Haupt Verlag Ag
Haupt Verlag AG is an independent, family-owned Swiss non-fiction publisher (founded 1906, ~25 staff, Bern) that publishes ~80 new titles per year across nature, history, and design, with flagship botanical/wildlife reference works, a Flora Helvetica plant-identification app, an integrated bookstore, and academic co-publishing via UTB.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1906
- HeadquartersBern, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Haupt Verlag Ag does
Haupt Verlag AG is an independent, family-owned Swiss non-fiction publishing house headquartered at Falkenplatz 14 in Bern, founded in 1906 and now in its fourth generation of family ownership under Verlegerin Patrizia Haupt. The company publishes approximately 80 new titles per year and maintains a backlist of over 700 deliverable titles, concentrated in richly illustrated nature, history, and design/craft categories, with flagship reference works including the Flora Helvetica botanical series, the Atlas der Säugetiere Schweiz und Liechtenstein, and the recently launched 4-volume Flora von Bayern.
The product portfolio is primarily print-based (books in German, French, Italian and other languages, distributed via the company's own webshop, the physical Haupt Buchhandlung, and partners Brockhaus Commission in Germany and Schweizer Buchzentrum in Switzerland), but also includes the Flora Helvetica mobile application — a subscription-based digital plant-identification tool covering ~3,300 Swiss flowering species, co-developed with Info Flora and botanists since 2012 — plus botanical card games, puzzles, and a workshop/event venue (Atelier 14B). The company is a Gesellschafterverlag (shareholder publisher) of UTB GmbH in Stuttgart, extending its reach into German-language academic textbook publishing, and co-founded the forum independent GmbH marketing alliance of ~15 independent publishers.
Haupt's business model is built on one-time book sales (B2C and B2B), recurring subscription revenue from the Flora Helvetica App, workshop and event fees, and academic co-publishing royalties via UTB, with prices ranging from CHF 15 for card games to CHF 178 for flagship reference works. Customer segments span individual nature enthusiasts, academic and scientific users (botanists, zoologists, universities), conservation NGOs, libraries, and the general booktrade. The company is privately held, employs approximately 25 people, does not publish financial results, and was awarded a multi-year BAK structural publishing subsidy for 2026–2028 by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture.
Haupt Verlag Ag firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Haupt Verlag Ag
- Legal name
- Haupt Verlag AG
- Website
- https://haupt.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1906
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Haupt Verlag AG is an independent, family-owned Swiss non-fiction publisher (founded 1906, ~25 staff, Bern) that publishes ~80 new titles per year across nature, history, and design, with flagship botanical/wildlife reference works, a Flora Helvetica plant-identification app, an integrated bookstore, and academic co-publishing via UTB.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Haupt Verlag Ag industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Popular Science, Technology & Nature Trade Publishing (MPAJAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Children’s Nonfiction Educational (Science, History, Nature) (EDAGAIAC)
Keywords
Where Haupt Verlag Ag is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bern
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Haupt Verlag Ag business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Sale of print and digital (e-book) books across categories (Nature, History, Design, Academic). Proximity to 80 new titles per year. Books sold in CHF and EUR through own webshop, physical bookstore, and third-party retailers.
- App Subscriptions: Flora Helvetica App offered as a subscription product (German and French), providing ongoing digital access to plant identification tools.
- Academic/UTB Publishing: Publishing of UTB (Uni-Taschen-Bücher) academic textbooks as co-publisher through UTB GmbH, Stuttgart.
- Retail Bookstore Sales: Direct retail sales at the Haupt Buchhandlung on Falkenplatz 14, Bern, including in-store payments via cash, card, TWINT, and vouchers.
- Workshop and Course Fees: Fees charged for workshops held at Atelier 14B, including cancellation policy with tiered refund structure.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard book titles (CHF) |
| Subscription | Annual | Flora Helvetica App (subscription) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Board games and puzzles |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
Haupt Verlag Ag product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Haupt Verlag AG is an independent Swiss publishing house that publishes approximately 80 new non-fiction titles per year across nature, history, and design categories, plus academic textbooks via UTB. The company operates its own e-commerce webshop (haupt.ch), a physical bookstore (Haupt Buchhandlung), the Atelier 14B event/workshop space, and a subscription-based Flora Helvetica mobile app for plant identification.
Product overview
Haupt Verlag AG is an independent Swiss non-fiction publishing house (founded 1906) with international reach, operating a publishing house, bookstore, and Atelier 14B event space in Bern. The company publishes approximately 80 new titles annually across nature/science, history, and design/craft categories. Core products include the flagship Flora Helvetica botanical series (books, app, and card games), major wildlife atlases (mammals, birds), and high-quality illustrated reference works. The product portfolio consists of physical books in multiple languages (German, French, Italian), the Flora Helvetica subscription mobile app for iOS/Android, educational card games, and related digital content. The company serves nature enthusiasts, botanists, researchers, and general readers in German-speaking regions and beyond.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Atelier 14B: Workshop space and event location operated by the Buchhandlung in the courtyard of the publishing building, hosting workshops for designers and cultural events.
