Bären Apotheke

What Bären Apotheke does

Bären-Apotheke is a traditional independent German pharmacy founded in 1974 in the Esslingen-Hohenkreuz district of Esslingen am Neckar, Baden-Württemberg. Since 2019 it has been owned and operated by Dr. Björn Schittenhelm as a sole proprietorship (Dr. Björn Schittenhelm e.K., registered at Amtsgericht Böblingen HRA 241214), who also runs Alamannen-Apotheke and Schönbuch-Apotheke in Holzgerlingen. The pharmacy dispenses prescription and OTC medications, delivers a portfolio of certified pharmaceutical services (asthma training for patients aged 6+, medication analysis, blood pressure and blood glucose measurements), provides a comprehensive diabetes care program tied to the owner's Fachapotheker qualification, rents medical devices (breast pumps, baby scales, blood pressure monitors, inhalation devices), and operates a Bären-Apotheke Kosmetikum cosmetic studio with allergy-tested brands including Roche Posay, Vichy, Eucerin, Dr. Hauschka, Bepanthol, and Eubos.

The technology footprint is conventional: a WordPress-based marketing site (b-treff.info) with Wordfence security, Real Cookie Banner GDPR compliance, Google Maps, and a FRAG DIE APOTHEKE LiveChat widget (powered by Text, Inc.), alongside a separate e-commerce storefront at baerenapotheke-esslingen.de and branded iOS/Android mobile applications. The customer card (Kundenkartei) system stores medication histories for interaction monitoring and personalization. Senior-friendly service, multilingual consultations (German, English, French, Maltese), and home delivery round out the customer experience.

The business model is direct-to-consumer retail pharmacy, monetizing through medication dispensing at regulated prices under Arzneimittelpreisverordnung, reimbursable professional pharmaceutical services billed to statutory and private health insurers, cosmetics retail, medical device rental, and e-commerce sales. Marketing relies on the Meine Apotheke network affiliation, organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram), the mobile app, and the LiveChat widget. Geographic reach is confined to Baden-Württemberg, with the physical store at Wäldenbronner Str. 44 serving as the primary point of sale.

Name

Bären Apotheke

Legal name

Dr. Björn Schittenhelm e.K.

Website

https://b-treff.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bären-Apotheke is a traditional independent pharmacy in Esslingen am Neckar, Germany, dispensing medications, certified pharmaceutical services, diabetes care, cosmetics, medical device rentals, and online sales to the local Hohenkreuz community under owner Dr. Björn Schittenhelm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Pharmacy

NAICS

Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (45611), Health and Personal Care Retailers (456)

SIC

Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912)

akta.pro primary industry

Small-Format Urban/Neighborhood Drugstores (CRAEAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health & Pharmacy Omnichannel (CRAFAEAK)

Keywords

• Retail pharmacy services
• Medication dispensing
• Pharmaceutical care
• Diabetes management
• Medical device rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Holzgerlingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medication Dispensing: Standard pharmacy dispensing of prescription and over-the-counter medications including generics from reputable manufacturers.
2. Medical Device Rental: Rental of medical equipment including breast pumps (Milchpumpen), baby scales (Babywaagen), blood pressure monitors, and inhalation devices.
3. Pharmaceutical Services: Fee-based pharmaceutical services including asthma training, blood pressure measurements, blood glucose measurements, medication analysis, and diabetes care.
4. Cosmetics and Skincare Products: Sale of allergy-tested cosmetic products from brands including Roche Posay, Vichy, Eucerin, Dr. Hauschka, Bepanthol, and Eubos.
5. Online Shop Sales: E-commerce sales through own online shop at baerenapotheke-esslingen.de with delivery service.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bären Apotheke is a traditional German neighborhood pharmacy that dispenses prescription and over-the-counter medications from reputable manufacturers and affordable generic alternatives. The pharmacy provides pharmaceutical care services including diabetes management, asthma training, medication analysis, and blood pressure/blood sugar measurements. It also rents medical devices (breast pumps, baby scales, blood pressure monitors, inhalation devices), offers expert consultations on hair loss and travel pharmacy, and sells allergy-tested cosmetic products through both its physical store and online shop.

