Background information
Nobody likes the last Father Christmas
by Michael Restin
Ovomaltine, sausages and the like – products that divide Switzerland and Germany
8.8.2024
Translation: Elicia Payne
Same, but different – there’s no better expression for these neighbouring countries. That’s been made clear in the two years I’ve been at Galaxus. Here are some funny highlights.
Look at the image above: is that a German cow or a Swiss cow? No idea! Never mind, a cow is a cow... right?
Dear Ovo-manufacturer: WHY?! Why are you torturing me like this? Why do I have to die a chocolate death here and stare into little empty bags after a mere three bites? I don’t want to live like this.
Rumour has it that the imported chocolate is also worse quality than the original. Personally, I can’t taste the difference.
By the way, in Germany we call the liquid in the jars «sausage water». When I was young, it was considered a test of courage amongst male teens to drink the sausage water. Yuck. Simon was so fascinated by the bockwurst story that he even brought it up in his podcast (in Swiss German). He admits he’s not tried the sausage water.
Drugstores
This is how it works in Hamburg: deodorant empty? Go to the drugstore! Mascara empty? Go to the drugstore! Running low on detergent? Go to the drugstore! It feels like there’s a DM, a Rossmann or a Budni on every corner. In Hamburg and the surrounding area there are 59 DM stores, 38 Rossmann stores and over 190 Budni stores.
In Switzerland, on the other hand, this is – with a few exceptions – rather complicated. I learnt a painful lesson when I forgot my shampoo once. The drugstore scene is much smaller there, as my colleague and beauty expert Natalie explains to me: «Germany has a distinct drugstore culture. I can only dream of the number of shops you have. It’s only just starting to take off here. We now have Müller and more and more stores. But there was nothing like it before.»
Still, galaxus.ch sells many drugstore labels such as Catrice, Essence and also DM’s own brand Balea.
Throat lozenges
Here’s a bit of crude humour for you. It’s about the common cold remedy products from Vicks. In German, if someone mumbles the word «Vicks» they might get some strange looks; it sounds very similar to the word for wanking («wichsen»). That’s probably why the brand was renamed to «Wick». In Switzerland, throat sweets, menthol sticks and the like are still called Vicks.
That’s fine with me. Except I’ll probably think of Vicks and giggle to myself every time I buy Wick sweets in the future. In the DM store round the corner, of course!
Either way, I like Switzerland and I’m just as happy every time I come back to Hamburg. It has almost become a running gag to ask, «Do you have that too?» – in both directions. My colleagues in Zurich are just as curious as I am. And that’s the special thing about neighbouring countries.
Can you think of an ordinary object you use in your everyday life which differs from country to country? Or do you miss something in Switzerland that’s available in Germany? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Anika Schulz
Teamleader Editorial
Anika.Schulz@galaxus.deAs a child, I was socialised with Mario Kart on SNES before ending up in journalism after graduating from high school. As a team leader at Galaxus, I'm responsible for news. I'm also a trekkie and an engineer.
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