That’s why Roberto Martullo saves Künzli’s shoes: “Such a Swiss icon must not disappear”
Magdalena Martullo-Blocher’s husband will take over the Windisch-based company from January, which was on the verge of closing recently. For him, whose parents have worked in shoe factories for years, it is a project close to his heart, he says.
The owner of Künzli, Barbara Artmann, found the ideal successor in Roberto Martullo, as she says.
Traditional Swiss shoe manufacturer Künzli can continue its business activities. After the closure of the Windisch plant was announced in September, a prominent buyer was found: Roberto Martullo, husband of EMS Chemicals boss and SVP National Advisor Magdalena Martullo-Blocher.
“The traditional Swiss company must not be lost,” Roberto Martullo was quoted in a media statement on Wednesday. «Künzli with my youth. My sneakers and soccer shoes were from Künzli and I preferred them. I couldn’t let this Swiss icon go.”
On the same day, the company invited people to a media conference in Windisch at short notice. Roberto Martullo testified that he was emotionally affected by the threatened closure of the company. Not only because of Künzli as a brand: his parents worked in shoe factories for 40 years, and for a long time at Bally. “As a child, I was always in the factory, running around the warehouse, growing up smelling the shoes.”
Roberto Martullo will take over at Künzli Schuhe in January 2025.
Another traditional family company
With the takeover of Künzli Schuhe, the Martullo-Blocher family is investing in another traditional Swiss brand, like the takeover of the Basel “Läckerli Huus” by Miriam Blocher in 2007. The companies EMS-Chemie, Dottikon ES, various newspapers and the Musikinsel Rheinau Foundation is also part of the family portfolio.
When asked about this, Roberto Martullo made it clear that Künzli Shoes was a project close to his personal heart. He wants to combine his entrepreneurial skills with his love for Switzerland. “My strength is in sales and marketing. I want to use that.” It is certain that Künzli Schuhe can achieve much more in this area in particular.
The orthopedic shoe sector is established and doing very well. On the other hand, he would definitely like to expand the sneaker area and refresh the product as well. “These are costume shoes, you can start there.”
For a short time, Künzli also focused on new subjects.
Before this he was a discreet messenger for CEOs
For the past 25 years, Roberto Martullo has been working as a discreet personnel recruiter for senior management and CEOs. This gave him an insight into many industries, as he said. He will formally take over Künzli in January 2025. To ensure a clean transfer of knowledge, the current owner, Barbara Artmann, will remain at Künzli until around the middle of the year.
Roberto Martullo promises: “I will ensure that the company is preserved for customers, partners and especially for the employees.” He will act as managing director at least initially. The Windisch site will remain. Eleven people are employed there, another 24 in the Künzli factory in Albania. This factory also continues to produce.
Künzli headquarters including factory shop in Windisch.
“ideal solution”
Barbara Artmann, Künzli’s boss, previously said that it was important to her that Künzli remain in Swiss hands. “The announcement that the impending closure was due to lack of a successor solution generated a great response and opened up a circle of interest outside the orthopedics and shoe industry,” she said.
She is very grateful to the media for that. “Roberto Martullo and I would not have met otherwise.” 72 interested parties contacted her. He was the first caller and worked immediately. “It’s the ideal solution.” It took less than a month from the first contact to the signing of the contract.
St. Gallen shoe manufacturer Kybun Joya also expressed interest. However, the company appeared to have indicated that it would not continue to operate the plant in Albania at least in the event of a takeover.
Barbara Artmann, owner of Künzli Swiss Shoes.
The stamp with the five stripes
Werner Künzli founded the company in 1927 to produce sports shoes; his son Kurt Künzli continued the business in the second generation. He created the five-point patent lacing, which gives special support to the foot and, with its five distinctive stripes, has become a trademark of Künzli Shoes.
The iconic Künzli sneakers with the distinctive five stripes were relaunched a few years ago.
“Künzli Ortho” shoes were later launched which are used for injuries to the Achilles tendon, ankle or ligaments. Shoes for various foot and gait problems are also manufactured. That’s why doctors have been relying on orthopedic shoes from Künzli for years.
Barbara Artmann, who previously worked for large consulting firms and large banks,The company took over the company in 2004, when it was no longer run by the Künzli family and “sales were completely down,” as she says. She moved production to Albania and relaunched sneakers with the five stripes, despite years of legal disputes with US sneaker manufacturer K-Swiss. «20 years ago, Künzli still needed a stubborn person like me. Roberto Martullo is coming at the right time. He has talents that I don’t have.”