AVIA – a Swiss institution
How it all began
In 1927, «Association of Independent Petrol Importers» was founded as an association of companies that imported and sold colonial goods, chemicals and petroleum products. As airplanes also needed high-quality Carburants at that time, the connection between the word Aviatik and AVIA was obvious. In addition, the name was easy to pronounce in the three Swiss national languages.
As early as 1931, the name «Association of Independent Petrol Importers, St. Gallen», the collective trademark AVIA, was registered as a trademark for fuels and motorized purposes with the Swiss Federal Office of Intellectual Property. In the same year, the headquarters were moved from St. Gallen to Zurich.
In 1975, the name was finally changed to «AVIA Association of Independent Swiss Importers of Petroleum Products».
Despite politically difficult times, Società di trasbordo AVIA-Rhein-Parco serbatoi AG, Basel, was founded in 1939 and later renamed AVIA AG, based in Muttenz. The company built seven vertical tanks at the Rhine port in Basel in 1939/1940.
After the end of the war, the facilities were expanded to become the largest Parco serbatoi in Switzerland. Further Parco serbatoi followed.
AVIA France was founded in 1950 and Deutsche AVIA in 1952. Benefiting from the advantages of an international group while remaining independent – a convincing concept!
Word spread quickly. Numerous companies made the AVIA idea «together we are stronger» their philosophy.
This is how AVIA International was founded in 1960. Today, more than 3,100 petrol stations and over 90 AVIA member companies in 15 European countries operate under the AVIA brand name.
Later, the «AVIA cooperative Lubrifiants, Zurich», was founded for the joint purchase of all Lubrifiants and fats sold under the AVIA brand.
Switzerland’s first motorway filling station was opened in Kölliken in 1967 under the AVIA brand.
Three Navi cisterna were built for transportation on the Rhine between 1955 and 1972 under the names AVIA-Romantica, AVIA-Fortunata and AVIA-Esperanza and operated by the joint company «AVIA-Tankschiff AG».
Today, the 10 AVIA member companies of AVIA supply and maintain the largest Rete di stazioni di servizio in Switzerland with over 500 service stations under their joint brand logo. The independence of the members is still the main feature of the organization. They decide for themselves on their activities under the common brand within defined quality standards and a uniform image.
Thanks to their independence, AVIA AVIA member companies are strongly anchored in the regional market and therefore closer to the customer.
With joint and company-owned depots, AVIA members have high tank capacities. This makes them important national suppliers.
In addition to Petrol station business, AVIA members are also important heating oil suppliers. They also sell a comprehensive, high-quality range of lubricants, which includes a wide range of lubricants for motor vehicles through to industrial specialties.
AVIA Association of independent Swiss importers and suppliers of ernergy products, Cooperative
The diverse, innovative activities of AVIA AVIA member companies in the area of Energy supply are also reflected in the name of AVIA Association.
The name of the company will be adapted to the current circumstances in 2020:
In 2020, AVIA opened the first Hydrogen filling stationin St. Gallen. Shortly afterwards, five more followed throughout Switzerland, all offering green hydrogen.
Another pioneering project was implemented in 2022 with the production of green hydrogen in the St. Gallen Kubel.
To promote the E-mobility founded the company «AVIA VOLT Suisse AG» together at AVIA member companies in 2023. The aim of this company is the broad promotion of Electromobility and Heat optimisation in buildings.