Blaues Kreuz Zürich

What Blaues Kreuz Zürich does

Blaues Kreuz Zürich is a non-profit cantonal association (Kantonalverband) of the Blaues Kreuz Schweiz federation, headquartered at Mattengasse 52 in Zürich and operating in the Canton of Zürich since its formal establishment on May 21, 1888 (with roots to the 1877 founding of the original Blue Cross by Louis-Lucien Rochat in Cossonay). The organization provides free, confidential addiction counseling and self-help group support to individuals with problematic alcohol use (and related cannabis or cocaine use), to affected family members, and to municipalities seeking alcohol and tobacco test purchases. It also runs youth prevention programs, notably the roundabout and boyzaround street-dance initiatives, the Groovity Dance Camp, Dry January campaigns, and the Blue Cocktail Bar.

The service portfolio is delivered through two physical Beratungsstellen in Zürich and Winterthur, self-help groups across community locations, the Safezone online counseling platform, the NoA-Coach-App, and AUDIT-based and co-dependency self-tests. A parallel integration program at Brocki Winterthur offers structured day programs and social/vocational integration for adults with risky substance use. The organization is financed entirely through donations and the profits of three Blaukreuz-Brockenstuben (secondhand stores) in Bülach, Dübendorf (1,500 m² after a 2020 renovation) and Winterthur, with supplementary income from meeting-room rentals near Zürich HB; it explicitly does not receive government or healthcare funding.

Name

Blaues Kreuz Zürich

Legal name

Blaues Kreuz Kantonalverband Zürich

Website

https://zh.blaueskreuz.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Blaues Kreuz Zürich is a non-profit cantonal association providing free, confidential alcohol addiction counseling, youth prevention and social integration services in Canton Zürich, funded by donations and three Brockenstuben thrift stores in Bülach, Dübendorf and Winterthur.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Addiction Counseling and Prevention Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Outpatient Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Programs (HLAFABAD)

Keywords

• Addiction counseling services
• Substance abuse prevention
• Social integration services
• Secondhand retail
• Youth prevention programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations: Funded entirely through donations and proceeds from Brockenstuben (thrift stores). Does not receive government or healthcare funding.
2. Brockenstuben (Thrift Stores): Three Brockis in Bülach, Dübendorf, and Winterthur sell secondhand goods. Profits support the organization's free counseling and prevention services.
3. Meeting Room Rental: Three meeting rooms of varying sizes are rented out at fair conditions near Zürich HB for trainings, consultations, meetings, seminars and workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Blaues Kreuz Zürich provides free, confidential, and unbureaucratic addiction counseling, therapy referrals, and self-help groups for individuals with alcohol and other substance use problems, as well as their family members. It also delivers prevention programs including youth street dance (roundabout/boyzaround), mystery test purchases of alcohol and tobacco for municipalities, and an alcohol-free Blue Cocktail Bar initiative. The organization runs three Brockenstuben (thrift stores) in Bülach, Dübendorf, and Winterthur whose proceeds fund the free services.

Product overview

Blaues Kreuz Zürich operates as a single unified social services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected addiction counseling, prevention, and integration services. The core offering consists of free, confidential counseling and self-help group support for individuals affected by alcohol and addiction (Beratung und Selbsthilfe) and their relatives. Prevention programs (Prävention) include the roundabout and boyzaround street dance initiatives for youth, alcohol and tobacco test purchases for municipalities, and the Blue Cocktail Bar. The organization operates three Blaukreuz-Brockis (secondhand stores) in Bülach, Dübendorf, and Winterthur as a key funding mechanism. Additional services include social and vocational integration programs, online counseling via SafeZone, self-assessment tests, and meeting room rentals at the Zurich headquarters. These offerings are funded entirely through donations and Brocki profits, with no public health funding, enabling independent and agile operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• roundabout: Streetdance program for girls and young women, providing media-free leisure activities and opportunities for friendship and exchange
• boyzaround
• Blue Cocktail Bar
• Blaukreuz-Brockis / Blaukreuz-Brockenstuben
• Schoggichäfer

