Migros to Shutter Ex Libris Bookstores in Major Shift to Online Retail

The era of browsing physical shelves at Ex Libris is coming to an abrupt and definitive end. In a decisive move that underscores the brutal reality of modern retail, Migros has announced the total shutdown of all 15 remaining Ex Libris branches by the close of 2026. This is not a mere downsizing; it is a complete eradication of the brand's physical footprint in German-speaking Switzerland. The retail giant is aggressively pivoting, abandoning the high street to consolidate its entire book business onto the digital powerhouse, Galaxus.

This strategic guillotine falls as Migros accelerates its departure from traditional bricks-and-mortar formats. The company is no longer interested in maintaining a split focus. By bundling its online offerings, Migros is signaling that the future of Swiss book retail is exclusively digital. The transition is set to be swift and total, with the full integration of the online business scheduled for completion by mid-2027. For the loyal customers who have frequented these shops for decades, the message is clear: the physical bookshop is a relic Migros is no longer willing to subsidize.

Behind the corporate strategy lies a critical human cost: 230 employees now face a precarious future. Migros has bluntly admitted that job cuts "cannot be ruled out," sending a shockwave through its workforce. While the company has initiated a consultation process and concluded a comprehensive national social plan, the uncertainty is palpable. These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they are long-standing sales staff who have navigated the brand through years of downsizing, only to face the final curtain.

Migros has promised to offer new positions within the wider Group "wherever possible," but the reality of absorbing such a specific workforce remains complex. Those affected will receive individual benefits based on age and tenure, yet this offers cold comfort to staff watching their workplace dissolve. The consultation process is currently active, but with the closure timeline set in stone, the primary question remains: how many of these 230 workers will survive the transition to the digital-first model?

Galaxus is set to become an undisputed titan of the Swiss book market. In a massive injection of inventory, the online platform will absorb a staggering eight million titles from Ex Libris, effectively swallowing the brand's catalog whole. This is a game-changing expansion. Currently, Galaxus hosts a collection of 1.5 million books; this integration will see their library explode in size, instantly dwarfing competitors and cementing its dominance in the e-commerce sector.

This move is a masterclass in consolidation. By dismantling the physical Ex Libris network, Migros is funneling all energy and resources into Galaxus, creating a centralized behemoth capable of outmaneuvering international rivals. The integration, expected to finalize by mid-2027, transforms Galaxus from a general retailer with a book section into the primary destination for Swiss literature consumers. The sheer scale of this data migration—eight million titles—illustrates the magnitude of Migros's ambition: total digital supremacy at the expense of physical tradition.

The fall of Ex Libris is a dramatic conclusion to a story that began in the late 1940s. Founded originally as a book club, the brand became a staple of Swiss culture under Migros ownership, once boasting a powerful network of over 100 branches across the nation. For decades, it was the go-to destination for Swiss readers. However, the decline has been relentless. Since 2010, the branch network has been systematically thinned out, bleeding locations as consumer habits shifted online.

Now, we are witnessing the final death throes of a retail icon. The drop from over 100 stores to zero is a stark testament to the unforgiving nature of the digital revolution. While other reports suggest a slight uptick in Swiss brick-and-mortar shops generally, the book sector is clearly an exception in Migros's calculus. The Ex Libris name may survive as a digital ghost within the Galaxus machine, but its physical soul—the smell of paper, the browsing of shelves, the community presence—is being extinguished forever.