Ricola opens new factory in Laufen

After just over one year s construction time Swiss family-owned company Ricola AG has opened a new 11,000 m² factory at the Laufen location. The company invested CHF 40 m in the new building. Annual production will now total 12,000 tonnes and can increase in future.


"As a member of the third generation of our family I am proud, and at the same time grateful, to be able to continue the work of my grandfather and my father and to set this milestone in our company history," said Chairman Felix Richterich at the opening ceremony. The new factory represented investment in the future, said Richterich. Ricola will have no problems keeping up with future developments.


Although several locations were considered, Ricola decided to build the new factory in Laufen. "The other options we considered all shared one disadvantage: they were not in Switzerland," says Adrian Kohler, CEO. "You can t just relocate the soul of a company abroad."
As regards production technology, energy efficiency and waste water management the factory is state of the art. Heating and warm water is provided by using steam produced during processing. Waste water is treated so it can be channelled into the sewage system.


The new facility fulfills the latest national and international hygiene standards for food and pharmaceutical products. Despite increased automation, no jobs have been lost. Once production is running at the new factory, the Baselstrasse facility - also in Laufen - will undergo modernisation and reconstruction. It will continue to serve as a production and packaging facility.