Product overview

Bären-Apotheke is a traditional pharmacy offering a comprehensive range of pharmaceutical and cosmetic services. The core offering centers on medication dispensing and diabetes care, supported by specialized pharmaceutical services including asthma training, medication analysis, blood pressure and blood sugar measurements. The pharmacy provides expert consultations in hair loss treatment, travel pharmacy, and maintains a dedicated cosmetic studio (Bären-Apotheke Kosmetikum) offering treatments with allergy-tested products. Additional services include medical device rental (breast pumps, baby scales, blood pressure monitors) and a full online shop with home delivery. The pharmacy stores customer medication data in optional customer cards for personalized drug interaction monitoring, and offers a mobile app for convenient access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medications (Medikamente) Dispensing of prescription and over-the-counter medications from reputable manufacturers and affordable generic alternatives, with medication records maintained for personalized care and drug interaction monitoring. For local residents and walk-in customers.
• Diabetes Care (Diabetikerbetreuung) Comprehensive diabetes management support including medication adjustment guidance, proper use of application aids, blood sugar measurement services, dietary information, and medical foot care referrals for diabetic patients.
• Blood Pressure Measurements (Blutdruckmessungen) Blood pressure monitoring service using Riva-Rocci method with electronic devices to assess cardiovascular health and help detect hypertension early.
• Blood Sugar Measurements (Blutzuckermessungen) Blood glucose monitoring service performed on fasting patients with proper hygiene protocols to avoid contamination of test results.
• Asthma Training (Asthmaschulungen) Certified training program for asthma patients aged 6 and older covering proper inhalation technique, asthma management, and emergency response. Covered by all public and private health insurers.
• Medication Analysis (Medikationsanalysen) Annual medication review service checking for drug interactions, creating an updated medication plan, and coordinating with physicians. Free service covered by health insurance.
• Hair Loss Consultation (Beratung Haarausfall) Expert consultation on hair loss treatment including oral medications and topical products like shampoos for both men and women.
• Travel Pharmacy Consultation (Beratung Reiseapotheke) Travel health consultation covering motion sickness, nausea, dietary adjustments, sunburn, and insect bites, with advice on proper travel pharmacy contents.
• Device Rental (Geräteverleih) Rental service for medical devices including breast pumps, baby scales, blood pressure monitors, and inhalation devices. Compliant with legal and technical requirements; some devices available by prescription.
• Bären-Apotheke Kosmetikum Full-body cosmetic treatments including facial and body treatments and foot care using high-quality, allergy-tested products from brands like Roche Posay, Vichy, and Eucerin.
• Cosmetics Products (Kosmetikprodukte) Wide range of allergy-tested cosmetic products from reputable manufacturers including Roche Posay, Vichy, Eucerin, Dr. Hauschka, Bepanthol, Eubos, and Avene, with specialized advice for neurodermitis, allergies, and intolerances.
• Online Shop (Onlineshop) E-commerce platform for purchasing pharmacy products online with home delivery option.

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Meine Apotheke NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBären-Apotheke is a member of the Meine Apotheke network (ausbildung-apotheke.de), which connects multiple independent pharmacies including Alamannen-Apotheke, Schönbuch-Apotheke, and others in the Holzgerlingen/Esslingen region for shared resources, training, and marketing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Boots (Walgreens Boots Alliance): International pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer with European operations. Comparable as a large incumbent operating the same core retail-pharmacy + beauty model, though at materially larger scale and primarily outside Germany.
• dm-drogerie: Germany's largest drugstore chain selling OTC-adjacent health, beauty, and personal care. Adjacent rather than direct because dm does not dispense prescriptions, but it competes for OTC and cosmetics baskets.
• Müller (Müller Drogerie): German drugstore chain with significant health, beauty, and cosmetics assortment, including in-store pharmacy counters at some locations. Comparable for non-Rx retail competition.
• Rossmann: Major German drugstore chain with broad health, beauty, and personal care assortment. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing on cosmetics and wellness retail adjacent to Bären's core dispensing business.

Direct peers

• DocMorris: Leading Dutch/German online pharmacy operating actively in the German market. Directly comparable on prescription and OTC e-commerce fulfillment, and the most cited competitor to any German independent Apotheke with an online shop.
• Apotheke vor Ort: Marketing and service network for independent German pharmacies, similar in concept to the Meine Apotheke affiliation Bären holds. Provides collective brand and digital tools to independent neighborhood pharmacies.
• easyApotheke: German discount pharmacy chain with physical stores and online sales. Comparable as a price-led retail pharmacy competing for the same walk-in OTC and beauty basket as Bären Apotheke.
• Linda Apotheken: Cooperative of independent German Apotheken sharing marketing, procurement, and a loyalty program. Directly comparable to Bären's Meine Apotheke membership model for a single-location traditional pharmacy.
• Redcare Pharmacy (Shop Apotheke): Major German online pharmacy selling prescription, OTC, and beauty products. Comparable as a direct e-commerce pharmacy competitor serving the same German consumer base as Bären Apotheke's online shop.
• Zur Rose (DocMorris parent) / DocMorris Group: Swiss-headquartered online pharmacy group with significant German activity. Comparable for cross-border mail-order Rx and OTC competition against Bären's online offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BaernApotheke
• Instagraminstagram.com/btreff
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/b%C3%A4ren-apotheke

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Bären Apotheke