Ricola delivers solid results in a challenging market environment
Laufen (ots)
2024 was a year of consolidation and transition for Ricola, including theacquisition of a production facility in Lenzburg. The generational handover on the Board of Directors was concluded at the Annual General Meeting on 14 May 2025.
After two very successful years in 2022 and 2023, Swiss family company Ricola achieved moderate organic growth in 2024 in a challenging market environment. The US market grew slightly from a highlevel and the company successfully defended its market leadership in the cough drop category. Ricolaperformed rather well in European markets, including Switzerland, France, Austria, and Spain. Bycontrast, Germany, the largest European market in terms of sales, fell slightly short of growthexpectations, despite Ricola gaining market share there.
Despite the general economic slowdown in Asia leading to stagnation in Asian confectionerycategories, Ricola achieved double-digit growth in many Asian markets such as South Korea, Taiwan,and Thailand. Ricola also posted moderate growth and expanded its market share in China, the Group's largest Asian market, in 2024.
Capacity expansion in the home market and a commitment to Switzerland as a manufacturingbase
The acquisition of a production plant in Lenzburg, Switzerland, in autumn 2024 was an importantevent for Ricola Group Ltd. The purchase of the former jam factory of Hero AG will enable Ricola toovercome production bottlenecks in Laufen and meet the growing demand for its products. Ricolaplans to start production in Lenzburg at the end of 2026.
A wide range of new marketing activities
Ricola Fresh Mint, another strong innovation, was successfully launched in selected Europeancountries. Ricola Raspberry Mint has established itself as a new flavour alongside other Ricolaproducts in Switzerland. Its launch was accompanied by a large-scale sampling campaign and quicklyattracted new consumers. At the Ricola innovation centre in Laufen, new products are continuouslybeing developed, and the range is constantly optimised for sustainability and adapted to customerneeds. In Switzerland, Ricola launched a four-year partnership with Swiss Ski, which got off to asuccessful start and attracted a great deal of attention thanks to a strong activation campaign and theexcellent results of the Swiss athletes.
A leader in sustainability: Ricola is B Corp certified
Responsibility and sustainability are in Ricola's nature and can be traced back to the company'sfounding in 1930. Thanks to its commitment to people and the environment and its adherence to thehighest standards, Ricola was certified as a B Corp in 2023. It was the first globally active company inthe confectionery industry worldwide to receive this distinction.
Generational handover on the Board of Directors
Raphael Richterich was elected as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ricola Group Ltd. atthe Annual General Meeting on 14 May 2025. He has been Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2019 and is taking over the role of Chairman from his father Felix Richterich, who has shapedthe company for decades as CEO and later as Chairman of the Board of Directors. As the new Chairwoman, Eva Richterich will also represent the owner family on the Board of Directors. Long-standing Board members Diana Strebel and Ruedi Blatter are stepping down from the Board ofDirectors. Birgit Conix, Cristina Kenz, and Hans Melotte have been elected as new non-familymembers of the strategic body. They will join Douglas Günthardt, who has been a member of theBoard of Directors since 2009.
Ricola Group Ltd. owes a debt of gratitude to the departing colleagues. They have done pioneeringwork over many years and shaped the group for the long term.
Looking ahead to a challenging 2025
After a good start to 2025, Ricola is facing challenges due to new US tariffs. The new US tariffs arehaving a significant impact on Ricola. However, the Group is doing everything in its power to respondto this new challenge appropriately and with the right measures. Despite a geopolitical market environment fraught with uncertainty due to trade tariffs, exchange rate fluctuations, and recessionscenarios, Ricola will continue to pursue its growth strategy 2030.
Ricola at a glance
Ricola has stood for herbal specialities in natural Swiss quality since 1930 and is now one of the mostmodern and innovative confectionery manufacturers in the world. The Swiss family company is basedin Laufen near Basel and has subsidiaries in Europe, Asia and the USA. Ricola exports around 50varieties of herb drops and tea specialities to 45 countries. The herbal ingredients are cultivated bysome 100 contract farmers using environmentally friendly methods, thriving in carefully selectedlocations in the Swiss mountains. As an employer of over 600 people, Ricola is actively committed tosustainability and takes responsibility - economically, socially and ecologically. Building on this foundation, and with deep roots in the Swiss Alps, Ricola acts in an inventive and far-sighted manner.The interplay of tradition and progress ensures the sustainable success of the family company - inharmony with nature - and shapes its unique spirit.
Media Contact:
Ricola Group Ltd.
Corporate Communications
Baselstrasse 31
4242 Laufen
Switzerland
Phone +41 61 765 4