Nuremberg. Platform provides Click & Collect and delivery solutions to strengthen local pharmacies against international competitors. Part of Wort & Bild's digital growth strategy.
• Isartal Health MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic investment arm of Wort & Bild Mediengruppe that consolidates all majority holdings. Acts as strategic investor focusing on health startups to form a diverse health ecosystem. Connects portfolio companies with Wort & Bild's reach and trust to create digital health solutions.
• 720 Health MediamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary company of Wort & Bild Verlagsgruppe focused on health media content and marketing solutions.
• Vita Health Media GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaughter company of Wort & Bild Gruppe that organized parliamentary evenings, events, and campaigns including 'Wechseljahre - wir müssen reden' and adipositas awareness events. Coordinates healthcare events and initiatives.
• Flying HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary company in the Forte Health joint venture, bringing technology and transformation expertise to the partnership.
• Deutsche HirnstiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for book publication 'Multiple Sklerose. Verstehen und achtsam begleiten.' Scientific content reviewed and endorsed by Deutsche Hirnstiftung.
• M1 - Munich Medicine AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for AI in healthcare project '2036 - Gesund mit KI?' funded by Federal Ministry. Wort & Bild provides communication expertise alongside TUM, LMU, and Helmholtz Munich.
• YouGovminorOthersOpinion research institute collaborating on studies about health topics, including the 'Kleine Bewegung. Große Wirkung' initiative study.
• Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund (DOSB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for movement and health initiative 'Kleine Bewegung. Große Wirkung' combining sports and health topics.
• BundesärztekammerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in exercise prescription initiative (Rezept für Bewegung) alongside DOSB and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sportmedizin.
• Stiftung LesenminorStrategic or Co-development Partnermedizini recommended by Stiftung Lesen for many years. Partnership for Deutscher Lesepreis 2026 sponsorship in category of digital media reading promotion.
• Edel VerlagsgruppeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for book publishing program. Books available through book trade and pharmacies via this partnership.
• Adipositas Verband Deutschland e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner supporting parliamentary evening on obesity prevention and healthcare policy.
• Lilly DeutschlandminorOthersSponsor of parliamentary evening event on obesity.
• Novo NordiskminorOthersSponsor of parliamentary evening event on obesity.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DocCheck: Cologne-based health community and content platform serving German healthcare professionals and consumers. A direct peer in monetizing health information reach in Germany via advertising, professional subscriptions and community-driven content.
• Springer Medizin (Springer Nature): Germany's leading publisher of professional medical journals, books and continuing-education content for physicians and pharmacists. Comparable as a Germany-based health media business with both professional (ÄrzteZeitung, Pro OM) and consumer health content, although specialized in clinical/professional rather than pharmacy-distributed lay content.
• NetDoktor.de: One of Germany's largest consumer health information portals, operated by NetDoktor GmbH (Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck). Directly comparable as a German-language health content publisher targeting consumers with evidence-based medical information - the same end-audience as Apotheken Umschau but via a digital-first model.

Broad incumbents

• Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck: Major German publishing group (owner of NetDoktor, S. Fischer Verlag, DIE ZEIT, Handelsblatt). Comparable as a Germany-based media group with significant health content (via NetDoktor), competing for the same health-ad and pharmacy-channel audiences.
• Gesundheit.de (Burda): Hubert Burda Media's consumer health portal. A large German media incumbent offering health information online at meaningful scale, comparable on lay health content distribution though operating as a digital property within a diversified publishing group.
• Elsevier Health (RELX): Global medical publisher producing reference content, journals and decision-support tools used by German healthcare professionals. Comparable via the Apotheken Umschau Pro and 'ne Dosis Wissen professional-content angle, but operating at much larger global scale.
• Spiegel Gesundheit / Spiegel Gruppe: German media house publishing Spiegel Gesundheit and adjacent health content at national scale. Comparable on consumer health journalism and advertising inventory, but part of a much broader news portfolio rather than a health-specialist publisher.

Emerging players

• Future plc: UK-based media company with a growing consumer health portfolio (LiveScience, Tom's Guide health, Coach). Comparable as a multi-brand consumer health publisher pursuing audience and ad monetization, though active primarily in English-speaking markets and digital first.
• Stiftung Gesundheit / Verbraucherzentrale: German non-profit network publishing patient-oriented health information and physician directories. Comparable as an authoritative consumer health-content publisher in Germany, though non-commercial and less scaled in advertising.

Others

• Apotheken-Favoriten (Favoriten-Studie publisher PHARMA-PRÄSIDENT): PHARMA-PRÄSIDENT market research firm that publishes the Apotheken-Favoriten study repeatedly won by Apotheken Umschau. Included as an ecosystem participant - a research/measurement partner that benchmarks pharmacy-channel content in Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Wort & Bild Verlag