German multi-brand restaurant group Gustoso has acquired a 75 percent stake in Swiss company Familie Wiesner Gastronomie (FWG). The previous owners, Daniel and Manuel Wiesner, retain a 25 percent holding and will continue to manage the company and its current portfolio of 32 restaurants operationally as co-CEOs. The merger creates a group with more than 250 restaurant locations across Germany, Austria, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland, generating a combined system turnover of nearly half a billion euros.
Prior to the transaction, Gustoso operated more than 220 locations with concepts such as Ruff's Burger, Zusje, as well as brands also active in Switzerland including 60 seconds to napoli and Burgermeister. With the integration of FWG, the company expands its portfolio with established formats such as Nooch, Negishi and Miss Miu. Both parties intend to mutually strengthen their respective market presence: whilst Gustoso supports FWG in its internationalisation, the Swiss family business will provide its market expertise to scale Gustoso concepts within the Swiss Confederation.
Growth strategy and market entry in Germany
The new ownership structure forms the foundation for the upcoming development phase. In Switzerland, FWG continues to target the opening of two to three new units annually. At the same time, the opening of the first German location for the pan-Asian brand Nooch is scheduled for 2027. As brothers Daniel and Manuel Wiesner explained, the merger with Gustoso offers the most viable potential for scaling their own restaurant brands across borders within the fast-casual dining segment.
- —Scaling of core brands Nooch, Negishi and Miss Miu beyond Swiss borders
- —Planned market entry of the Nooch format into the German market from 2027
- —Continuation of the previous expansion pace in Switzerland with two to three new openings per year
- —Utilisation of FWG operational infrastructure to further establish existing Gustoso brands in Switzerland
Operational continuity and commitment to location
Dr Nico Engel, CEO of Gustoso Gruppe, highlighted high respect for FWG's achievement in combining innovative concepts with key-figure orientation and genuine staff appreciation. The familiar organisational structure remains in place for staff, guests and suppliers. FWG's support office in Dübendorf, Switzerland, also continues in its existing function.
As a token of appreciation for the work achieved to date, founders Fredy and Anita Wiesner, together with the family, are distributing a thank-you bonus totalling 2.5 million Swiss francs to the entire workforce, ranging from front-of-house and kitchen teams to the support office. The partnership between both groups aims to combine entrepreneurial continuity with the requirements of pan-European scaling.
