Oliver Altherr will be missed

The gap left by Oliver Altherr’s passing in the hospitality industry is immense. With his death at the beginning of January, a great man departed—a man with incredible knowledge and skills, both of which he gladly shared with others.

At the age of 58, the long-time CEO of Marché International and co-shareholder of Eatrenalin passed away unexpectedly on January 1, 2025. With Oliver Altherr, the international hospitality world not only loses an exceptional strategist but also a person whose zest for achievement and passion will remain unforgettable.

Activator with a Mission
foodservice editor Gretel Weiß recalls her long-time friend Oliver with empathy. Like her, has Swabian roots and she valued for many reasons: “I took Oliver into my heart because he he was always and everywhere fanatically committed to freshness and quality. He remained hungry for new ideas throughout his life, amassing immense knowledge and skills, which he generously shared with others—a rare trait. Yes, alongside his own achievements, he exemplified industry solidarity. He was an activator with a mission—usually in the fast lane! A grounded man. Our friendship endured challenges. THANK YOU, dear Oliver, you remain a great teacher for all of us.”

Global Multi-Concept Specialist

• As a global multi-concept specialist and CEO of Marché International since 2003, Oliver Altherr was known for his extensive expertise in the hospitality industry.
• His ability as a turnaround tactician for Marché International is a cornerstone of his professional success story. Reflecting on the challenges of his appointment as CEO in 2003, Oliver explained in a 2022 foodservice interview what mattered most: “We needed clear conceptual rules and goals again.” His focus was primarily on rediscovering uncompromising freshness and quality within the market concept.
• Under his leadership, Marché International established itself as a globally operating multi-concept player with contemporary operational types and brands in various location categories. The story of Marché Restaurants as a pioneering format in European market-style dining is also the success story of Oliver Altherr.
• As the long-time CEO of Marché International AG, he last oversaw more than 220 locations in 12 countries, employing around 3,500 people. Despite his achievements, Oliver always remained a chef and host at heart.
• In early 2023, Marché International, headquartered in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, transitioned to Lagardère Travel Retail International, based in Paris. Since then, Oliver Altherr actively supported the integration of Marché International into the Lagardère Group with his expertise—a process he remained involved in until the end.

Product Expert with Many Facets
As a trained chef and culinary master, he skillfully leveraged his background as a manager, concept and operational type developer, and reformer to achieve his goals. Rudi Kull, owner of Kull & Weinzierl in Munich, who shared a close personal connection with Oliver and often went jogging with him during events, remarked: “As a trained chef with international experience, Oliver had the unique ability to name endless possibilities for any given ingredient, covering cuisines from Japan to the Middle East to Germany. Oliver’s handling of products was extraordinary. His expertise, helpfulness, and positive outlook were hallmark traits. He always radiated a joy for work, usually with a smile on his face. That he is no longer among us is deeply saddening and a great loss for the industry.”

Innovative concepts were Oliver’s particular passion. As an Executive MBA holder, he consistently pursued his goals with determination. His culinary and operational expertise, ranging from fresh food fast to fine dining, made Altherr a respected key figure across the spectrum of the hospitality world.

Latest Project Beyond Marché
Oliver Altherr played a key role in the development of Eatrenalin, a visionary fine dining experience located near Europa-Park Rust. This format uniquely combines culinary art, multimedia, and staging of food.

Thomas Mack, managing partner of Europa-Park and CEO of Eatrenalin, emphasized: “For us, Oliver Altherr was a stroke of luck. His foresight, unerring sense of trends, and creative thinking significantly shaped the project. He was a mover and shaker with visions and a grounded man.” Mack added: “We mourn him and will continue Eatrenalin, which strongly bears his signature, with the same passion and dedication he exemplified for us.”

Milestones in Oliver’s Career
Oliver’s journey began by winning the German Junior Chef Championship. This was followed by roles in top international restaurants in France, Hong Kong, Mexico, and Hawaii. According to Altherr, the best decision he made was always working in top establishments. This paved the way for his transition to management, where he strengthened Marché Mövenpick’s gastronomy on an international level.

International Expansion
Oliver Altherr’s willingness to take risks in realizing his gastronomic visions is reflected in various international expansion paths for Marché, from Canada to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Within Europe, Marché was present in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Norway, Hungary, and Croatia.

When asked about his most daring professional decision in a 2022 foodservice interview, Oliver replied: “The expansion of Marché Mövenpick to Singapore.”

Hamburg Foodservice Award & Culinary Excellence Award
In 2008, Marché won the Hamburg Foodservice Award. Oliver continued to engage as a jury member for the award for years. His expertise and flair for innovative hospitality concepts made him a valued figure in the panel.

In 2011, he received a prestigious accolade awarded only twice in a quarter-century: the Culinary Excellence Award at the European Foodservice Summit. This recognized Altherr and his team for their spectacular culinary staging at exclusive Zurich Lake ship parties, held annually in September for eight consecutive years.

Balancing Work and Personal Life
Family and friends played a central role in Oliver’s life, alongside his passion for sports and reading. He found relaxation and inspiration through daily runs in nature. In a 2022 foodservice interview, he mentioned that if not for his commitment to the hospitality industry, he could have envisioned a career in competitive sports.

Memories Will Endure
Above all, Oliver’s determination captivated Ingrid Hartges, General Manager of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA). “He inspired with his passion for realizing ideas and advocating for his convictions. I valued his judgment, integrity, and reliability. With Oliver Altherr, we have lost a wonderful person and a valuable companion. He will be missed, and the memories of shared jury trips and meaningful conversations will live on.”

 

 

Milestones at Marché Mövenpick 

• In 1998, Oliver Altherr, born in 1966 in Backnang, Baden-Württemberg, joined the Mövenpick Group as the Culinary Director of Mövenpick Restaurants.
• In 2002, following the division of Mövenpick Gastronomy, he led over 80 operations at high-traffic locations in Europe as Director of Travel Gastronomy, as well as franchise operations in Asia.
• In 2003, the decision was made to spin off Mövenpick Travel Gastronomy into an independent entity. The Board of Directors of Mövenpick Holding appointed Oliver Altherr as CEO of Mövenpick Travel Gastronomy.
• In 2005, Mövenpick Travel Gastronomy became Marché International, with Oliver Altherr serving as the driving force and figurehead for its consistent reorientation. As CEO of Marché International, he was responsible for over 160 operations in seven countries, overseeing approximately 1,800 employees.
• By 2007, Marché International, under Altherr’s leadership, generated 338 million CHF in revenue and operated 102 locations in 9 countries.
• By 2013, before the sale of the Marché Restaurants in Switzerland, total revenue stood at 350 million CHF (Euros).
• In 2014, Mövenpick Holding announced the sale of Marché Restaurants Switzerland AG to Coop Switzerland: 25 restaurant operations at Swiss highway rest stops and 3 units at Zurich Airport, with a total revenue of 120 million CHF, changed parent companies.
• In November 2018, the planning of the Eatrenalin project began with the first workshop as Oliver Altherr’s latest passion project besides Marché. In November 2022, the culinary multimedia format Eatrenalin opened near Europa-Park under the leadership of Thomas Mack and Oliver Altherr as CEOs and Co-founders.
• Since 2023, Oliver Altherr used his expertise to support the integration of Marché International, which included over 220 operations in 12 countries, into the Lagardère Group. He continued to actively support this process and advised on special projects until his passing.