History
From a traditional business to a high-tech logistics company
The historical origins of the Swiss mail order center date back to the 19th century.
Initially founded as a production and trading company for textiles, the predecessor company “Ackermann Versandhaus AG” experienced its heyday from the 1960s to the 1990s.
The construction and commissioning of the high-performance logistics center in 1997 laid the foundation for today’s SVZ Schweizer Versandzentrum AG.
Thanks to entrepreneurial spirit, foresight and visionary ideas, SVZ became what it is today — a highly technological and leading Swiss service provider with full-service logistics.
1900
The first mail order company in Switzerland
The milliner and tailor Johann Achermann founded a factory for processing and finishing textiles in 1843.
The business is continued by the family until 1900, when two of his grandsons open “Gebrüder Ackermann — Fabrikation und Handel mit Tuchwaren” on Bahnhofstrasse in Entlebuch.
This company is entered in the commercial register as the first mail-order company in Switzerland.
The two brothers start shipping textile goods.
The expansion of mail-order activities is facilitated by the opening of the Lucerne — Langnau — Berne railroad line in 1875 and the rapid expansion of the postal service.
1947
Ackermann moves to its current location at Entlebuch railroad station
A phase of expansion begins with the construction and occupation of a new warehouse and sales outlet.
At this time, 40 employees are already working for the mail order company.
The logistical connection to the railroad tracks is of central importance until the end of the century.
1955 to 1970
Expansion in three stages and doubling of capacity
The mail order business experienced its first heyday in the 1960s and 1970s.
The expansion of the postal logistics network and, above all, the economic upturn after the Second World War allowed shopping from the catalog to flourish.
In 1960, “Gebrüder Ackermann” is renamed “Ackermann Versandhaus AG”.
During this phase, sales increase from 1.5 to over 60 million Swiss francs.
1971
Management buy-out
The brothers Karl and Alfred Ackermann sell their shares in the company to a committed trio of managers with a clear vision: to transform the Ackermann mail order company from the number 3 at the time to the number 1 in Switzerland.
Highly indebted at high interest rates but with good ideas, the young managers successfully launched the “turnaround” mission.
A catalog in book format, sales on account instead of prepayment, international procurement and product range diversification form the new basis for the subsequent second heyday, which lasts until the late 1990s.
1982
Takeover of Ackermann Versandhaus AG by Corneliu Sfintesco
From 1982, Corneliu Sfintesco becomes the sole owner of the Ackermann mail order company.
Under his leadership, Ackermann becomes the largest mail-order company in Switzerland and is present in all parts of the country with its own chain of stores.
1991
Takeover of the sawmill and planing mill “ECO AG” by Ackermann Versandhaus AG
The Ackermann mail order company continues to expand.
Over 220 million in sales are now generated with 600 employees and 2.5 million parcels are sent to Swiss households every year.
Due to the continuing expansion, the sawmill and planing mill “ECO AG” is taken over in 1991, with plywood production giving way to a grand vision as early as 1993.
1994
Groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Swiss distribution center
The vision of “Ackermann, the mail order company for the Alpine region”, in which southern Germany, Austria, northern Italy and eastern France are to be served and supplied from Entlebuch in addition to Switzerland, gives the go-ahead for the largest project in the company’s history — the construction of a high-performance mail order center costing 120 million Swiss francs.
1997
Opening of Europe’s most modern logistics center
After three years of construction, Europe’s most modern logistics center is officially opened.
A milestone in the (partially) automated processing of shipping services.
With the mail-order company Charles Veillon SA, the number 2 in Switzerland at the time can also be acquired, which also relocates its mail-order activities to the Entlebuch site from 2004.
This increases the capacity utilization of the facilities and improves profitability.
2001
Independent AG “SVZ Schweizer Versandzentrum AG”
In 2001, “SVZ Schweizer Versandzentrum AG” is founded as an independent logistics service provider, laying the foundation for today’s renowned address for fulfillment logistics.
Over the years, in addition to the mail order company Veillon, which has since merged with Ackermann, other customers can also be acquired for mail order services.
2007
Sale of the Ackermann brand
After the mail-order company Veillon ceased its mail-order activities in 2005, Ackermann was the last independent Swiss mail-order company to cease trading in 2006.
The earlier “No” to the EEA had fundamentally changed the situation and future prospects of mail order companies in Switzerland.
Pressure from other European countries and the technological leap triggered by the advent of the Internet made it impossible to operate profitably.
The “Ackermann” brand is taken over by Quelle AG Germany and later by Quelle Austria and still exists today.
From then on, “SVZ Schweizer Versandzentrum AG” focuses exclusively on fulfillment logistics for third parties.
The first well-known customers are soon acquired and the company quickly establishes an excellent reputation in the Swiss logistics landscape thanks to its outstanding service quality and high level of flexibility.
2010
Retrofit of automated high-bay warehouse for small parts
The initial successes and growing demand justify the investment in a retrofit of the existing systems after just three years.
In this context, the existing small parts high-bay warehouse with its approximately 230,000 containers can be put back into operation.
Various systems are dismantled and converted and new, flexible storage areas are created for the forthcoming rapid growth.
2021
Commissioning of new high-bay warehouse with 21,000 pallet spaces
Eight years later, the logistics department is already reporting the first space problems and so planning begins for another modern and efficient high-bay warehouse: a fully automated high-bay pallet warehouse with 21,000 pallet spaces, 1,000 of which are directly accessible via picking stations.
The warehouse has 8 picking aisles spread over 2 levels and offers a total of 966 picking stations.
The building can finally be put into operation in 2021.
Another logistical highlight of this size and flexibility.
2024
Partner for around 80 customers and employer for 80 employees
Today, SVZ Schweizer Versandzentrum AG offers all-round carefree logistics with around 80 employees and a high-tech infrastructure at its Entlebuch site.
As a proud logistics partner to around 80 well-known customers from the e‑commerce, retail, consumer goods, clothing and pharmaceutical sectors, SVZ Schweizer Versandzentrum AG processes over 1,000,000 orders a year and stores around 80,000 different items with a good 10,000,000 parts.
