Apotheke zur Eiche AG

What Apotheke zur Eiche AG does

Apotheke zur Eiche AG is a privately held Swiss pharmacy corporation founded in 1832 and headquartered at Platz 9-10 in Herisau, Canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden. The company operates a physical retail pharmacy and a licensed Versandapotheke (mail-order pharmacy) serving end-consumers across Switzerland with prescription fulfillment, OTC products, health supplements, beauty items, and its proprietary Eiche 1832 house brand of pharmacy-manufactured tinctures, salves, capsules, and drops. The online shop ships via Swiss Post with free delivery above CHF 100, accepts invoice payments within 30 days, and is currently rebranding to 'Dropa Apotheke zur Eiche' under the Dropa pharmacy network. Operations are GMP-compliant for manufacturing and supervised by Swissmedic plus cantonal health authorities in Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Zurich.

In parallel, the company operates Pharmavertrieb zur Eiche, a B2B pharmaceutical wholesale division licensed since 1941 that distributes complementary medicine brands — Phönix spagyric and homeopathic remedies (including the Kalantol line), Intercell/BactoFlor probiotic products, and metapharmaka homeopathic medicines — to pharmacies and healthcare providers throughout Switzerland, with weekly order processing on Tuesdays and Thursdays under GDP guidelines and Swissmedic oversight. The wholesale business represents the company's channel-partner revenue stream, while consumer pharmacy sales (including Eiche 1832 private-label products and prescription dispensing) constitute the direct-to-consumer revenue stream.

The business model is built on four revenue streams: consumer retail sales (transaction-based), prescription dispensing (transaction-based with regulatory oversight), Eiche 1832 house brand sales, and B2B wholesale distribution. Pricing is in Swiss Francs with unit pricing on the consumer side and Net 30 invoice terms on the wholesale side. Customer segmentation is hybrid: general health-conscious Swiss consumers and complementary-medicine seekers on the DTC side, and Swiss pharmacies and healthcare providers on the B2B side. The company employs approximately 17 people across pharmacy operations and the wholesale division, is privately held with no external investment or parent company, and is restricted to domestic Swiss operations with no international shipping.

Name

Apotheke zur Eiche AG

Legal name

Apotheke zur Eiche AG

Website

https://eiche.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1832

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Apotheke zur Eiche AG is a privately held Swiss pharmacy founded in 1832 in Herisau, operating a retail and licensed mail-order pharmacy (Versandapotheke) serving Swiss consumers with OTC products, prescriptions, and its Eiche 1832 private label, alongside a B2B wholesale division distributing Phönix, Intercell/BactoFlor, and metapharmaka complementary medicine brands to Swiss pharmacies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Pharmacy

NAICS

Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (45611), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421)

SIC

Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail & Community Pharmacies (Chain/Independent) (HLAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pharmacy & Health Essentials Delivery (CRAFAFAI), Pharmacy Benefit/Channel Services (PSAO, 340B Admin, Chargebacks/Rebates Ops) (CRAOAHAK)

Keywords

• Retail pharmacy services
• Mail-order pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical wholesale distribution
• Pharmacy house brand products
• Complementary medicine pharmacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Herisau, Appenzell Outerrhoden

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Pharmacy Sales (Consumer): Revenue from selling pharmaceutical products, OTC medications, health supplements, and personal care products to end-consumers through both physical pharmacy and online shop.
2. Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution: B2B pharmaceutical distribution through Pharmavertrieb zur Eiche, distributing homöopathic, spagyrical, and probiotic products (Phönix, Intercell, metapharmaka brands) to other pharmacies and healthcare providers in Switzerland.
3. Prescription Medication Dispensing: Revenue from fulfilling prescription medications, with regulatory oversight for controlled substances and mandatory original prescription verification.
4. Eiche 1832 House Brand Products: Sale of proprietary pharmacy-manufactured products under the Eiche 1832 brand, including tinctures, supplements, and topical preparations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Apotheke zur Eiche AG operates a multi-channel pharmacy business: a physical pharmacy in Herisau plus a Swissmedic-licensed mail-order pharmacy (Versandapotheke) selling prescription medications, OTC products, health supplements, and personal care items to consumers across Switzerland. It also runs Pharmavertrieb zur Eiche, a B2B pharmaceutical wholesale division distributing Phönix, Intercell/BactoFlor, and metapharmaka homoeopathic and probiotic products to other pharmacies and healthcare providers. The proprietary Eiche 1832 house brand of pharmacy-manufactured remedies is produced in-house under GMP standards.

Product overview

Apotheke zur Eiche AG operates a multi-channel pharmacy business consisting of: (1) a proprietary private-label product line branded 'Eiche 1832' covering health, wellness, and beauty categories including dietary supplements, herbal remedies, salves, drops, and teas, manufactured in-house or to GMP standards; (2) an e-commerce online pharmacy platform (Versandapotheke) for consumer orders; (3) a physical pharmacy and medical supply store in Herisau, Switzerland; (4) a pharmaceutical wholesale division (Pharmavertrieb) distributing third-party brands including Phönix (spagyric and homeopathic products, Kalantol massage line), Intercell/BactoFlor (probiotic products), and metapharmaka (homeopathic medicines); and (5) branded third-party health and beauty products including A. Vogel, Bepanthen, Burgerstein, and others. The pharmacy is undergoing rebranding to 'Dropa Apotheke zur Eiche.'

