What Werkheim Uster does

Werkheim Uster is a Swiss foundation (Stiftung) headquartered in Uster, Canton of Zürich, providing supported living and vocational services for people with cognitive disabilities. The organization operates a platform-plus-modules architecture across eight distinct business units: Mehrwerk (mechanics, assembly, logistics, e-commerce fulfillment), Gartenraum (garden construction, maintenance, forestry, funeral floristry), 8610 Gastronomie (full-service restaurant plus self-service restaurant in the Loren quarter, banquets, seminars), Kunstvoll (textile atelier, handmade cards, upcycling), Blickreich (secondhand fashion retail and online shop), Hauskraft (property maintenance, cleaning, laundry), Geschenkreich (Shopify-hosted e-commerce), and Einsatz vor Ort (on-site job placement at partner companies including IKEA, Lenzlinger, and Belimo). Residential offerings span shared living, high-independence apartments, youth housing, intensive support, nursing care, and ambulatory support under the SEBE (Selbstbestimmtes Leben in der eigenen Wohnung) financing model.

The technology stack is operationally conventional rather than differentiated: a TYPO3 website, Shopify for e-commerce, MailChimp for newsletters, and as of 2025 a new Abacus ERP system combined with targeted AI tools for internal process automation and administrative workload reduction. The organization is governed by a 9-member Foundation Council (Stiftungsrat) chaired by Annemarie Beglinger and led operationally by Geschäftsleiter Patrick Stark, with a 5-member executive board and approximately 20 additional department, operations, and specialist managers across business units. An Inklusionsrat (Inclusion Council) representing residents, workers, and employees brings stakeholder voice directly into management and foundation-level decisions.

Revenue is structurally diversified across three streams: (1) statutory funding from the Cantonal Social Office and Invalidenversicherung for support and guidance of disabled employees and residents, which is ring-fenced and does not cross-subsidize commercial operations; (2) market-rate product and service sales from the Betriebe (commercial businesses), including restaurant revenues, retail, garden, cleaning, laundry, mechanics, assembly, and logistics contracts; and (3) donations and sponsorship supporting events such as the Greifenseelauf charity run. No public pricing is disclosed and no revenue figures are publicly available. Geographic reach is concentrated in the Canton of Zürich with partner placements including IKEA Dietlikon and Belimo Hinwil.

Name

Werkheim Uster

Legal name

Werkheim Uster (Stiftung)

Website

https://werkheim-uster.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Werkheim Uster is a Swiss foundation operating eight business units (gastronomy, retail, garden, mechanics, cleaning, laundry, crafts, e-commerce) to provide supported living, vocational training, and integrative workplace placements for people with cognitive disabilities in the Canton of Zürich.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Social Services

NAICS

Facilities Support Services (56121), Food Service Contractors (722310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Disability social services
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Supported employment
• Residential care services
• Workshop production

Headquarters

HQ city

Uster

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Cantonal Sozialamt (Cantonal Social Office) and Invalidenversicherung (IV/Swiss disability insurance) fund the additional costs of guidance and support for employees with disabilities. These funds do not cross-subsidize orders from the economy.
2. Product and Service Sales: Revenue from restaurant operations, retail sales (Blickreich), garden services, cleaning, laundry, mechanics, assembly, and logistics services provided to businesses.
3. Donations and Sponsorship: Donations and sponsorship support for sports programs and organizational activities, such as the charity run at Greifenseelauf.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Werkheim Uster is a Swiss foundation providing integrated living and working services for people with cognitive disabilities. It operates multiple business units including restaurants (8610 Gastronomie), mechanics and logistics (Mehrwerk), garden services (Gartenraum), textile and craft production (Kunstvoll), secondhand retail (Blickreich), facility services (Hauskraft), and integrative workplace placement at partner companies. The organization is primarily funded by the Cantonal Social Office and Swiss disability insurance (Invalidenversicherung/IV), supplemented by commercial revenue from its business operations and donations.

Product overview

Werkheim Uster is a social services foundation that operates as a multi-business enterprise providing living and working support for people with disabilities. The organization functions as a platform-plus-modules architecture comprising eight distinct operational units: (1) Mehrwerk for mechanics, assembly, and logistics; (2) Gartenraum for garden and landscaping services; (3) Kunstvoll for textile and craft production including hand-woven textiles and handmade cards; (4) Blickreich for secondhand fashion retail and upcycling; (5) Hauskraft for building maintenance, cleaning, and laundry; (6) 8610 Gastronomie operating two restaurant brands (8610 Restaurant and 8610 im Mehrwerk) plus banquets and events; (7) an online shop (Geschenkreich) for products; and (8) Einsatz vor Ort job placement services at partner companies. The organization also provides residential living options including shared living, independent living apartments, youth housing, intensive support, and nursing care. Employees with and without disabilities work together across all business units, with professional staff providing supervision and quality control.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 8610 Gastronomie: Gastronomy operations including 8610 Restaurant, 8610 im Mehrwerk self-service restaurant, bankette, seminars and events
• Mehrwerk
• Gartenraum
• Hauskraft
• Kunstvoll
• Blickreich
• 8610 Restaurant
• 8610 im Mehrwerk

