Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts traces i

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts traces its roots back to the privately-owned Mövenpick Group, which was founded by the late Ueli Prager in 1948 when he opened his first restaurant – Mövenpick at Claridenhof - in Zurich.[3] The name was apparently inspired by the feeding action of a gull (in German, möwe) and how its simple movements reflected the restaurant’s theme of high quality food at affordable prices served as quickly as possible.

The Group opened new restaurants across Switzerland, targeting locations near the new Swiss motorway system to cater for car travellers. Staff training was made a priority very early in the Group’s expansion, along with daily line-ups. The Group became the first Swiss employer to offer staff shares.[3]

Silberkugel snack restaurants were the next expansion, beginning in 1962[4] and inspired by American diners. Diversification of the Group’s portfolio through the 1960s saw cash-and-carry wine shops (Mövenpick Wine) open across Switzerland and Germany, as well as branded food items such as Mövenpick “Himmlische” (heavenly) coffee (1963) and Mövenpick Ice Cream (1969).

The Mövenpick Group was divided into four separate divisions in 1970 covering the activities of their hotels, premium products, and both high end and chain restaurants.