Switzerland Today
Greetings from Zurich!
A famous high street retail brand - the toy store Franz Carl Weber – has been bought by the German drugstore giant Müller. But being in foreign hands is nothing new for the iconic ‘Swiss’ brand.
In the news: China discusses human rights, more Lausanne riot arrests and the Locarno Film Festival
- Five years after the last talks on human rights, China has agreed to re-engage with Switzerland on the thorny subject.
- A dozen more people have been arrested in connection with the weekend riots in Lausanne, which were inspired by the unrest in France.
- Child abuse appears to be on the rise in Switzerland, according to annual statistics from 20 hospitals.
- A total 17 films are in contention from prizes at the 76th edition of the Locarno Film Festival.
Tour de Suisse fallout
The CH Media group has been analysing the fatal crash during the Tour de Suisse cycle race last month that claimed the life of Swiss rider Gino Mäder and seriously injured another rider.
It turns out that the same Furka pass curve had witnessed a serious accident during an amateur cycle race two years ago when a rider broke several vertebrae and was considered fortunate to survive.
The canton Graubünden authorities had pencilled in a safety check of the curve but had yet to put this into operation as the number of traffic accidents was considered too small for an urgent review.
This includes three motorcycles that went off the road at the same curve between 2016 and 2022 plus a car in 2022.
The speed limit for traffic is 80kmph while Gino Mäder is estimated to have been travelling in excess of 90kmph when he fell.
But it appears that race organisers had earmarked other sections of the steep descent as being more dangerous, according to the media reports.
An official investigation into the fatal accident is ongoing.
Swiss toy shop now German
Many of you reading this will have grown up with the Franz Carl Weber toy store – there are now 23 outlets around Switzerland employing 200 staff.
Founded in 1881, the iconic store is being transferred into German hands with a sale to the German drugstore chain Müller.
But this isn’t the first time the toy store group has been in foreign hands. Previous owners have included the French company Ludendo. It’s part of the nature of modern business.
Franz Carl Weber will continue trading under its own name and there are no immediate signs of store closures.
It is hoped that the German retail giant will provide Franz Carl Weber with extra funding and reduce costs by using its size to buy in goods cheaper.
Bricks and mortar stores have suffered since the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Franz Carl Weber suffered CHF2 million losses in 2020 and faces a constant squeeze from online competition.
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
