Ricola is continuing its expansion in Switzerland, where the manufacturer of sweets and balsamic herbal teas manufactures all of its products. The Laufen (BL)-based group is acquiring the disused plant of the Hero food group in Lenzburg, in the canton of Aargau.
The aim is to increase capacity in order to continue to meet the rapidly growing international demand, Ricola CEO Thomas Meier said in a statement on Wednesday. The amount of the transaction was not disclosed.
The candy producer is currently cramped at its historic site in Laufen. Since some of Ricola’s production processes are similar to those of the canned goods manufacturer, the company will also take over part of the existing infrastructure. On the other hand, the adjoining office building will remain the property of Hero, and the company restaurant will in future be used jointly by both companies.
Production from 2026 in Lenzburg
Ricola’s production start-up in Lenzburg is planned for the first quarter of 2026. The group plans to create up to 40 jobs and will probably also hire skilled workers from Hero, Ricola says.
The closure of Hero’s Aargau site, announced a year ago, cost 48 employees their jobs. Opened in 2011, it had never reached adequate capacity, according to Hero, despite numerous efforts.
>> Read also: After Sugus and Toblerone, another Swiss brand is relocating its production. Hero jams will now be produced in Spain
Founded in 1930, Ricola is still owned by the founding family, now in its fourth generation. The company, which does not disclose its turnover, exports to 50 countries, relying in particular on the claimed Swiss quality of its products.
ats/ebz
