Brand villages: Swiss companies that changed the lives of small towns

Switzerland is home to a number of brands that are not only known outside the country, but have had a profound impact on the communities where they were founded. Here, each brand has become an integral part of the local community, investing resources to develop infrastructure and improve the lives of residents. Factories didn't just create jobs, they also built schools, roads and community centres, forming the economic backbone and social fabric of the villages.

Rikon, Zurich (Kuhn Rikon pots)

The small village of Rikon, located in the foothills of Zurich, is famous for having hosted the Dalai Lama on several occasions, notably in 1973 and 2018. Since 1968, the village has been home to Europe's first Tibetan monastery, but all this might not have happened without the Kuhn Rikon pot factory.

The story begins in 1964 when the Swiss government decided to help Tibetan refugees. The two brothers who ran Kuhn Rikon offered the refugees jobs and housing in Rikon. However, the Tibetans felt like strangers in their new environment. As Tobias Gerfin, Kuhn Rikon's managing director, put it, ‘Something was missing.’ A family member travelled to India and met the Dalai Lama, who suggested setting up a cultural centre. So in 1968, the Tibetan Institute was founded, which became the centre of the Tibetan community in Switzerland and the only monastery built outside Asia at the Dalai Lama's request.

Today, Tibetans are well integrated into Rikon, like Deshar Karpo, who has been working in the factory for nine months. ‘I am lucky to be here,’ he says. Although Kuhn Rikon now manufactures pots in China, the bond between Rikon and the Tibetans remains strong.

Schönenwerd, Solothurn (Bally shoes)

It was here, in the canton of Solothurn, that Karl Franz Bally founded his famous factory (1851) and soon had over 3,000 people working in the company. Houses were built for the workers and the small village was quickly transformed. Martin Matter, a descendant of Bally, notes: ‘The population literally exploded, especially towards the end of the First World War.’

In the early 20th century, mechanisation brought the company to the fore: by 1900 Bally was the largest shoe factory in the world, but in the 1960s competition from imports undermined its position. The factory was resold several times, downsized and finally moved to Ticino in 1999. Martin Matter says: ‘In the 2000s the place was empty, smelling of death. Now everything has been restored.’

Although the Bally company has left Schönenwerd, traces of it remain: there is Bally Park, Bally House and Bally Street. Peter Hodler, a member of the Solothurn government, confirms, ‘Without Bally, our municipality would be much smaller and not as structured.’

Kempttal, Zurich (Maggi sauces and broths)

The municipality of Kempttal, Zurich, is the industrial site where Julius Maggi, an Italian immigrant, founded a company 150 years ago that produced the famous Maggi sauces and bouillon cubes. In 1947, the company was bought by Nestlé, and 20 years ago, production in Kempttal ceased and the site was deserted. Today, however, the site is bustling with life again: around 140 companies have taken up residence on the site, giving the region a new energy.

According to Mikula Gehrig, Head of Development, the architecture and the spirit of Julius Maggi have made the place attractive. Now there are many innovative start-ups and food companies continuing Maggi's legacy. These include Hiltl Restaurant, one of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in the world, and Planted, a company specialising in plant-based proteins. Planted co-founder Pascal Bieri reports that the company has managed to raise 45 million francs in investment. In addition, a site for cultured meat is being built opposite Planted, where steaks and fish fillets will be created, continuing the food tradition of Kempttal.

Holderbank, Aargau (Holcim Cement)

The small town of Holderbank in the Aargau, situated on the banks of the Aare, was the birthplace of the world's largest cement company, Holcim, which until 2001 bore the village's name. Founded in 1912, the factory had access to limestone and plant facilities where clinker, the main ingredient in cement, was produced. Workers came here from all over the region. 

The Schmidhein dynasty turned Holcim into one of Switzerland's first multinational corporations. Already in the 1930s, Holcim plants were operating in France, Egypt and the USA. In 1976, however, the plant in Holderbank was closed. Walter Deubelbeis recalls how Schmidheiny's father announced the closure without hiding his tears. At the end of the 1980s, the last symbol of the plant, the chimney, was demolished.

Today Holcim, which became Lafarge Holcim, has 260 plants around the world, and its Holderbank office still provides employment for 220 staff and significant tax revenues. The company has improved the former quarry, where part of the site is now a nature reserve attracting visitors from all over Switzerland.

Boncourt, Jura (Burrus cigarette factory)

Leon Burrus, industrialist and mayor, played a key role in the development of Boncourt, home to the giant Burrus cigarette factory, sold 26 years ago by the family. Thanks to the Burrus family, whose name can be found everywhere, Boncourt has gained a park, a town hall, a swimming pool, a stadium and a riding school. Léon Burrus, according to his grandson Régis, invested in training his employees, upgrading their skills to achieve high productivity.

The factory, located 300 metres from the French border, targeted local workers and offered pioneering social benefits such as family allowances and paid holidays. François Burrus, the company's head and mayor, actively promoted the construction of the railway, which encouraged industrialisation and business development. During World War II, Leon's wife took risks to help French Jewish refugees cross the border. Today, the Burrus factory remains the third largest employer and Boncourt continues to bear the mark of a family that has ruled for nearly two centuries.

Conclusion

The contribution of Swiss companies to local communities is a story of the close connection between people, businesses and cities. Brands left a mark that is still visible today: they not only contributed to economic growth, but also shaped the cultural and social fabric of these places. Stories like these remind us that even the biggest global brands can retain a deep connection to their roots and those who have been part of their journey.