Volksapotheke Schaffhausen Ag

What Volksapotheke Schaffhausen Ag does

Volksapotheke Schaffhausen AG is a Swiss cooperative (Genossenschaft) retail pharmacy chain headquartered in Schaffhausen, operating three physical locations across the canton: Im Dorf, Zum Rüden, and Zum Ritter. Founded in 1901 under a member-owned cooperative structure led by Geschäftsführer Beat Müller Frank, the company serves the general population of the Schaffhausen region with prescription and over-the-counter medications, generics, dermocosmetics (Melvita, Goloy 33, Sidefyn, IDUN Minerals), homeopathic preparations, and wellness supplements. Each location carries a differentiated assortment and service profile: Im Dorf features a robotic picking automation system and Sonetik hearing aid distribution; Zum Rüden emphasizes natural cosmetics and a tea bar following its February 2020 renovation; Zum Ritter specializes in complementary medicine and homeopathy consultations.

The company's revenue is generated through two streams: retail pharmacy sales of medications, cosmetics, and supplements, and professional health services including vaccination counseling and administration, health screenings (blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, HbA1c), hearing tests and hearing aid fittings, compression stocking fitting, extended medication reviews, custom micronutrient compounding, and medical taping. Pricing is largely unit-based, with disclosed hearing aid tiers at CHF 495, CHF 795, and CHF 995, and pay-as-you-go transaction billing elsewhere. Distribution combines walk-in retail across three physical locations with a Hauslieferdienst (home delivery) service for immobile customers and an online information and ordering presence. Marketing is supported by a biweekly 's Heftpflaster' health blog, HubSpot CRM-driven email campaigns, and Facebook and Instagram channels.

Volksapotheke leverages partnerships to extend its clinical scope without expanding headcount: Sonetik for hearing care products, HomeCare Nordstern for parenteral nutrition and home care referrals, BFSUG for deaf and hard-of-hearing patient referrals, and altra schaffhausen for disability inclusion initiatives. The digitized Im Dorf location, operating since 2022 with a Kommissionierautomat replacing traditional drawers, represents the company's primary technology differentiator, alongside an online vaccination advisor (Valentin Dachs). No venture capital, institutional ownership, or external parent company is evident; ownership remains local through the cooperative member structure.

Name

Volksapotheke Schaffhausen Ag

Legal name

Volksapotheke Schaffhausen AG

Website

https://volksapotheke.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Volksapotheke Schaffhausen AG is a Swiss cooperative operating three community pharmacies in Schaffhausen, dispensing medications and offering vaccinations, health screenings, hearing care, homeopathy, and dermocosmetics to local consumers under a member-owned Genossenschaft structure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Pharmacy

NAICS

Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (45611)

SIC

Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Retail pharmacy services
• Medication dispensing
• Vaccination services
• Health screenings
• Hearing care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Schaffhausen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Pharmacy Sales: Revenue from selling medications, generics, dermocosmetics, homeopathic products, and health supplements across three pharmacy locations. Products include prescription and over-the-counter medications, skincare products, and natural remedies.
2. Professional Health Services: Revenue generated from health consultation services including vaccination counseling, blood pressure and blood sugar measurements, cholesterol checks, hearing aid sales, and other professional pharmacy services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Volksapotheke Schaffhausen AG operates three community pharmacy locations in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, dispensing prescription and over-the-counter medicines, generics, dermocosmetics, homeopathic remedies and custom micronutrient mixes. Beyond retail dispensing, the cooperative provides professional pharmacy services including vaccinations, complementary-medicine consultations, extended medication reviews (Polymedikations-Check), compression stocking fittings, hearing-aid dispensing, health checks, medical taping, and home delivery to local residents.

