Appropriate support systems for each partner, new dialogue and presence formats, a revised web presence and new marketing activities strengthen the tire retail network with its 85 partners in the Swiss market. This is having an effect on customers, on network development, and helps with the success of succession arrangements.
Since April, Jan-Philip Münnich from the marketing team at the European GRS headquarters in Cologne has been jointly responsible for activities in Switzerland. “The first months were exciting and I tried to get to know as many Swiss entrepreneurs and tire retail businesses as possible,” says Münnich. “Together with the Swiss team, we have positioned ourselves well and will purposefully further develop what we initiated in 2025 in the coming year.”
A central element of further development is the intensive exchange with partner businesses. In the newly introduced regular dialogue round, practical topics such as pricing, personnel recruitment or digital visibility are the focus. “It is very helpful to exchange ideas informally about current topics and to benefit from the collective knowledge of the network,” says Alain Auer, Managing Director of Auba AG in Buch. The Premio marketing working group also met for the first time in late summer 2025. Five partner businesses in Zurich discussed, among other things, campaign approaches, CRM systems, mailing campaigns and the further expansion of communication channels via social media. In addition, so-called expert meetings took place in eastern Switzerland and Ticino in the autumn, where Marco Fabbro, Manager Retail Switzerland, discussed operational topics such as training, further education and service offerings in a smaller circle together with selected businesses. The aim of all formats is to optimally position the network partners professionally and organizationally for the coming years.
An additional impulse came from the two-day workshop of the Swiss advisory board in June at ABT Sportsline in Kempten. Representatives from GRS, Goodyear, FRi and the 4Fleet Group discussed strategic topics such as network development, digitalization, e-commerce and the positioning of the Premio brand in the Swiss market together with the advisory board. An exclusive tour of the motorsport and development areas of ABT – including a look at the new ABT XGT – rounded off the meeting.
Successful Succession
A well-positioned concept with a clear future strategy helps the tire retail system to retain successful locations with new entrepreneurs. The network can report three successful business transfers in 2025: In German-speaking Switzerland, the business of Urs Grossenbacher, formerly Pneu Stop Winznau, was handed over to a long-time employee: the new Garage PneuStopp GmbH under the management of Boris Bleuer. Together with his partner Nadine Loosli, he now continues to run the business as a GRS partner. In Ticino, Paolo Barbiero, son-in-law of owner Loris Stetler, took over the family business Loris Pneumatici in Arbedo-Castione – the business has been part of the Premio network since 2016 and will continue as a Premio business under new management. In Schlieren, the migration of Pneushop Sergio Pallaoro GmbH to the new Pallaoro Pneushop & Garage GmbH took place in July 2025: Luca Pallaoro, son of the previous owner, takes over responsibility. He now continues to run the business as a Premio partner and has also switched the business to the GRS’s own TireSoft3 merchandise management system. All three examples show how businesses can be successfully handed over to the next generation.
There was also important progress in the digital presence: In summer 2025, the revised website (www.premio.ch) went live. It impresses with a clear design, improved user guidance and an integrated complete wheel configurator.
And on site, partner businesses are also expanding their customer service and setting visible signs for the Premio brand. For example, Pneuhaus Rütihof, which is represented with two garages in Rüti and Rapperswil-Jona on the outskirts of Zurich, invested in its own e-charging station and a Premio-branded Microlino electric vehicle for the current season – a sustainable contribution to a future-oriented presence in the local market.
The expansion of the service offering, systemic further developments and close exchange with partners sustainably strengthen the network and make it fit for future requirements.
