Chocolat Frey
Encyclopedia
Chocolat Frey AG, based in Buchs in the Swiss Canton of Aargau
, manufactures chocolate
and chewing gum
. The products of the leading chocolate manufacturer on the Swiss chocolate market are sold both in Switzerland and abroad under the brand name of Frey as well as additional private labels. The company, founded in 1887, is a business entreprise of the M-Industry and has been a part of the Migros Group
since 1950.
before establishing the family business. After his training as a commercial employee
with the company S.A. de la Fabrique des Chocolats Amédée Kohler et fils in Paris
, Robert dealt with machines for the manufacture of chocolate in the engineering works Riccard & Greiss. Max completed his commercial apprenticeship with the company Cramer-Frey in Zurich
, for which he was eventually also active in Brazil
. On 17 December 1887, they founded the general partnership
R. & M. Frey in Aarau
.
The development of the conche
in 1879 advanced the industrial production of chocolate greatly. Robert was already familiar with this technique and he was able to integrate it in his company. Furthermore, from the very beginning production was carried out by electric machines.
. From then on they manufactured chocolate bars and chocolate powder, but also soups and tonics. However, the latter were removed from the range of products later to focus on the manufacture of chocolate.
During the First World War
the company benefited from Switzerland’s neutral position. Open customs
facilitated the export of chocolate. However, the procurement of raw materials such as cocoa proved to be much more difficult. As a result of good sales prices abroad, business interruptions could be prevented. Through export, turnover could even be almost doubled, from 882,000 Swiss franc
s (CHF) (1916) to CHF 1,465,000 (1918). Back then the chocolate was available in Germany
, France
and Sweden
, and later on also in England
.
With the end of the war exports slumped severely. Germany and France were too preoccupied with the reconstruction and were no longer trading partners, leaving only England. This forced the company to downgrade sales to the domestic market.
At the beginning of the 1920s
, the company teetered on the brink of collapse. Production
stood still for days at a time. It was not until the economy recovered around the mid-1920s, that the Board of Directors
took heart to develop the foreign market again. However, this attempt failed due to the global economic crisis
.
During these years Robert Frey junior (born February 18, 1901) gradually took over the company management. His father had already familiarised him with the company early on. This way he was able to ensure that the public company remained family-owned.
In 1932 Robert Frey senior retired from the Board of Directors. Only one year later his brother Max Frey died aged 70.
The company also had a tough struggle during the Second World War
. Foreign trade was complicated by the war. New import regulations for cocoa
and sugar
limited the Swiss chocolate market a great deal. Furthermore, many employees as well as executives were called up for military service
, so that the company lacked sufficient personnel to advance. Although demand increased slightly after the end of the war, it could not be met due to the lack of manpower.
Thanks to the distinctive economic upswing at the end of the Second World War, the company’s situation improved. In 1946 for the first time the Board of Directors came up with the idea of looking around for partners. Four years later Migros
took over the company. Chocolat Frey AG is the oldest acquired company of Migros. Initially the alliance appeared to be debatable, as until then Migros owned its own chocolate factory with Jonatal AG. However, for Chocolat Frey AG the signing of the agreement was an important decision. Although the chocolate factory had to adopt the new owner’s terms and conditions, the company management remained in the hands of Robert Frey junior. In addition, the company’s development was promoted.
to Buchs
in the Canton of Aargau. At the same time the entire chocolate
, confectionery
and sweets manufacture, which Migros had operated until then, was centralised in one location. With this, the company mutated into a modern and successful industrial firm.
Since 1974, as the only Swiss manufacturer it has also produced chewing gum
, which today accounts for around 10% of Frey’s total annual turnover.
In the 1980s
two-figure increases in turnover filled the business accounting ledgers. In 1985 the company’s turnover exceeded the CHF 200 million threshold for the first time and the firm soon took over leadership on the domestic chocolate market. These good preconditions facilitated investments. Various structural and quality-related changes were implemented and the issue of environmental protection
gained in importance.