Products and services

• Wohnen (Residential Living Services) Comprehensive residential services for people with cognitive disabilities ranging from highly independent living (SEBE), shared community living, youth housing, intensive support, residential care with nursing, to ambulatory housing support. Includes health support and recreational/holiday programs.
• Mehrwerk (Mechanics and Logistics) Mechanics, assembly, and logistics operations providing industrial manufacturing services including mechanical work, assembly, confectioning and shipping, and online shop logistics for B2B customers.
• Gartenraum (Garden and Landscaping) Garden and landscaping operations including garden construction and maintenance, funeral floristry, herbs and vegetables cultivation, and forestry work for residential and commercial customers.
• 8610 Restaurant Full-service restaurant on the Werkheim Uster campus at Friedhofstrasse 3a offering seasonal cuisine, wine selection, and garden terrace. Hosts banquets, celebrations, and events for up to 120 persons.
• 8610 im Mehrwerk Self-service restaurant in the Loren industrial quarter of Uster offering balanced lunch menus and snacks throughout the workday. Also provides seminar facilities for up to 20 persons.
• Kunstvoll (Textile and Craft Atelier) Art and craft workshop producing hand-woven textiles from natural fibers, handmade cards for special occasions, and upcycled products. Includes a textile atelier, card production, and studio retail space.
• Blickreich (Secondhand Fashion Retail) Secondhand fashion and upcycling retail store at Apothekerstrasse 8, Uster. Offers secondhand clothing for adults and high-quality handcraft products from social institutions, with an attached upcycling workshop. Open Tuesday-Friday 9:00-18:00, Saturday 9:00-16:00.
• Hauskraft (Facility Services) Building maintenance services including facility management, cleaning, and laundry services for properties, businesses, and households in the Uster region. Customers include Spital Uster AG and Schulzahnklinik Uster-Greifensee.
• Geschenkreich Online Shop E-commerce platform selling Werkheim products including hand-woven textiles, handmade cards, and gift items. Hosted by Shopify.
• Einsatz vor Ort (Integrative Workplace Placement) Job coaching and placement services placing employees with disabilities at partner companies in various sectors including production, logistics, gastronomy, and gardening. The organization handles all administration and insurance. Partners include IKEA Dietlikon, Lenzlinger und Söhne AG, and Belimo Hinwil.

Quantifiable outcome

• 38 runners participated in the 2025 charity run - a participation record
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Schibli (Firma)minorOthers · 1 January 2025Main sponsor of the 2025 Werkheim charity run at Greifenseelauf. Firmenschibli generously supported the event both financially and with active participation.
• IKEA (Dietlikon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIKEA provides integrative workplace opportunities for Werkheim employees in house services. IKEA values Werkheim as a reliable partner sharing their inclusion values. Felix Kübler (People & Culture Manager) praised the partnership for enabling joint efforts to help people.
• Lenzlinger und Söhne AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership where Werkheim employees work in house services and at gas stations. Ardian Drini has been working there for several years, handling cleaning, plants, and regular gas station checks. Lenzlinger highly values the partnership.
• Belimo (Hinwil)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelimo in Hinwil is mentioned as a partner where Werkheim employees work on integrative workplace placements, part of developing low-threshold pathways to more participation and independence.
• Spital Uster AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpital Uster is a key customer of Werkheim's Hauskraft operation, using property maintenance services. The hospital values Werkheim as an absolutely reliable partner with thorough, friendly, and motivated staff.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Heime und Werkstätten NWS: Schaffhausen-based foundation operating homes and sheltered workshops for people with disabilities, similar in mission and structure but serving a different Swiss canton, making it a regional comparable rather than direct competitor.

Direct peers

• AXIS Sozialunternehmen: Bern-area social enterprise providing vocational integration, residential services, and B2B services for people with disabilities, operating a similar mixed funding model combining government contracts and market-rate business activity.
• Stiftung Heilsarmee Sozialwerk: Swiss arm of a charitable organization that runs social enterprises (collection logistics, second-hand retail, gastronomy) employing people with marginal labor-market access, comparable in operating social businesses at scale.
• Brühlgut Stiftung: Winterthur-area foundation operating sheltered workshops, residential living, and B2B services for people with disabilities, mirroring Werkheim's combined Wohnen, Arbeiten, and Betriebe structure in a nearby Swiss German market.
• Stiftung Arbeitskette: Zürich-based social foundation providing work and integration opportunities for people with disabilities; directly named by Werkheim as the counterpart in the 2025 Kitchenbattle Zürich competition, making it the closest comparable organization.
• Stiftung Contenti: Luzern-based social foundation that combines supported housing, vocational training, and revenue-generating business units for people with disabilities; comparable multi-business social enterprise model in another Swiss canton.

Broad incumbents

• Pro Infirmis: Switzerland's largest disability advocacy and service organization, providing consultation, supported living, and inclusion services nationwide; a broader incumbent that overlaps with Werkheim in Wohnen and Inclusion services.
• Caritas Schweiz: National umbrella social services organization that delivers social welfare, integration, and training programs at much larger scale; broader in scope than Werkheim but competes for the same Cantonal funding pools and donor attention.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/werkheim_uster
• Facebookfacebook.com/WerkheimUster
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/werkheim-uster

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Werkheim Uster