- UTB (Uni-Taschenbücher)
Products and services
- Haupt Verlag Books (Nature, History, Design, Academic) High-quality non-fiction and specialist books published in German, French, Italian, and other languages, focused on richly illustrated nature guides, botanical and zoological reference works, Swiss heritage, history, and design/craft manuals. Sold to consumers, libraries, and academic institutions.
- Flora Helvetica Book Series Comprehensive botanical reference works covering Swiss flora, including the illustrated Flora Helvetica and Excursion Flora. Available in German and French editions. Target audience includes botanists, students, and amateur naturalists.
- Flora Helvetica App Mobile subscription application for botanical identification in Switzerland, featuring identification keys and species portraits for approximately 3300 flowering plants. Available as annual subscription in German and French.
- Atlas der Säugetiere – Schweiz und Liechtenstein Comprehensive reference work documenting all 99 wild mammal species in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, with scientific species portraits, photographs, and distribution maps. Available in German, French, and Italian. 2nd edition 2023.
- Flora von Bayern (4-volume set) Four-volume reference set documenting all approximately 6000 plant species historically and currently in Bavaria, with 2880 pages, around 3200 distribution maps, and 2500 photographs. Targets botanists, researchers, libraries, and institutions.
- Flora Helvetica Card Games (Memo-Spiel, Quartett-Spiel) Educational botanical-themed card games including memory matching and quartet trading card games featuring Swiss flora species photographed by Konrad Lauber. Sold for educational and family use.
- Der Wolf – Ein Grenzgänger zwischen Natur und Kultur 216-page hardcover book documenting wolves in the Alpine region and Switzerland, featuring extensive photography by Heinrich Haller. Bibliophile edition in large landscape format (30 x 24 cm).
- Der Kolkrabe – Totenvogel, Götterbote, tierisches Genie Comprehensive work on ravens (Corvus corax) documenting their biology, ecology, and cultural significance, with extensive photography by Heinrich Haller.
- Das illustrierte Pflanzen-Glossar / Le glossaire illustré pour la botanique de terrain Illustrated botanical terminology reference covering approximately 2000 terms for plant identification, with over 1000 detailed scientific drawings. Available in German and French editions.
- Botanische Grundkenntnisse auf einen Blick Visual reference guide covering 40 common Central European plant families. 3rd edition 2026, 320 pages with diagrams, photographs, and species portraits. Companion guide for botanical study.
- Haupt Buchhandlung (Physical Bookstore) Physical bookstore at Falkenplatz 14, Bern, offering broad general book selection plus specializations in children's books, nature, design, and architecture. Accepts cash, card, TWINT, and vouchers. Open Monday through Saturday.
- Atelier 14B (Workshops & Events) Workshop and event space in the courtyard of the publishing building at Falkenplatz 14, Bern, hosting workshops for designers, craft courses, author readings, and cultural events.
- UTB Academic Textbooks Academic textbooks published under the UTB (Uni-Taschenbücher) imprint as co-publisher through UTB GmbH in Stuttgart, serving universities, students, and instructors in the German-speaking academic market.
Quantifiable outcome
- Flora Helvetica App covers approximately 3300 flowering plant species of Switzerland with determination keys
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Haupt Verlag Ag
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Haupt Verlag Ag technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Haupt Verlag Ag partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Schweizer Buchzentrum, HägendorfcoreSwiss distribution partner since July 2020 for Haupt's over 700 deliverable titles, replacing the previous Swiss distribution arrangement.
- forum independent GmbH, KölncoreHaupt co-founded this joint booktrade marketing alliance with ~15 independent publishers in 2007 to strengthen market presence in Germany. Today the consortium collectively conducts booktrade marketing activities.
- UTB GmbH, StuttgartcoreHaupt is a Gesellschafterverlag (partner/publishing shareholder) of UTB GmbH, co-publishing the red UTB academic textbooks since 1971. This partnership extends the company's reach into the German-language academic market.
- Brockhaus Kommission GmbH, KornwestheimcoreExclusive German distribution partner since 1966. Brockhaus handles all shipments to Germany and export customers, managing customs, data processing under GDPR contracts, and logistics from Kornwestheim, Germany.
- Info FloracoreInfo Flora is the national data and information centre for Swiss flora. Haupt collaborates with Info Flora on botanical publications including the Flora Helvetica App, Flora Helvetica – Exkursionsflora, and Flore d'excursion.
- Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Wildtierbiologie (SGW)coreSwiss Wildlife Biology Society, a specialist group within SCNAT. Collaborated on the landmark 'Atlas der Säugetiere – Schweiz und Liechtenstein', edited by the society with over 70 contributing authors.
- Swiss National ParkminorAuthor Heinrich Haller, former director of the Swiss National Park, has published multiple titles through Haupt including works on the National Park's fauna, wildlife, and ecological monitoring.
- BUCH CONTACT, FreiburgminorPress agency handling media relations and review copy distribution for Haupt in Germany and Austria. Contracted for data processing under GDPR.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Haupt Verlag Ag competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kosmos Verlag: Stuttgart-based publisher of nature guides, science books, and games/experiments. Directly comparable to Haupt's flagship categories: illustrated field guides, naturalist handbooks, and educational nature content for both adults and children.
- Eugen Ulmer Verlag: Stuttgart-based independent German publisher specializing in horticulture, agriculture, and nature books. Closely comparable to Haupt Verlag in editorial focus (nature/garden reference), customer base (professionals and enthusiasts), and specialty non-fiction positioning within the DACH market.
- GRÄFE UND UNZER Verlag: Munich-based publisher of gardening, nature, cooking, and lifestyle non-fiction. Strong overlap with Haupt's garden book program (e.g., 2017 Deutscher Gartenbuchpreis overlap) and shares the German-speaking illustrated non-fiction trade book model.
Broad incumbents
- Orell Füssli: Historic Zurich-based Swiss publishing and retail group with a broad non-fiction portfolio. Comparable Swiss independent publishing footprint, but operates at much larger scale and across a wider category range including fiction, education, and professional books.
- Wiley-VCH: Weinheim-based scientific and academic publisher (subsidiary of John Wiley & Sons). Comparable in producing German-language scientific reference works and scholarly content, particularly in life sciences and natural history.
- Springer Nature: Global scientific and academic publisher with extensive natural sciences and reference book portfolio. Overlaps with Haupt in botanical and zoological reference works, but operates at vastly larger scale across journals, books, and digital platforms.
Regional players
- Schwabe Verlag: Basel-based independent Swiss academic and humanities publisher. Comparable as a Swiss independent publisher with deep scholarly ties (UTB cooperation, academic list, university channels), though focused on humanities rather than natural sciences.
- NZZ Libro: Zurich-based non-fiction imprint of NZZ Mediengruppe. Comparable as a Swiss German-language non-fiction publisher serving similar educated readerships, with overlap in history, science, and current-affairs titles.
- Rotpunktverlag: Zurich-based independent Swiss publisher of non-fiction, history, and society titles. Comparable as a mid-sized independent Swiss publisher serving the DACH German-language market with curated non-fiction.
- Ammann Verlag: Zurich-based independent Swiss publisher with literary and non-fiction titles. Comparable as a Swiss independent publisher operating without institutional ownership, focused on quality non-fiction for German-speaking readers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Haupt Verlag Ag social profiles
Digital presenceHaupt Verlag Ag compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Haupt Verlag Ag financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Haupt Verlag Ag leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Haupt Verlag Ag subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Haupt Verlag Ag funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Haupt Verlag Ag M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Haupt Verlag Ag
What does Haupt Verlag Ag do?
Haupt Verlag AG is an independent Swiss publishing house that publishes approximately 80 new non-fiction titles per year across nature, history, and design categories, plus academic textbooks via UTB. The company operates its own e-commerce webshop (haupt.ch), a physical bookstore (Haupt Buchhandlung), the Atelier 14B event/workshop space, and a subscription-based Flora Helvetica mobile app for plant identification.
Is Haupt Verlag Ag a public or private company?
Haupt Verlag Ag is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Haupt Verlag Ag founded?
Haupt Verlag Ag was founded in 1906. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Haupt Verlag Ag based?
Haupt Verlag Ag is headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Haupt Verlag Ag make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are app Subscriptions, academic/UTB Publishing, retail Bookstore Sales and workshop and Course Fees.
Who are Haupt Verlag Ag's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kosmos Verlag, Eugen Ulmer Verlag and GRÄFE UND UNZER Verlag. Broad incumbents are Orell Füssli, Wiley-VCH and Springer Nature. Regional players are Schwabe Verlag, NZZ Libro, Rotpunktverlag and Ammann Verlag.
Does Haupt Verlag Ag have an API?
No public API is recorded for Haupt Verlag Ag.
What industry is Haupt Verlag Ag in?
Haupt Verlag Ag's product category is Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAJ, Popular Science, Technology & Nature Trade Publishing, with a secondary code of EDAGAIAC, Children’s Nonfiction Educational (Science, History, Nature). Its NAICS code is 51313 and its SIC code is 2731.