In line with this the company has been procuring district heating
from the nearby refuse incineration
plant since 1984. Since then the company has managed virtually without heating oil. In addition, the plant was upgraded with a new SBB (Swiss Railways) rail connection. The 80s were of great importance for international trade as well. For the first time since the Second World War foreign trade was re-established. England, the USA
, Denmark
, Austria
and Japan
, later also France and South East Asia, imported the chocolate of Chocolat Frey AG. However, for the time being export remained a modest secondary business. During the 90s
, the international trade was expanded and professionalised. In 1997 the company launched its new project ‘Chocolat Frey goes international’, with the aim of export contributing to Chocolat Frey AG’s profitability in the long term. A key account management system was introduced for key customer liaison and support.
, Scandinavia
, Canada
and Germany were new additions. The foreign market became the company’s most important growth factor. Since 2007 in addition to the private labels, the brand Frey has been offered again internationally, both in the travel retail business, i.e. in duty free
shops at airports and through sales in collaboration with international trade partners worldwide.
In 2008 the two companies Chocolat Frey AG and Delica
AG, both specialised in ‘indulgence’ foods, closed ranks. In order to strengthen the international market position and to utilise synergies to their best potential, it stood to reason to place both companies under one overall direction – a position held by the CEO of Chocolat Frey AG. Nonetheless, Delica AG will remain a corporate body, as do the two sites of Buchs and Birsfelden.
Today the company achieves around one third of its total turnover abroad. The products are sold in over 50 nations on all five continents. More than 40,000 tons of chocolate, confectionery products, semi-finished products and chewing gum leave the production facilities in Buchs annually. On the domestic market the company is the number 1 among Swiss chocolate manufacturers with a 39% market share (according to Chocosuisse 2009).
Chewing gum also accounts for part of the total turnover as around 10% are achieved in the chewing gum segment, around 2/3 of this with private labels in the international business.
’s head the company logo
of Chocolat Frey AG includes an element of the family crest of the brothers Max and Robert Frey. As the family name of ‘Frey’ was used as a brand name as well, it was also integrated into the logo. In addition, the company’s traditional character of chocolate manufacturing is established through the time reference of ‘CHOCOLAT SUISSE DEPUIS 1887’ (‘SWISS CHOCOLATE SINCE 1887’), which is displayed below the family name against a red background.
to the newly built factory in Buchs
in the Canton of Aargau
. To date Buchs is the only manufacturing base for chocolate and chewing gum. However, the area was continually developed and extended. Today it comprises several buildings on an area totalling around 70,000 m², for storing and processing cocoa and manufacturing chocolate and chewing gum. In addition (on a further lot of approx. 10,000 m²), the company has its own railway connection to the SBB (Swiss Railways) for the supply of raw materials and delivery of semi-finished and finished products.
With a market share of approximately 39% (according to Chocosuisse, 2009), Frey is the leading chocolate manufacturer on the Swiss market. The company employs over 800 members of staff and in 2010 achieved a gross turnover of CHF 404 million.
, but also from South America
.
Overall, Frey manufactures more than 2,500 products including a wide variety of chocolate bars (solid and filled), countlines (Blox, Risoletto, Branches and Frey d’Or), truffles and praline
s, but also a wide range of chewing gum
. For special events such as Easter and Christmas, seasonal products are on offer.
instead of crude oil
, respective structural measures, raising awareness and training of personnel as well as consistent controlling, energy consumption could be decreased by almost a quarter over the past 10 years, thus lowering the emission of CO2 significantly. In line with this, Frey was awarded ‘CO2-reduced company’ certification by the commercial environment agency for its voluntary endeavours in favour of climate protection. As a logical consequence, the company was awarded environmental certification according to ISO 14001
in 2008.
in Ghana
, Chocolat Frey AG supports orphaned and abandoned children. In 2007 the company financed the construction of one of currently twelve family houses in the SOS Children’s Village ASIAKWA, Ghana, and since then has secured the annual running costs of this house. It was put into operation in April 2008 and currently provides 7 children with a family environment with a ‘mother’ as a caregiver.
