Right up to the Röstigraben

Gratispresse For the Edipresse commuter paper, the agglomerations around Lake Geneva are the launch pad for its expansion northwards.
October from Geneva to Aigle in the most important conurbations along the
the Lake Geneva Arc, the circulation is 100,000 copies.
copies. But Edipresse doesn't want to leave it at that. Because
According to Théo Bouchat, Director at Edipresse, the commuter paper
"with small but rapid steps" towards the north,
certainly to Fribourg, and probably also to Yverdon, Neuchâtel, La
Chaux-de-Fonds and Biel. Across the whole of French-speaking Switzerland? "I can imagine that
I can certainly imagine," says Bouchat.

Start with own distribution boxes
Further details on the growth strategy of the first French-speaking
Bouchat does not want to reveal the name of the Umsonstblatt. But one thing is certain: for the time being
The people responsible at Le Matin Bleu do not rely on the
distribution locations of SBB, not even at the start on October 31 at the
shores of Lake Geneva. Corresponding distribution boxes would even be
not ready for operation, because on the same day the
The deadline for submitting offers to the Swiss Federal Railways for the
150 pit locations along the Léman Arc. At
Edipresse has therefore made other provisions. "In the most important
agglomerations we will have our own boxes and colporteurs, also in
near the station," says Bouchat. How many, he leaves open. But later
Further sales channels are to be added, for example 
Restaurants. One thing is clear: the start-up phase without SBB is difficult for Le Matin Bleu
good preparation for the intended expansion: because if the
the distribution boxes with the commuter leaflet next spring.
SBB territory in and around the cities of Geneva and Lausanne,
the tide may already have turned to the north - yet
before SBB will have put further locations out to tender there.
However, the new, open boxes for Le Matin Bleu cause a lot of
paid title Le Matin with the orange logo unpleasant
Cost consequences: Until now, Le Matin Orange was also located in the entire
in "hundreds" of open boxes in western Switzerland, a model that is based on a
honest buyers. Now, according to Bouchat, the boxes must
can be converted. Two open boxes next to each other, one for the
paid, the other for a free newspaper, would otherwise inevitably
to unwanted "confusion" among potential readers
lead.   

Markus Knöpfli