No to alcohol sales – this is how the Migros cooperatives voted – news

While the result was a clear no in Zurich, for example, the decision in western Switzerland was closer.

There has been a debate for months as to whether the country’s second largest retailer should also have alcohol in its range in the future. Emotions were sometimes high: there was talk of betrayal of the legacy of Migros founder Gottlieb Duttweiler. For almost 100 years, the orange giant has not sold beer, wine and schnapps.

The 2.3 million members of the cooperative had until June 4 to put in an “Oui” or “Non”. 632,413 votes came together by post or directly in a Migros branch. This resulted in a clear no – with slight regional differences.

Clear yes in Zurich, tight decision in Ticino

The process started over a year ago. This is not that easy in the large Migros universe. Because instead of one, almost ten votes took place at the same time. In theory, a patchwork would have been possible, with one area allowing the sale of alcohol but not another. But it did not get to that. All ten cooperatives said no.

The project in Zurich was rejected the most. Here, over 80 percent of those voting opposed the sale of alcohol in branches, restaurants and take-aways. The largest Yes share resulted in Ticino with 44.7 percent. The decision in the powerful Aare cooperative, which stretches across the canton borders of Bern, Solothurn and Aargau, was similar to that in Zurich. In Eastern Switzerland, Basel, Lucerne and Neuenburg-Freienburg, the decisions were also clear, each with over 70 percent.

In the run-up to the vote, it was speculated that the mood in French-speaking Switzerland was different from that in German-speaking Switzerland. The wine canton of Valais in particular seemed a possible yes candidate. But here, too, the result was a no-share of over 60 percent.

The situation was similar in the two other large regional cooperatives in western Switzerland, Vaud and Geneva, with 69 and 65 percent, off.

Disillusionment in the leadership – joy at the base

In the run-up to the vote, the leadership of the Migros Cooperative Association MGB had explicitly spoken out in favor of selling alcohol. The aim was to eliminate a supposed disadvantage with the competitors.

The clear no should therefore have ensured sobriety at the headquarters in Zurich. MGB boss Ursula Nord is still conciliatory: “The Migros democracy won,” she says in a press release from the company. It was noted with satisfaction that a uniform decision was reached across all regions.

Something like this is only possible in the Migros community.

Meanwhile, Marianne Meyer, President of the MGB Delegates’ Assembly, emphasizes the democratic nature of the decision: “The impetus to once again discuss the alcohol ban in principle came from the base of the delegates and not from management. Now our base of cooperative members has made an unequivocal decision. Something like this is only possible in the Migros community.”

For weeks, carrier bags were hung in the shops, which were labeled alternately with a yes and a no. As promised earlier, these emblems will now have an afterlife. Migros has announced that it will be adding a non-alcoholic “Non” beer to its range next year.