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
, manufactures chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
and chewing gum
Chewing gum
Chewing gum is a type of gum traditionally made of chicle, a natural latex product, or synthetic rubber known as polyisobutylene. For economical and quality reasons, many modern chewing gums use rubber instead of chicle...
. The products of the leading chocolate manufacturer on the Swiss chocolate market are sold both in Switzerland and abroad under the brand name of Frey as well as additional private labels. The company, founded in 1887, is a business entreprise of the M-Industry and has been a part of the Migros Group
Migros
Migros is one of Switzerland's largest enterprises, its largest supermarket chain and largest employer. It co-founded Turkey's largest retailer, Migros Türk, which became independent of Migros Switzerland in 1975....
since 1950.
Establishment
Frey was founded in 1887 by the brothers Robert (31 December 1861 – 03 March 1940) and Max Frey (09 March 1863 – 17 December 1933). Both had already gained experience with the manufacture of chocolateChocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
before establishing the family business. After his training as a commercial employee
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
with the company S.A. de la Fabrique des Chocolats Amédée Kohler et fils in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Robert dealt with machines for the manufacture of chocolate in the engineering works Riccard & Greiss. Max completed his commercial apprenticeship with the company Cramer-Frey in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, for which he was eventually also active in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. On 17 December 1887, they founded the general partnership
General partnership
In the commercial and legal parlance of most countries, a general partnership or simply a partnership, refers to an association of persons or an unincorporated company with the following major features:...
R. & M. Frey in Aarau
Aarau
Aarau is the capital of the northern Swiss canton of Aargau. The city is also the capital of the district of Aarau. It is German-speaking and predominantly Protestant. Aarau is situated on the Swiss plateau, in the valley of the Aar, on the river's right bank, and at the southern foot of the Jura...
.
The development of the conche
Conche
A conche is a surface scraping mixer and agitator that evenly distributes cocoa butter within chocolate, and may act as a 'polisher' of the particles. It also promotes flavor development through frictional heat and release of volatiles and acids, and oxidation. There are numerous designs of...
in 1879 advanced the industrial production of chocolate greatly. Robert was already familiar with this technique and he was able to integrate it in his company. Furthermore, from the very beginning production was carried out by electric machines.
First half of the 20th century
In 1906 the firm decided to become a public companyPublic company
This is not the same as a Government-owned corporation.A public company or publicly traded company is a limited liability company that offers its securities for sale to the general public, typically through a stock exchange, or through market makers operating in over the counter markets...
. From then on they manufactured chocolate bars and chocolate powder, but also soups and tonics. However, the latter were removed from the range of products later to focus on the manufacture of chocolate.
During the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the company benefited from Switzerland’s neutral position. Open customs
Customs
Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country...
facilitated the export of chocolate. However, the procurement of raw materials such as cocoa proved to be much more difficult. As a result of good sales prices abroad, business interruptions could be prevented. Through export, turnover could even be almost doubled, from 882,000 Swiss franc
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
s (CHF) (1916) to CHF 1,465,000 (1918). Back then the chocolate was available in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and later on also in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
With the end of the war exports slumped severely. Germany and France were too preoccupied with the reconstruction and were no longer trading partners, leaving only England. This forced the company to downgrade sales to the domestic market.
At the beginning of the 1920s
1920s
File:1920s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Third Tipperary Brigade Flying Column No. 2 under Sean Hogan during the Irish Civil War; Prohibition agents destroying barrels of alcohol in accordance to the 18th amendment, which made alcoholic beverages illegal throughout the entire decade; In...
, the company teetered on the brink of collapse. Production
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
stood still for days at a time. It was not until the economy recovered around the mid-1920s, that the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
took heart to develop the foreign market again. However, this attempt failed due to the global economic crisis
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
During these years Robert Frey junior (born February 18, 1901) gradually took over the company management. His father had already familiarised him with the company early on. This way he was able to ensure that the public company remained family-owned.
In 1932 Robert Frey senior retired from the Board of Directors. Only one year later his brother Max Frey died aged 70.
