Migros

Migros operates as Switzerland's largest retailer ($30B+ revenue) under a structure almost extinct elsewhere: a cooperative owned by 2+ million members rather than shareholders. Founded in 1925 by Gottlieb Duttweiler, this ownership model allows optimizing for customer prices rather than investor returns - profits get reinvested in lower prices, store expansion, or member dividends. Migros also maintains unusual policies: no alcohol or tobacco sales (founder's principles), significant vertical integration (own farms, factories, banks), and cultural activities (museums, theaters). This mission-driven model survives because Swiss consumers value quality and social responsibility over pure price competition. Migros proves that in retail, non-profit structures can outcompete capitalist models - but only in wealthy markets valuing more than lowest prices.