Swiss Supermarkets: All 7 Chains Explained
Switzerland has seven grocery chains that matter: two cooperatives, three discounters, a cash-and-carry wholesaler and a bargain and residual-stock retailer. Rappn compares their prices neutrally, in one app.
Rappn compares the current promotions of 7 Swiss retailers, updated daily: free, no subscription.
Get all 7 chains in one app, freeMigros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Denner, Aligro and Otto’s in one place, searchable and filterable.
Here they are by name: Migros, Coop, Aldi Suisse, Lidl Schweiz, Denner, Aligro and Otto's. Migros and Coop are the two dominant cooperatives. Aldi, Lidl and Denner are the discounters, Aligro is a cash-and-carry wholesaler, and Otto's is a residual bargain retailer. There is no single "best" chain: which one costs least depends on the week, the category and where you live.
Sources checked regularly, as of July 2026. Figures triangulated from swissinfo.ch, K-Tipp, the Migros and Coop 2024/2025 annual reports, Wikipedia and each retailer's own pages. Market shares reflect the Nielsen data quoted in the text.
Rappn is an independent Swiss price-comparison app, with no commercial agreements with any retailer.
What are the main supermarkets in Switzerland?
Swiss grocery retail is unusually concentrated. Two consumer cooperatives, Migros and Coop, have led it for over a century, with two German discounters (Aldi, Lidl) and a domestic one (Denner) below them. In the Nielsen Retail Monitor (SonntagsZeitung, 2 November 2025), Coop is ahead of Migros in food and near-food: 43% against 37.4%. The monitor is an internal comparison among the large Swiss retailers, so these shares cover only part of the market. Coop's total 2025 turnover was CHF 35.5 billion. Migros reported around CHF 29-32 billion, partly because it has sold off several non-food businesses.
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Welcome
Supermarkets in Switzerland: the full list
The seven chains Rappn compares, grouped by type:
- Migros: consumer cooperative, full range, no alcohol or tobacco, budget line M-Budget.
- Coop: consumer cooperative, full range, budget line Prix Garantie, heavy weekly promotions.
- Aldi Suisse: hard discounter, in Switzerland since 2005, around 244 stores (February 2026).
- Lidl Schweiz: hard discounter, in Switzerland since 2009, 193 stores (January 2026).
- Denner: Swiss discounter owned by Migros, and unlike its parent it sells alcohol and tobacco.
- Aligro: independent cash-and-carry, about 14 warehouse stores, open to everyone.
- Otto’s: family-run bargain and residual-stock retailer, founded in 1978.
The 7 chains, one paragraph each
Migros: the iconic cooperative, founded in 1925 and marking its 100th year in 2025. Famously it sells no alcohol or tobacco, a decision by founder Gottlieb Duttweiler that still holds, and its M-Budget line is priced close to discount level. Coop: the other cooperative, full-range, and it does sell alcohol and tobacco. Its Prix Garantie budget line and heavy weekly promotions are its main price levers. Aldi Suisse: a German discounter (Aldi Süd) that entered Switzerland in 2005 and now runs around 244 stores (February 2026). Lidl Schweiz: a German discounter (Schwarz Group) that arrived in 2009 and runs 193 stores (January 2026). It targets at least 250 in the medium term and around 300 in the long run, and it launched a "Qualité Suisse" range in 2025. Denner: a Swiss discounter owned by Migros that, unlike its parent, does sell alcohol and tobacco. Aligro: an independent, family-owned cash-and-carry (Demaurex & Cie, founded 1923) with about 14 warehouse-format stores. It is open to everyone, professionals and private customers alike, with no business card required. Otto's: a family-run bargain and residual-stock retailer founded in 1978, known for discounted brands, wine and non-food, alongside a smaller grocery range.
Which supermarket should a newcomer use?
| Chain | Positioning | Price tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Migros | Cooperative, no alcohol/tobacco | Mid (M-Budget = low) | Own brands, everyday range |
| Coop | Cooperative, full range | Mid-high (strong promos) | Fresh food, brands, weekly deals |
| Aldi Suisse | Hard discounter | Low | Staples, low basket cost |
| Lidl Schweiz | Hard discounter | Low | Staples, bakery, Swiss lines |
| Denner | Discounter (Migros-owned) | Low-mid | Wine, spirits, quick top-ups |
| Aligro | Cash-and-carry wholesale | Low (bulk) | Bulk buying, catering, parties |
| Otto's | Residual / bargain | Low (variable) | Brand bargains, wine, non-food |
Prices change every week across all seven chains, and which chain comes out lower moves with the promotions. That is why Rappn shows the promotions of the seven chains live, side by side.
Supermarkets in Geneva and Zurich
The list is the same in Geneva as in Zurich, because all seven chains operate across Switzerland. What changes locally is which stores are within reach and which promotions are running that week. One regional gap is documented: Aligro has about 14 sites in German- and French-speaking Switzerland and none in Ticino, so its cash-and-carry format is an option in both cities. Prices move every week across all seven chains, so the useful check in a city is the live one, on the products you actually buy. For the local detail, see our guides to grocery shopping in Geneva and grocery shopping in Zurich.
So which is cheapest?
It depends. K-Tipp's 2025 tests generally put Lidl and Aldi lowest on everyday staples, with Migros close behind thanks to M-Budget, while Coop is often dearer on basics but competitive once its weekly promotions are counted. Denner has no true budget line, so it can come out dearer than expected in standardised baskets. Rather than trust one ranking, see it live: check our guide to Swiss supermarket prices, compare Migros vs Coop prices, or open the full price comparison for the products you actually buy.
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Why Rappn?
Rappn is an independent grocery price comparison app in Switzerland, with no commercial agreements with any retailer. Our comparisons are truly independent.
- 100% free: no subscription, no hidden costs
- Neutral: no commercial agreements with Migros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Denner, Aligro, or Otto’s
- Updated daily, as soon as the chains publish their deals
- The chains’ deals in one place: search, filter, compare, no subscription
- Meal planner in the Kitchen tab: plan the week, send the ingredients to your list
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many supermarkets are there in Switzerland?
Seven chains cover most of the country, and Rappn compares all of them: Migros, Coop, Aldi Suisse, Lidl Schweiz, Denner, Aligro and Otto's. Migros and Coop dominate the market. The rest are discounters, a cash-and-carry wholesaler and a bargain and residual-stock retailer.
Does Migros sell alcohol?
No, not in its supermarkets. Migros sells no alcohol or tobacco there: the alcohol ban dates from 1928, a decision by founder Gottlieb Duttweiler that its members confirmed in June 2022. Denner, which Migros owns, does sell both.
What is the biggest supermarket in Switzerland?
For over a century Migros was the largest, but Nielsen data reported by swissinfo.ch shows Coop overtaking it in the core food and near-food business.
Can anyone shop at Aligro?
Yes. Aligro is a cash-and-carry wholesaler aimed at restaurants and retailers, but private customers can shop too, with no business card required. It has about 14 stores across German- and French-speaking Switzerland, and none in Ticino.
Which Swiss supermarket is cheapest?
It depends on the week and category. K-Tipp's 2025 tests generally rank Lidl and Aldi lowest on everyday staples, but with its weekly promotions Coop can come in below them on single products. Rappn shows this week's promotions, so you can check them against your own basket.
What is Otto's?
Otto's is a Swiss family-run bargain and residual-stock retailer founded in 1978, best known for discounted brand-name goods, wine and non-food, with a smaller grocery range than the main chains.