The company also had a tough struggle during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Foreign trade was complicated by the war. New import regulations for cocoa
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
and sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
limited the Swiss chocolate market a great deal. Furthermore, many employees as well as executives were called up for military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
, so that the company lacked sufficient personnel to advance. Although demand increased slightly after the end of the war, it could not be met due to the lack of manpower.
Thanks to the distinctive economic upswing at the end of the Second World War, the company’s situation improved. In 1946 for the first time the Board of Directors came up with the idea of looking around for partners. Four years later Migros
Migros
Migros is one of Switzerland's largest enterprises, its largest supermarket chain and largest employer. It co-founded Turkey's largest retailer, Migros Türk, which became independent of Migros Switzerland in 1975....
took over the company. Chocolat Frey AG is the oldest acquired company of Migros. Initially the alliance appeared to be debatable, as until then Migros owned its own chocolate factory with Jonatal AG. However, for Chocolat Frey AG the signing of the agreement was an important decision. Although the chocolate factory had to adopt the new owner’s terms and conditions, the company management remained in the hands of Robert Frey junior. In addition, the company’s development was promoted.
Second half of the 20th Century
In 1963 the construction of the present headquarters began and the plant was relocated from AarauAarau
Aarau is the capital of the northern Swiss canton of Aargau. The city is also the capital of the district of Aarau. It is German-speaking and predominantly Protestant. Aarau is situated on the Swiss plateau, in the valley of the Aar, on the river's right bank, and at the southern foot of the Jura...
to Buchs
Buchs, Aargau
-Government:In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SVP which received 35.9% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SP , the FDP and the CVP .-Legislative:...
in the Canton of Aargau. At the same time the entire chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
, confectionery
Confectionery
Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
and sweets manufacture, which Migros had operated until then, was centralised in one location. With this, the company mutated into a modern and successful industrial firm.
Since 1974, as the only Swiss manufacturer it has also produced chewing gum
Chewing gum
Chewing gum is a type of gum traditionally made of chicle, a natural latex product, or synthetic rubber known as polyisobutylene. For economical and quality reasons, many modern chewing gums use rubber instead of chicle...
, which today accounts for around 10% of Frey’s total annual turnover.
In the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
two-figure increases in turnover filled the business accounting ledgers. In 1985 the company’s turnover exceeded the CHF 200 million threshold for the first time and the firm soon took over leadership on the domestic chocolate market. These good preconditions facilitated investments. Various structural and quality-related changes were implemented and the issue of environmental protection
Environmental protection
Environmental protection is a practice of protecting the environment, on individual, organizational or governmental level, for the benefit of the natural environment and humans. Due to the pressures of population and our technology the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently...
gained in importance.
In line with this the company has been procuring district heating
District heating
District heating is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location for residential and commercial heating requirements such as space heating and water heating...
from the nearby refuse incineration
Incineration
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and...
plant since 1984. Since then the company has managed virtually without heating oil. In addition, the plant was upgraded with a new SBB (Swiss Railways) rail connection. The 80s were of great importance for international trade as well. For the first time since the Second World War foreign trade was re-established. England, the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, later also France and South East Asia, imported the chocolate of Chocolat Frey AG. However, for the time being export remained a modest secondary business. During the 90s
90s
-Significant people:* Titus Flavius Domitianus, Roman Emperor * Nerva, Roman Emperor...
, the international trade was expanded and professionalised. In 1997 the company launched its new project ‘Chocolat Frey goes international’, with the aim of export contributing to Chocolat Frey AG’s profitability in the long term. A key account management system was introduced for key customer liaison and support.
21st Century
International trade with private labels continued to be expanded after the turn of the millennium. The NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Germany were new additions. The foreign market became the company’s most important growth factor. Since 2007 in addition to the private labels, the brand Frey has been offered again internationally, both in the travel retail business, i.e. in duty free
Duty-free shop
Duty-free shops are retail outlets that are exempt from the payment of certain local or national taxes and duties, on the requirement that the goods sold will be sold to travelers who will take them out of the country...
shops at airports and through sales in collaboration with international trade partners worldwide.
