Ricola and ski racer Niels Hintermann have extended their collaboration for a further four years. This is an additional spark of motivation for the downhill and super-G specialist from the canton of Zurich, who is preparing for the upcoming 2024/25 season. The partnership includes classic bottle and helmet sponsorship (in the bright yellow Ricola colours and adorned with the wild boar «Cinghi» - Hintermann's longstanding nickname). The popular ski character will make himself available for Ricola events and the production of social media content. «We firmly believe in Niels and are convinced of his athletic abilities. He also perfectly embodies Ricola's values», says Thomas P. Meier, Group CEO of Ricola.
Successful collaboration since the 2022/23 ski season
The ski racer from Zurich was the first professional athlete to be sponsored by Ricola. With this sponsorship commitment, Ricola was able to raise its profile in the world of winter sports and further establish the well-known herbal sugar and the other flavours as drops for everyday use. In addition to the joint visual presence, various communication activities were implemented both on and off the slopes. In 2023, Niels Hintermann opened the new Ricola Experience Shop in Laufen and the Ricola Karaoke Gondola in Grindelwald and proved himself as an actor in front of the camera in various humorous social media ads. «Working with Ricola has always been great fun. A particular highlight was the photo shoot in a ski suit on the Paradeplatz - a real eye-catcher», says Niels Hintermann.
Broad commitment is complemented by skiing
«Skiing inspires the nation and releases emotions. Snow-covered landscapes with the mountains in the background - that's Ricola's home, and it fits», says Thomas P. Meier, explaining the «sporting» part of the company's many commitments. Ricola is also actively involved in numerous nature projects and has been supporting Swiss artists and cultural events as well as charitable projects for decades.
Brief portrait of Ricola
Ricola is one of the most modern and innovative cough-drop manufacturers in the world. The company exports herbal specialities to over 45 countries and is renowned for Swiss quality. Ricola was founded in 1930 and is now owned by the third and fourth generation of the founding family. With its headquarters in Laufen near Basel and subsidiaries in Europe, Asia and the USA, Ricola today produces over 60 varieties of herbal drops and tea specialities. The combination of the traditional values of a family business with quality awareness and future-orientated innovation is what makes the Swiss premium brand so successful.