50 Years of Catrade
Passionate about sports for over 50 years.
1976
Catrade is founded as “Fritzmeier AG” – a wholly owned subsidiary of "Fritzmeier BRD". It focuses exclusively on distributing Fritzmeier skis in Switzerland. At the start, the company consists of three employees.
1978
From the very beginning, Mistral Surfboards has played a role in building the surfing boom. One year later, the ski business was discontinued in favor of a stronger focus on surfing and surf accessories.
The company now employs 6 people.
Growth & Brand Expansion
Thanks to its commercial success in the surfing business, the company grows to 10 employees and expands its portfolio to include snow sports and outdoor activities.
1990
Either they could buy the company and continue running it on their own account, or they would resign. The deal goes through, and the Swiss management takes the company into private ownership.
The owners René Ritter and Roland Schmid rename their company CATRADE (C = Creative, A = Active, TRADE = commerce).
The new company is therefore a 100% independent, owner-managed Swiss company. Two years later, the third partner, Roland Döbeli, joins the company.
At the beginning of the 1990s, renowned brands such as SOREL Boots, CANADA (the predecessor brand of Kamik), BLIZZARD Skis, and DYNAFIT ski boots are added.
1996
In 1996, the ZIENER brand was also acquired under the general agency model, alongside DIADORA (team sports and football). The brand from Oberammergau, Bavaria, remained a mainstay of CATRADE’s portfolio over the following decades.
1998
In the surfing sector, the company exits the surfboard business and focuses more heavily on Mistral textiles. A year later, a subsidiary is established in Ravensburg (DE), taking over sales activities in Germany and Austria from there.
2002
Blizzard distribution is discontinued, but the company remains in the ski business with ELAN: cooperation for Swiss distribution begins with the ELAN ski brand, which becomes an important part of the company for over 20 years. The brand remains a flagship under the CATRADE umbrella until 2023.
The Swiss brand SIGG (2002) and the snowshoe brand Tubbs (2003) are also added to the portfolio; both remain stable pillars of the CATRADE product range for decades.
2008
The German subsidiary is sold to the supplier Kamik, with the aim of focusing more strongly on the Swiss market. The company in Germany becomes Genfoot Marketing Europe GmbH—the European headquarters of the KAMIK brand.
By this time, 20 people are working on CATRADE’s Swiss team, and the portfolio comprises 14 brands. The owners begin considering their succession in order to hand the company over to new owners. In 2009, an agreement is signed with Didi Schweighauser for the gradual transfer of the company.
2010
Didi Schweighauser takes over management of the company from René Ritter as CEO.
At the same time, Philippe Egli joins as a new employee and partner. In the following years, more employees are integrated, while the previous partners gradually leave.
In the years that follow, Martin Rubitschung and Marcel Walther become partners in the company, ensuring that CATRADE remains owner-managed.
A new management team
Didi Schweighauser (2010)
Philippe Egli (2010)
Martin Rubitschung (2013)
Marcel Walther (2015)
2015
In Büron, LU, new premises with 2,300 m2 of storage space on the site of the former Superba mattress factory are occupied as CATRADE’s headquarters. At the same time, the partner company “Walex GmbH” is integrated, along with its three watersports brands, BIC, Mistral, and Prolimit. This brings the CATRADE team to 22 people.
2017
The Swiss mountain sports clothing brand RADYS from Nidau on Lake Biel has been acquired by CATRADE. The role of producer and brand owner is new for the company. As part of the acquisition, RADYS’s two shops and development team in Büron have been integrated, bringing the team to 31 people.
In 2020, RADYS will once again become an independent brand.
To strengthen the brand and its independence, RADYS will once again operate as an independent AG.
CATRADE will remain involved and take over distribution of the brand, which will retain its headquarters in Büron.
2021
With SPEEDO, a major brand is added to CATRADE’s product range. Through the acquisition of Torau Sport AG from Brittnau, Speedo’s entire Swiss distribution operation and several team members are integrated into CATRADE.
As a result, the warehouse space is being expanded step by step.
In 2022, Marcel Walther becomes a partner at CATRADE.
2024
MIZUNO expands CATRADE’s brand portfolio and, with it, its areas of focus. By taking over the distribution of the long-established Japanese brand, CATRADE also takes over the Sport & Golf Outlet in Pratteln and employees from the previous distribution company.
A year later, MIZUNO makes CATRADE the “official shoe supplier” of the national associations Swiss Volley and swiss unihockey.
Behind the scenes, the warehouse is expanded to 4,500 m2, and the process of finding a successor for Didi Schweighauser begins: a new CEO is being sought.
2026
At the end of 2025, Didi Schweighauser will hand over the role of
CEO to Thomas Distel and will subsequently focus on his strategic role as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
50 years of CATRADE is not only a milestone in the company’s history, but also the starting point for a strategic positioning aimed at a successful future in Swiss specialist sports retail.