In 2008 the two companies Chocolat Frey AG and Delica
Delica (enterprise)
Delica AG, based in Birsfelden , is a business enterprise of the M-Industry and belongs to the Swiss trading group Migros. Its field of activities comprises the procurement, refinement, packaging and marketing of raw materials and commodities from around the world, with particular emphasis on...
AG, both specialised in ‘indulgence’ foods, closed ranks. In order to strengthen the international market position and to utilise synergies to their best potential, it stood to reason to place both companies under one overall direction – a position held by the CEO of Chocolat Frey AG. Nonetheless, Delica AG will remain a corporate body, as do the two sites of Buchs and Birsfelden.
Today the company achieves around one third of its total turnover abroad. The products are sold in over 50 nations on all five continents. More than 40,000 tons of chocolate, confectionery products, semi-finished products and chewing gum leave the production facilities in Buchs annually. On the domestic market the company is the number 1 among Swiss chocolate manufacturers with a 39% market share (according to Chocosuisse 2009).
Chewing gum also accounts for part of the total turnover as around 10% are achieved in the chewing gum segment, around 2/3 of this with private labels in the international business.
Logo
With the unicornUnicorn
The unicorn is a legendary animal from European folklore that resembles a white horse with a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead, and sometimes a goat's beard...
’s head the company logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
of Chocolat Frey AG includes an element of the family crest of the brothers Max and Robert Frey. As the family name of ‘Frey’ was used as a brand name as well, it was also integrated into the logo. In addition, the company’s traditional character of chocolate manufacturing is established through the time reference of ‘CHOCOLAT SUISSE DEPUIS 1887’ (‘SWISS CHOCOLATE SINCE 1887’), which is displayed below the family name against a red background.
Headquarters
In 1967 the manufacturing base of Frey relocated from AarauAarau
Aarau is the capital of the northern Swiss canton of Aargau. The city is also the capital of the district of Aarau. It is German-speaking and predominantly Protestant. Aarau is situated on the Swiss plateau, in the valley of the Aar, on the river's right bank, and at the southern foot of the Jura...
to the newly built factory in Buchs
Buchs, Aargau
-Government:In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SVP which received 35.9% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SP , the FDP and the CVP .-Legislative:...
in the Canton of Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
. To date Buchs is the only manufacturing base for chocolate and chewing gum. However, the area was continually developed and extended. Today it comprises several buildings on an area totalling around 70,000 m², for storing and processing cocoa and manufacturing chocolate and chewing gum. In addition (on a further lot of approx. 10,000 m²), the company has its own railway connection to the SBB (Swiss Railways) for the supply of raw materials and delivery of semi-finished and finished products.
Key figures
More than 500,000 bars of chocolate leave the production premises in Buchs/Aargau daily. Annualised, this means more than 40,000 tons spread over more than 2,500 different products. In addition to chocolate and pralines, Chocolat Frey AG’s core products, the company manufactures semi-finished products (couvertures, chocolate and cocoa powders and liquors, fillings etc.) for further processing in industry and trade, chewing gum under the brands Skai and Candida as well as private labels.With a market share of approximately 39% (according to Chocosuisse, 2009), Frey is the leading chocolate manufacturer on the Swiss market. The company employs over 800 members of staff and in 2010 achieved a gross turnover of CHF 404 million.
Certifications
Chocolat Frey is certified in accordance with:- ISO 9001ISO 9000The ISO 9000 family of standards relates to quality management systems and is designed to help organizations ensure they meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders . The standards are published by ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, and available through National...
- ISO 14001ISO 14000The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations (a) minimize how their operations (processes etc.) negatively affect the...
- BRCBritish Retail ConsortiumThe British Retail Consortium is one of the leading trade associations in the United Kingdom. They represent all forms of retailers from small, independently owned stores, to big chain stores and department stores...