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Eiche 1832: House brand product line developed by the pharmacy, including natural remedies, dietary supplements, ointments, drops, and tea blends manufactured in-house or by specified producers according to GMP standards.

Products and services

• Eiche 1832 House Brand Products Proprietary line of pharmacy-manufactured health products including tinctures, drops, capsules, salves, supplements, and topical preparations covering cardiovascular, digestive, immune, nervous system, skin, and other health applications. Produced in-house or to pharmacy specifications under GMP standards.
• Online Pharmacy / Versandapotheke Swissmedic-licensed mail-order pharmacy platform serving Swiss consumers with home delivery of prescription medications, OTC products, health supplements, beauty items, and the Eiche 1832 house brand across Switzerland. Free shipping above CHF 100; next-day delivery for orders placed before 11:00.
• Physical Pharmacy & Sanitätsgeschäft (Medical Supply Store) in Herisau Physical retail pharmacy and medical supply store in Herisau providing prescription dispensing, OTC products, health consultations, and in-store pickup for online orders. Offers compounding services and Appenzeller specialty products.
• Pharmavertrieb zur Eiche (Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution) B2B pharmaceutical wholesale service distributing homoeopathic, spagyric, and probiotic products (Phönix, Intercell, metapharmaka brands) to Swiss pharmacies and authorized healthcare providers under GDP-compliant practices. Orders processed on Tuesdays and Thursdays with net 30-day payment terms.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Phönix Laboratorium GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhönix Laboratorium GmbH produces spagyrische and homöopathische Heilmittel (spagyrical and homeopathic remedies) including the Kalantol care and massage line. Pharmavertrieb zur Eiche distributes these products to Swiss pharmacies.
• Intercell Pharma GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIntercell Pharma GmbH specializes in biological and nutritional medicine preparations, particularly microbiological probiotic products (BactoFlor line). Pharmavertrieb zur Eiche distributes BactoFlor products in Switzerland.
• metapharmaka GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributormetapharmaka GmbH, a subsidiary of German meta Fackler Arzneimittel GmbH, distributes homeopathic medicines with the goal of 'maintaining health in a natural way.' Pharmavertrieb zur Eiche serves as Swiss distributor.
• DropacoreOthersDropa is a pharmacy network/group. Apotheke zur Eiche is rebranding to 'Dropa Apotheke zur Eiche' while maintaining its quality standards and familiar team. Dropa Aktionen promotional campaigns feature 20% discounts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Dropa: Swiss pharmacy network/group under which Apotheke zur Eiche is rebranding. Comparable retail pharmacy offering across multiple Swiss locations, with group-level marketing and supplier leverage that the subject company is now tapping into.
• Phönix Laboratorium GmbH: German-based manufacturer of spagyric and homeopathic remedies; Apotheke zur Eiche is a distribution partner, not a competitor. Included as an adjacent/thematic peer given the overlap in complementary medicine product categories distributed to Swiss pharmacies.

Direct peers

• Müller (Müller Drogerie): Swiss retail chain combining drugstore/pharmacy with health, beauty, and OTC assortment. Comparable community-facing retail pharmacy/OTC proposition, with a much larger multi-store footprint.
• Shop Apotheke: European online pharmacy with active Swiss operation. Comparable mail-order pharmacy/OTC e-commerce model targeting Swiss consumers, with materially larger assortment and operating scale.
• Galexis: Leading Swiss pharmaceutical wholesaler (subsidiary of Galenica). Comparable Pharmavertrieb-style wholesale distribution business supplying Swiss pharmacies, but at vastly larger scale and broader assortment.
• Mediservice (Galexis): Swiss mail-order pharmacy (part of Galexis/Galenica group) dispensing prescription and OTC medications via home delivery. Directly comparable Versandapotheke channel with group-level wholesale supply chain synergies.
• GaleniCare (BENU Apotheken Schweiz): Swiss pharmacy chain (BENU brand) operating community pharmacies and mail-order prescription/OTC fulfillment across Switzerland. Comparable retail-and-online pharmacy proposition, with substantially larger footprint and supplier leverage.
• Amavita Apotheke: Largest Swiss pharmacy chain with both physical locations and online pharmacy operations. Directly comparable retail/community pharmacy model serving Swiss consumers with prescription and OTC products, but at materially larger scale.
• TopPharm Apotheken: Cooperative-style Swiss pharmacy network with shared branding, marketing, and procurement. Directly comparable independent-pharmacy-with-group-affiliation model — analogous to Apotheke zur Eiche's Dropa arrangement.
• DocMorris (Redcare Pharmacy): Swiss-headquartered online pharmacy (now part of Redcare Pharmacy) operating a Versandapotheke model in Switzerland — the same regulatory and demand category as Apotheke zur Eiche's online channel, but at vastly greater scale and with significant digital marketing investment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apotheke-zur-eiche-ag

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Apotheke zur Eiche AG