Idea

The idea of Migros Culture Percentage goes back to the founder of Migros, Gottlieb Duttweiler. In his spirit, the Federation of Migros Cooperatives and the Migros Cooperatives commit themselves to an annual contribution to the Migros Culture Percentage. The amount of this contribution is based on sales, and continues to be made even during times of downward performance in the retail trade.

This probably unique commitment guarantees the continuity of the Migros Culture Percentage and has been firmly incorporated in the Migros by-laws. It is on an equal footing with commercial success as a Migros corporate objective.

Institutions and projects

The main pillars of the Migros Culture Percentage are institutions in the sectors of culture, society, education, leisure and the economy. They include the Migros Club Schools, the Eurocentres, the GDI Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute in Rüschlikon, the four Green Meadow Parks, the Monte Generoso Railway and the Migros Museum of Contemporary Art in Zurich.

Activities and projects form an additional component of the commitment. In this respect, the Migros Culture Percentage sees itself as a generator of ideas and seeks cooperation with other private and public organisations. Contributing financial support or research prizes for projects and individuals represents an additional service.

Principles

The Migros Culture Percentage is based on the 15 propositions of Adele and Gottlieb Duttweiler as well as the by-laws of the Federation of Migros Cooperatives.

FMC Regulations

In 1957, for the first time the Migros Culture Percentage was fully articulated and incorporated in the contract between the Federation of Migros Cooperatives (FMC) and the Member Cooperatives affiliated with it and firmly embedded in the by-laws.

In the regulations of 2004, which still apply today, the provisions of the Migros Culture Percentage are stated as follows:

«The FMC contributes funds, which form the so-called 'Culture Percentage' for cultural, social and economic policy purposes. (...) The FMC cultural, social and economic policy objectives are on an equal footing with the commercial objectives.»

15 Propositions

In 1950, Gottlieb and Adele Duttweiler published 15 propositions with which they defined the inspirational goals and moral values of Migros. The members of the administration and the board of directors can always refer to these guidelines. The Migros propositions include the following guidance on the Migros Culture Percentage:

«10. The general interest must be placed higher than the interest of the Migros Cooperative. (...) 11. The international Cooperative Foundation in Rüschlikon must be developed and endowed in accordance with the foundation charter. (...)»

The 15 Propositions (D)

Gottlieb Duttweiler

The Migros founder and social politician Gottlieb Duttweiler (1888-1962) placed cultural and social goals on an equal footing with corporate commercial goals. The institution of the Migros Culture Percentage is his legacy.

Gottlieb Duttweiler was born in Zurich on 15 August 1888. He completed a commercial apprenticeship with the colonial trader Pfister & Sigg. Ten years later he became a partner in the firm. After it went bankrupt in 1932, Duttweiler emigrated to Brazil with his wife Adele, where he managed a coffee plantation for one year.

Back in Switzerland, Duttweiler assimilated the experiences he had gained in the trading business. With his Migros AG, established in 1925, he created a sales organisation without middlemen. The success story started with the famous Migros vans. They sold coffee, rice, sugar, noodles, coconut oil and soap at prices up to 40% lower than those of the competition.

Multi-talented pioneer

After the foundation stone was laid for Migros, Duttweiler's social pioneering spirit also began to shape Swiss politics. The party he founded in 1935, the Ring of Independents (LdU), immediately won seven seats in the elections for the National Council of Switzerland.

Duttweiler also committed himself to the idea of a social market economy in his retail business. In 1941, he and his wife allowed their customers to become cooperative members and owners of Migros. The Migros Community was established on democratic principles; the regional public limited companies (AG) became cooperatives.

Enduring effect

The now ten Migros Cooperatives have committed themselves to implementing Duttweiler's spiritual legacy. This also includes his idea of the Migros Culture Percentage.

Gottlieb Duttweiler died on 8 June 1962 in Rüschlikon, near Zurich.