(British Retail Consortium) - IFS (International Food Standard)
Products
In order to be able to control the high demands on quality itself, Frey follows the production process from the cocoa bean to the finished chocolate bar 100% in Switzerland. Every single production step—from procuring the cocoa beans, roasting them in the plant, to careful processing of the chocolate—is carried out by the chocolatiers themselves. A large part of the cocoa beans comes from West Africa, primarily GhanaGhana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, but also from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
Overall, Frey manufactures more than 2,500 products including a wide variety of chocolate bars (solid and filled), countlines (Blox, Risoletto, Branches and Frey d’Or), truffles and praline
Praline
Praline is a family of confections made from nuts and sugar syrup.-Europe:As originally inspired in France at the Château of Vaux-le-Vicomte by the cook of the 17th-century sugar industrialist Marshal du Plessis-Praslin , early pralines were whole almonds individually coated in caramelized sugar,...
s, but also a wide range of chewing gum
Chewing gum
Chewing gum is a type of gum traditionally made of chicle, a natural latex product, or synthetic rubber known as polyisobutylene. For economical and quality reasons, many modern chewing gums use rubber instead of chicle...
. For special events such as Easter and Christmas, seasonal products are on offer.
- Chocolate bars: With the Extra fine milk chocolate, Frey has manufactured one of Switzerland’s top-selling chocolates for many years. Further important chocolates are GiandorGiandorGiandor is the name of a chocolate produced in Switzerland by the Swiss company Frey AG, which is a part of the Migros corporation. It is available in Switzerland through the stores of Migros and various local retailers. Giandor is produced in three basic versions: milk, dark, and white chocolate,...
and the premium line Suprême - PralinePralinePraline is a family of confections made from nuts and sugar syrup.-Europe:As originally inspired in France at the Château of Vaux-le-Vicomte by the cook of the 17th-century sugar industrialist Marshal du Plessis-Praslin , early pralines were whole almonds individually coated in caramelized sugar,...
s: Prestige Line - Chocolate candies
- CountlinesCandy barA chocolate bar is a confection in bar form comprising some or all of the following components: cocoa solids, cocoa butter, sugar, milk. The relative presence or absence of these components form the subclasses of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. In addition to these main...
- Chocolate-coated marshmallows
- Easter and Christmas specialities: Today, in addition to Easter eggs and other Easter products, Frey manufactures over 6 million Easter bunnies annually, weighing between 18g and 1,400g (overall around 2,400 tons).
- Semi-finished products
- Chewing gumChewing gumChewing gum is a type of gum traditionally made of chicle, a natural latex product, or synthetic rubber known as polyisobutylene. For economical and quality reasons, many modern chewing gums use rubber instead of chicle...
: Since 1974 Chocolat Frey AG has also offered an extensive range of chewing gum under the names of Skai, Candida and Fruity Fresh as well as produced own labels. Since 1988 only sugar-free chewing gum products have been manufactured.
Environment
Thanks to the utilisation of district heatingDistrict heating
District heating is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location for residential and commercial heating requirements such as space heating and water heating...
instead of crude oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
, respective structural measures, raising awareness and training of personnel as well as consistent controlling, energy consumption could be decreased by almost a quarter over the past 10 years, thus lowering the emission of CO2 significantly. In line with this, Frey was awarded ‘CO2-reduced company’ certification by the commercial environment agency for its voluntary endeavours in favour of climate protection. As a logical consequence, the company was awarded environmental certification according to ISO 14001
ISO 14000
The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations (a) minimize how their operations (processes etc.) negatively affect the...
in 2008.
SOS Children’s Village Asiakwa/Ghana
With its commitment to the SOS Children’s VillageSOS Children's Villages
SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-governmental international development organisation which has been working to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of children since 1949. It was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in Imst, Austria...
in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, Chocolat Frey AG supports orphaned and abandoned children. In 2007 the company financed the construction of one of currently twelve family houses in the SOS Children’s Village ASIAKWA, Ghana, and since then has secured the annual running costs of this house. It was put into operation in April 2008 and currently provides 7 children with a family environment with a ‘mother’ as a caregiver.