Rausch Chocolate’s D2C Leap: Shopify Migration Success

Introduction

Rausch is a German family-owned chocolate maker founded in 1918. They built a flagship store in Berlin and a robust online shop on Shopware 5. After shifting entirely to direct-to-consumer in 2015, growth stalled because customizations stalled and manual work piled up. Team lead Alberto Gatti knew it was time to switch platforms.

The Challenge

Legacy Shopware 5 ruled the shop but lacked flexibility. Every new feature needed outside developers. Daily tasks—from order syncing to subscription tweaks—were manual. The platform’s sunset plans meant no long-term updates. By 2023, operations slowed, costs rose, and marketing efforts under-performed.

The Solution

Rausch chose Shopify. With an agency partner, they mapped a data-migration strategy to move over 420,000 orders and 270,000 customers. They linked Shopify to SAP S/4HANA so inventory, orders, and invoicing sync automatically. Shopify Flow now automates internal approvals, tagging, and routing—cutting out manual steps. The Seal Subscriptions app gives customers self-service controls over pause, adjust, or cancel. And Shopify Analytics shines a light on purchasing patterns.

Results

Within months of launch, SEO-driven traffic surged 26%. Average order value climbed 12%, thanks to optimized checkout and bundling tests. Customer retention rose 15% as subscription churn dropped. Internal headcount didn’t change, but manual tasks fell by over 40%, freeing the team for strategy. The shop loads faster, navigation is clearer, and adding new features happens in hours instead of weeks.

Looking Ahead

Rausch plans A/B testing on product pages, expanding bundle options, and further B2B automation directly through Shopify. Continuous SEO tuning will protect search rankings. International expansion via Shopify Markets is on the roadmap, aiming to scale overseas quickly. The team feels confident that Shopify provides the agility to adapt and grow for years to come.