Fritz Empanada GmbH Closes Its Doors
We are currently looking for a buyer who will continue the business we have built with a great deal of hard work and dedication.
Before we say goodbye, I, Martin Wüthrich, would like to briefly share the story of Fritz Empanada GmbH.
Our Story
It all began in the summer of 2021 with a simple pilot project. At Kasheme Bar on Neugasse 56 in Zurich’s District 5, I sold empanadas for the first time. What started as a small experiment quickly grew into a passion. The positive feedback from our guests gave me the courage to continue on the path I had chosen.
Encouraged by these early successes, I began to think bigger and look for role models in the empanada market. I was particularly fascinated by Las Muns, an empanada franchise company from Barcelona. Las Muns is the world’s largest empanada franchise, with 65 locations worldwide. Their success showed me the potential that can lie in a simple product when it is brought to life with passion, consistency, and dedication. In the summer of 2021, I travelled to Barcelona to learn more about their story and business model first-hand. This journey inspired me and strengthened my determination to follow my own path.
Shortly afterwards, I met Peter Kasimow, probably the best-known bread sommelier in the canton of Aargau. At the time, he was a member of the executive management team at Freddy’s AG, the bakery manufacturer and sister company of Hiestand. He recognised my commitment and put me in touch with Coop. I am still grateful to him for that trust to this day. In the winter of 2023, this led to a collaboration with Coop. For me, this was a particularly important milestone. What had started as a small idea had suddenly become a project that was taking on an entirely new scale.
I could never have handled the required production volumes on my own. I received support from Pius Riechsteiner, Managing Director of Bäckerei Felber, and his team. Together, we carried out the first production trials on an industrial Rondo production line a moment that made me realise just how far the journey had already taken us.
Later, I met Nazareno. Together, we came up with the idea of offering empanadas directly at Selnau train station. We developed recipes, planned the sales concept at the station, found solutions to countless challenges, and shared the vision of bringing a taste of Argentine food culture to Zurich.
When I look back on these years, I don’t think first about revenue or sales figures. I think about the people who accompanied me along the way, the conversations we shared, the support I received, and the many experiences I was fortunate enough to gain. When I started, I had no experience whatsoever in the food and hospitality industry. I had to teach myself a great deal along the way. Today, I not only know how to start a business or run a sales stand I even know the exact weight loss that occurs when a frozen empanada is baked. That is why I would like to share something with everyone who has an idea or a vision: Have the courage to take the first step. Nobody starts out as an expert. Learning, growing, and failing are all part of the journey. For me, Fritz Empanada was far more than a business. It was a journey that shaped me, and one for which I am deeply grateful.
For inquiries, please contact:
Martin Wüthrich
Fritz Empanada GmbH
Talchernstr.10
8049 Zürich
Mobile Nr.: +41 77 509 93 95
UID Nr.: CHE-461.265.682
Further information about our company can be found on Zefix.ch