Product overview

Volksapotheke Schaffhausen AG operates as a community pharmacy network with three physical locations (Im Dorf, Zum Rüden, and Zum Ritter) offering a unified pharmacy service. The core offering includes prescription medications and generics, OTC products, and dermocosmetics (including Melvita, Goloy 33, Sidefyn, and IDUN Minerals). The three locations have distinct specializations: Im Dorf features digitized robotic dispensing and hearing services; Zum Rüden focuses on natural cosmetics and reform articles; Zum Ritter specializes in homeopathy. Key services encompass vaccination (FSME, COVID-19), health screenings (blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol), hearing aid services (Sonetik products), complementary medicine consultations, compression stockings, wound care, home delivery, and customized micronutrient preparations. The pharmacy also publishes a health blog ('s Heftpflaster) and offers online advisory tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Services approximately 600,000 people with hearing disabilities in Switzerland through hearing care partnerships

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HomeCare NordsterncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeCare Nordstern provides home care services including parenteral nutrition support for patients with conditions like short bowel syndrome. Volksapotheke features their content on their blog and refers patients for home care services, representing a strategic partnership in patient care continuity.
• BFSUG Zürich und Schaffhausen (Beratung für Schwerhörige und Gehörlose)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFSUG is a consulting service for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Volksapotheke refers affected customers to BFSUG for specialized support and collaborates to improve accessibility for hearing-impaired patients.
• SonetikcoreTechnology or IntegrationSonetik is a Swiss company providing GOHear digital mini hearing aids. Volksapotheke offers Sonetik hearing aids at their Im Dorf location, including free hearing tests and trial periods with the devices.
• altra schaffhausenminorStrategic or Co-development Partneraltra schaffhausen provides employment and living support for people with disabilities. Volksapotheke collaborates with altra to support inclusion of people with disabilities and provides a platform for awareness through their blog.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Zur Rose Group: Swiss online pharmacy and B2B pharma distributor with growing DTC prescription business. Represents structural competitive pressure on local pharmacy economics and supply chain leverage.
• DocMorris: Swiss-headquartered online pharmacy capturing prescription and OTC share via direct-to-consumer e-commerce. Threatens Volksapotheke's commodity retail volumes with a digital-first cost structure.

Direct peers

• BENU Apotheken Schweiz: Swiss pharmacy chain with national footprint offering dispensing, vaccinations, and health consultations. Comparable service mix and customer base to Volksapotheke but at materially larger scale.
• Amavita Apotheken: One of Switzerland's largest pharmacy chains, operating hundreds of stores with full dispensing, vaccination, and health screening services. Direct competitor in the Swiss retail pharmacy category with overlapping service offerings.
• Coop Vitality Apotheken: Pharmacy chain co-located with Coop supermarkets offering dispensing, vaccinations, and health checks. Competes for the same walk-in consumer pharmacy traffic as Volksapotheke's locations.
• TopPharm: Swiss cooperative-style pharmacy network with member-owned pharmacies offering dispensing, health services, and consultations. Closest structural analog to Volksapotheke's Genossenschaft model and full-service pharmacy positioning.
• Sun Store: Swiss pharmacy chain owned by GaleniCare, offering dispensing, health advice, and promotions. Competes in the same retail pharmacy category with similar product assortments and promotional pricing tactics.
• Dr. Bähler Drogo Apotheken: Swiss pharmacy chain with multiple locations offering dispensing, natural cosmetics, and complementary medicine. Comparable to Volksapotheke's mix of retail pharmacy plus homeopathy/dermocosmetics positioning.
• Medbase Apotheken: Swiss pharmacy chain integrated with medical centers, offering dispensing alongside vaccinations, screenings, and consultations. Overlaps directly with Volksapotheke's service portfolio and retail model.

Others

• Sonetik: Swiss developer of the GOHear digital hearing aids sold through Volksapotheke. Included as an ecosystem partner illustrating the chain's DME vertical strategy rather than as a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VAschaffhausen
• Instagraminstagram.com/volksapotheke_sh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/volksapotheke-schaffhausen

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 Volksapotheke Schaffhausen Ag