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Pressemitteilung
Leonardo Award 2026: Award ceremony at the Apollo Varieté Düsseldorf
Quality care speaks for itself. Even so, it still needs to be made visible. That is exactly what the Leonardo Award stands for the leading marketing competition in the German medical supply and rehabilitation retail sector, as well as in orthopaedic technology and orthopaedic footwear technology.
On September 25, 2026, the time had come once again. Around 200 guests from the medical supply retail sector and medical equipment suppliers gathered at the Apollo Varieté in Düsseldorf to celebrate the winners of the Leonardo Award 2026. Host Roman Roell guided the audience through an evening filled with networking, applause, and shared celebration of the industry's achievements. Between the award presentations, the Apollo Varieté provided entertainment with various show acts. Afterwards, there was time for networking and dessert in the glamorous surroundings of the venue.
Holger Knapp, Managing Director of Sternefeld Medien GmbH, welcomed the nominees and the jury. He emphasized that a successful Leonardo Award requires two things: dedicated teams with compelling ideas and an a committed jury. On behalf of the jury, Tim Bennemann from M Assist welcomed the guests and introduced the new features of this year's competition.
The Leonardo Award was launched in 2006 by companies and associations that recognized the growing importance of marketing in the healthcare market early on. Since then, it has been held every two years, highlighting how effectively the industry communicates its services and reaches its customers. This year, the award celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Submissions are evaluated by an independent jury this year including representatives of 25 companies, among them M Assist GmbH.
Awards are given for concrete achievements that make a difference in daily operations: customer loyalty, digital processes, strong teams, and sustainable practices. Each category follows its own specific evaluation criteria.
This category recognizes active customer loyalty and structured customer relationship management. While the core principles remain the same, the customer journey is evolving for example, through target-group-specific social media content, systematic analysis of customer data, regular events, digital services, omni-channel offerings, and structured collaboration in discharge management.
1. Sanitätshaus Janssen, Emden
2. Sanitätshaus SC Carstens, Stuttgart
3. Case-Management Reha&Care, Nuremberg
Sanitätshaus Janssen from Emden won over the jury with its mobile "Dörpflitze" project, which brings care to the rural East Frisia region via video consultations, WhatsApp, and a chatbot. Second place went to Sanitätshuas SC Carstens for a social media presence that reaches over half a million followers, and its "Community Space X Carstens", which offers over 500 square meters for product demonstrations and test events. Case-Management Reha & Care impressed with SURA, an AI-powered platform that centralizes customer inquiries.
We recognize digital solutions that provide tangible benefits to patient care. This includes the use of scanning technology and additive manufacturing in the workshop, online ordering, and tablets for the team, as well as initiatives that successfully bring the entire team along on this digital journey.
1. Sanitätshaus Kessels, Geldern
2. OPED, Valley
3. Kriwat GmbH, Kiel
Sanitätshaus Kessels from Geldern won with its end-to-end digital patient care, ranging from prescription submission via a dedicated app to digital measurement and workshop processes. Second place went to the OPED Group for its OPEDconnect platform, and third place to Kriwat for its digital workshop.
We recognize targeted recruitment efforts in the growing medical supply retail sector and sustainable employee retention through clear career paths and structured onboarding.
1. Sanitätshaus ThiesMediCenter, Itzehoe
2. rahm GmbH, Troisdorf
3. Uber, Jever
ThiesMediCenter from Itzehoe won with a comprehensive concept for employee recruitment and retention, featuring initiatives such as a card game campaign for apprenticeships, a job guarantee for trainees, and the "GERT" age simulation suit. Second place went to the rahm GmbH from Troisdorf, and third place to Uber from Jever, both of whom impressed with their campaigns and personnel marketing.
Awards are given for climate-friendly practices in healthcare, such as energy-efficient locations, renewable energy and e-mobility, sustainable procurement, resource-efficient operations, and making sustainability an integral part of corporate management.
The jury awarded first place in this category twice. The Sanitätshaus Kriwat from Kiel and the Sanitätshaus Ank-Kaiser shared the win.
The Ank-Kaiser medical supply group from Kaiserslautern views sustainability as a mindset that encompasses all twelve branches, utilizing green electricity, electric vehicles, and 3D printing to reduce material waste. Kriwat from Kiel focuses on a photovoltaic system, certified green electricity, and digital measurement systems, with both companies sharing first place.
The winners come from all over Germany, from Emden and Kiel in the north to Stuttgart and Valley in the south. They demonstrate that outstanding work does not depend on the size of a location. Their ideas work in everyday practice: they cultivate customer relationships, use digitalization effectively, recruit and retain teams, and act sustainably.
Sanitätshaus Kriwat was honored in two categories. This shows how closely digitalization, patient care, and sustainability are linked. Those who streamline their processes create room for better care and clearer communication.
As members of the jury, we have seen how diverse the approaches can be and how much substance lies behind them. Tim Bennemann, Chief Growth Officer at M Assist GmbH, describes what excites him about the Leonardo Award:
“I see every day how essential innovation, process optimization, and technological integration are for the progress of our industry. The Leonardo Award provides an impressive platform to showcase visionary concepts and creative approaches in the medical supply and healthcare retail sector. I'm really looking forward to discovering outstanding contributions together with my fellow jury members that not only demonstrate strategic thinking and digital transformation but also create real added value for patients. The Leonardo Award inspires us all to continue developing the future of care with a spirit of innovation, partnership, and sustainability.”
These are exactly the values reflected in the four categories. The winners show how ideas turn into measurable improvements for customers and teams.
Our thanks go to Sternefeld Medien GmbH, which has organized the competition since 2006 and created an evening that brings the industry together. A big thank you also goes to all the applicants who entered the competition and to the nominees who enriched the competition in every category.
In the Customer Loyalty and CRM category alone, 15 companies received a nomination. You can find the complete list on the Leonardo Award website.
Congratulations to all the winners of the Leonardo Award 2026. You show what this industry is capable of, and every submission helps make these achievements visible.
Are you planning a project in the areas of customer loyalty, digitalization, HR, or sustainability? At M Assist, we are happy to help you integrate strategy, processes, and digital tools in a way that delivers tangible value to your customers.
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