Products and services

• Beratung und Selbsthilfe (Counseling and Self-Help) Free, confidential counseling and therapy referrals plus self-help groups for individuals with alcohol and addiction problems and their family members. Delivered in-person at Beratungsstellen in Zürich and Winterthur, via online channels (Safezone), and through peer impulse conversations.
• Prävention (Prevention) Youth and community prevention programs including street dance (roundabout/boyzaround), alcohol and tobacco test purchases conducted on behalf of municipalities, and the Blue Cocktail Bar alcohol-free initiative.
• Alkohol- und Tabaktestkäufe (Alcohol and Tobacco Test Purchases) Mystery shopping and test purchase programs executed on behalf of municipalities to enforce youth protection laws regarding alcohol and tobacco sales, including follow-up criminal complaints (e.g., 2022 complaints against Coop and Denner).
• Blaukreuz-Brockis (Secondhand Stores) Three physical secondhand stores in Bülach, Dübendorf (1,500 m2), and Winterthur selling donated clothing, household items, furniture, electronics, and books at reduced prices; proceeds fund the organization's free counseling services.
• Integration (Social and Vocational Integration) Social and vocational integration services offering structured day programs, employment support, and meaningful activity for adults with risky substance use or those seeking daily structure, delivered through the integration workplace in Brocki Winterthur.
• Online-Beratung (Online Counseling via Safezone) Secure, confidential, free online counseling via the Safezone platform for individuals with questions about alcohol or other addiction problems.
• Online-Tests (Self-Assessment Tests) Digital self-assessment tools including an AUDIT-based Selbsttest for problematic alcohol consumption and a Mitbetroffenheitstest for relatives of affected individuals.
• Sitzungszimmer mieten (Meeting Room Rental) Rental of three equipped meeting rooms of varying sizes (capacities up to 40, 20, 15, and 10 persons) near Zürich main station for trainings, consultations, meetings, seminars, and workshops.
• roundabout (Streetdance for girls and young women) Streetdance program for girls and young women offering media-free leisure activities, friendship building, and substance-free socialization across Zürich, Aargau, and Zentralschweiz.
• boyzaround (Streetdance for boys and young men) Streetdance program for boys and young men providing media-free leisure activities, friendship building, and substance-free socialization in Zürich.
• Blue Cocktail Bar (Alcohol-Free Cocktail Bar) Non-alcoholic cocktail bar offering alcohol-free drink alternatives for events and gatherings, promoting substance-free social activities.
• Dry January Campaign Annual campaign encouraging participants to abstain from alcohol during January, promoting alcohol-free lifestyle choices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 100,000 children in Switzerland grow up in alcohol-affected families, addressed through family support programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• FSKZ (Fachstellen im Kanton Zürich)coreOthersBlaues Kreuz Zürich is a member of FSKZ, the association of specialized addiction agencies in Canton Zürich. This is a core membership that connects the organization with the cantonal addiction service network.
• Blaues Kreuz Schweiz (Dachverband)coreOthersNational umbrella organization of the Blue Cross movement in Switzerland. Blaues Kreuz Zürich is the Zürich cantonal association under this national umbrella.
• International Blue CrossminorOthersGlobal network of Blue Cross organizations worldwide, providing international knowledge exchange and best practices.
• Forel Klinik ZürichmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAddiction clinic in Ellikon a.d. Thur. Historical connection through Heinrich Bosshard, co-founder of the clinic and first Zurich Blue Cross section founder.
• Gemeinnütziger Frauenverein BülachmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuccessful cooperation for over 10 years in operating Blaukreuz-Brocki Bülach. Provides community support and volunteer workforce.
• Sucht SchweizminorOthersSwiss Addiction Association. Linked as a resource for addiction research and policy.
• Fachverband SuchtminorOthersProfessional association for addiction professionals in Switzerland.
• Anonyme Alkoholiker (AA) Region ZürichminorOthersListed as a partner for self-help resources, providing referrals and complementary support options.
• Raisenow AGminorOthersService provider for online donation processing. Provides secure, SSL-encrypted online donation transactions with payment options including Twint, Mastercard, VISA, American Express, and Diners.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Heilsarmee Schweiz: Swiss arm of The Salvation Army providing addiction support, social services, and second-hand retail (Brocki-like stores). Comparable donation + thrift-store funding model and addiction-counseling activities at national scale.
• Caritas Zürich: Large regional arm of Caritas Switzerland operating in Canton Zürich across social welfare, integration, and family support. Comparable scale of donation-funded social-services delivery, but not focused on addiction.
• Sucht Schweiz: Swiss national addiction association providing research, policy, and prevention resources. Comparable in subject matter but functions as an industry/thought-leadership body rather than a direct counseling provider.

Direct peers

• Forel Klinik: Addiction clinic in Ellikon an der Thur with deep historical ties to Blaues Kreuz Zürich via co-founder Heinrich Bosshard. Comparable client population (alcohol addiction) but delivers residential/clinical care rather than outpatient counseling.
• Blaues Kreuz Schweiz: National umbrella of the Blue Cross movement in Switzerland. Same mission, same brand, same service taxonomy (Beratung, Prävention, Integration) — operates at federation rather than cantonal level.
• Blaues Kreuz Aargau/Luzern: Sister cantonal Blue Cross association covering Aargau and Lucerne under the same national umbrella. Direct sibling in service model, funding approach, and youth prevention portfolio (roundabout expansion region).

Regional players

• ARUD Zentrum für Suchtmedizin: Zürich-based outpatient addiction medicine provider offering low-threshold medical and psychosocial care for substance use. Comparable geography and target population, but delivers medically integrated services including opioid substitution.
• Sozialwerk Pfarrer Sieber: Zürich-based social services nonprofit offering emergency aid, medical care, and integration support to marginalized populations. Comparable donation-funded nonprofit model and Zürich footprint, but with a broader social-services rather than addiction-specific remit.

Others

• Fachverband Sucht: Swiss professional association for addiction professionals. Industry-body peer that sets standards and represents the same specialist workforce Blaues Kreuz employs.

Emerging players

• Anonyme Alkoholiker Region Zürich: Fellowship-based peer recovery program listed as a Blaues Kreuz partner. Comparable end-user population and recovery support, but operates as a volunteer-led mutual-aid model rather than a staffed counseling service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/blaukreuzbrocki.buelach
• Instagraminstagram.com/blaukreuzbrocki.buelach
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blaueskreuz-zh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Blaues Kreuz Zürich