Ricola, the family-run company deeply rooted in Laufen, Switzerland, produces its functional herbal specialities exclusively in Switzerland and exports 90 percent of them. "We want to further increase our presence in the important German export market", says Felix Richterich, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Swiss company. "The CFP Brands joint venture has excellent connections in the German confectionery market. Our involvement in this partnership is based on shared values and common interests."
The CFP Brands joint venture brings together strong, innovative brands under one roof and markets them jointly in Germany. The founding members are international confectionery companies Perfetti van Melle and Fisherman’s Friend. Ricola’s inclusion strengthens the joint venture’s comprehensive product portfolio of well-known brands: Chupa Chups, Mentos, Smint, Mentos chewing gum, Fisherman’s Friend – and now cough and throat drops from Ricola.
The existing CFP Brands shareholders also see a major opportunity in Ricola’s coming on board as an equal partner. "We are honoured and delighted to represent the strong Ricola brand in the German market in future", says Jörg Beiss, CEO of CFP Brands, "offering customers, consumers and shoppers an expanded, rounded portfolio of high-quality products. The partnership will offer customers the best possible service: They will have easy access to top brands from a single source. CFP Brands stands for comprehensive advisory expertise in all distribution and trade channels." The agreement covers the drug store and pharmacy market, food retailing and convenience stores.
Ricola and Klosterfrau, its current distribution partner in Germany, have agreed to allow their contract to lapse at the end of 2018. “As a valued distribution partner", Felix Richterich emphasizes, “Klosterfrau was part of Ricola’s success story in Germany. We thank Klosterfrau for the good collaboration in the last 30 years.”
Subject to the consent of the German Federal Cartel Office, the expanded CFP Brands joint venture will take over the distribution and marketing of Ricola in Germany from 1 January 2019.
Brief profile of Ricola
Ricola is one of the world’s most modern and innovative manufacturers of herb drops. Ricola herb specialties are exported to more than 50 countries and are famous for their fine Swiss quality. Founded in 1930, with company headquarters in Laufen and subsidiaries in Europe, Asia and the USA, Ricola now produces around 60 different herb drops and tea specialties. Group sales amounted to CHF 307.2 million at the end of 2016. In Switzerland, this family-owned company is a pioneer in herb cultivation and places great value on using carefully selected locations and controlled, environmentally friendly cultivation methods without the use of pesticides and herbicides. Ricola has concluded fixed long-term purchase agreements with more than 100 farmers in Swiss mountain regions. Ricola is a responsible employer of more than 400 employees and is committed to sustainable corporate management: economically, socially and ecologically. The traditional values of a family-run enterprise coupled with Swiss quality and a passion for innovation are crucial factors in the success of the Ricola global brand.
Brief profile of CFP Brands
CFP Brands Süßwarenhandels GmbH & Co KG is a joint venture of international confectionery companies Perfetti van Melle (Italy/Netherlands) and Fisherman’s Friend (United Kingdom). As a marketing and distribution company, CFP distributes several top brands in the confectionery sector in the German market, among them Fisherman’s Friend, Mentos, Chupa Chups, Smint and Center Shock. Based in Bonn, CFP Brands has over 110 employees.