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Ricola

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For the fish genus Ricola, see Ricola (fish).
Ricola
Company typeAktiengesellschaft (AG)
Founded1930; 94 years ago (1930)
FounderEmil Wilhelm Richterich
Headquarters
Laufen
,
Switzerland
Key people
Thomas P. Meier (CEO)
ProductsCough drops, breath mints
Revenue307.2 Million CHF (Swiss francs) (2016)
Number of employees
>400 (2016)
Websitewww.ricola.com
Ricola Bonbons

Ricola Ltd./Ricola AG is a Swiss manufacturer of cough drops, instant tea, tea bags, and breath mints. The head office of Ricola is located in Laufen, Basel-Country[1] and has subsidiaries in Italy, Great Britain, Asia, and the United States. According to the company, it exports to around 45 countries in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Business

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Ricola is a family business owned by the Richterich family; the Chairman of the Board of Directors is Felix Richterich. At the end of November 2011, he also took over the position of managing director[2] until he was replaced by Thomas P. Meier in May 2019.[3] Since then, the operational management of Ricola Group AG has been entirely in the hands of executives who do not belong to the owning family.[4]

From 2014 to the end of 2018, Eva Richterich, daughter of Alfred Richterich, was Vice President of the Board of Directors of Ricola. Eva Richterich left the Board of Directors at the end of 2018 when she joined the management of Ricola Group AG. At the end of 2020, Eva Richterich left Group Management and devoted herself to her strategic role as a member of the Board of Directors of Ricola Familienholding AG.[5] After several years in operational management, Raphael Richterich, son of Felix Richterich and representative of the fourth generation of the family, was elected to the Board of Directors of Ricola Group AG in 2018, becoming Vice President in 2019.[6]

Ricola is a member of the Interessengemeinschaft Tee, Gewürze und verwandte Produkte (Interest Group for Tea, Spices, and Related Products; IGTG).[7]

Ricola listed sales of 307.2 million Swiss francs in 2016 and employs 400 workers. Around 200 independent production companies in the surrounding area service Ricola. In order to obtain enough herbs for the production of its herbal drops, the firm contracts over 100 self-managed farms in the Valais, Emmental, Val Poschiavo and at the southern foot of the Jura Mountains, in central Switzerland, and in Ticino. Ricola is known for its commercials featuring Heidi (Ramona Pringle) depicting mountaineers shouting "Ri-co-la!" and blowing through a large Alphorn.

A class action suit in February 2019 alleged non-natural ingredients (malic acid, aspartame, citric acid, sorbitol, ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate) while labels say "Naturally Soothing" or "Naturally Helps Support Immune System".[8][9] In November 2019 the judge dismissed two claims and let two claims proceed.[10] An earlier class action suit in November 2015 alleged industrially synthesized ingredients were used (ascorbic acid, citric acid, and malic acid) while labels stated "Naturally Soothing".[11][12] The suit was withdrawn without explanation in January 2016.[13]

History

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Ricola began in 1930 when master baker Emil Wilhelm Richterich and Daniel Ruoss Sr. established Confiseriefabrik Richterich & Co. Laufen after the purchase of a small bakery in his birthplace Laufen, just outside Basel. Under Richterich, the bakery specialized in confectionery such as Fünfermocken, a sweet similar to caramel. In 1940 Richterich experimented with the healing power of herbs and created Ricola's Swiss Herbal Sweet incorporating a blend of 13 herbs, which remains almost unchanged today.[14] In the 1950s the sweet became appreciated for its ability to be dissolved in boiling water, creating an aromatic herbal tea or tisane, which inspired Richterich to create a Ricola Herbal Tea a few years later.[15]

In 1967, Emil Richterich and his sons Hans Peter and Alfred renamed the company Ricola, an abbreviation of Richterich & Compagnie Laufen. Export began in the 1970s, introducing Ricola's products to foreign markets in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States. At the end of the decade, Ricola moved to a new purpose-built factory in the vicinity of Laufen, where its headquarters are still located.[15]

In 1976, after extensive research on sugar-free confectionery, Ricola launched Switzerland’s first chewable sugarless herbal sweet. Ricola first started to advertise its products on television in the 1980s, an era that saw increased awareness of the need for good dental hygiene, increasing the demand for sugar-free products such as the ones that Ricola offered. In 1985, the cooperation with Swiss farmers for the natural cultivation of herbs according to Bio Suisse standards began.[16] The Klosterfrau Healthcare Group has been responsible for the distribution of Ricola products in Germany since 1987.[17] In 1988 the company started packaging their products in small boxes.[15] In 2019, sales in Germany switched to CFP Brands, a joint venture in which Ricola participated.[18][19]

In 1993, the confectionery producer Disch from Othmarsingen was taken over, which was sold to the investment company Alrupa Finanz Holding in 2015. Disch produces the brands Sportmint and Mocken, which belong to Ricola.[20]

In 2006, the company put a state-of-the-art candy factory into operation in Laufen[21] and in 2014 the new Kräuterzentrum production building was put into operation at the same location.[22] It is made of clay and is the largest clay house in Europe. The construction was developed by the Austrian ceramist and clay building pioneer Martin Rauch, the architects were Herzog & de Meuron.[23]

In 2022, the company opened the first Ricola shop in Paris, where customers can also create their own sweets.[24] In March 2023, the company opened its Ricola shop in Laufen, Switzerland.[25]

In 2023, Ricola and IP-SUISSE agreed on a long-term partnership for the sustainable cultivation of sugar beets to produce 25,000 tons of sugar annually without the use of fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides.[26] [27]

In December 2023, Ricola was certified as a B Corporation by the non-profit organisation B Lab.[28]

The company is now managed by Thomas P. Meier as CEO and Felix Richterich as President of the Board. Today, Ricola exports to over 50 countries in Asia, North America and Europe.[29]

Ingredients

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Ricola herbal cough drop

While the active ingredient in most Ricola products is menthol, an important part of Ricola products is the herb mixture. The following herbs are noted as being part of Ricola's classic blend of 13 herbs:[30]

In the US market, ten herbs make up the herbal mixture, three of which are not in the list above.[why?] These are linden flowers (Tilia platyphyllos), wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis).[31]

The company offers over 60 types of herbal sweets that are supplemented with essential oils, natural flavourings, or vitamin C. All Ricola products are manufactured in Laufen, where Ricola produces 7 billion candies a year.[32] Variants available in Switzerland include Herbs Original, Lemon Balm, Honey Herbs, Orange Mint, Herbs Caramel, Honey Sage, Echinacea Honey Lemon, Cranberry, Mixed Berry, Sage, Elderflower, Glacial Mint, Eucalyptus and Calendula.[33]

Sugar-free versions are also available. Since the beginning of 2022, some of their products have been sweetened with steviol glycosides from the stevia plant.[34] As of November 2023, the official US Ricola site mentioned their continuing use of aspartame artificial sweetener in some products, as well as a stevia-sweetened option.[35]

Ricola products are also gluten-free, halal, and kosher.[35]

The product range is tailored to each market individually. For example, filled sweets are also available in Germany and North America. All Ricola products are based on the 13-herb mixture. It also contains isomalt, which carries a risk of intestinal distress when consumed in large quantities (above about 20–30 g (1 oz) per day).[36]

Ricola herb gardens

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Ricola has six display gardens in Switzerland. They are open to the public[37] and visitors to the herb gardens can learn about the original herbal blend in their natural environment and learn about the cultivation and power of herbs from May to September.[38] The gardens are located at the following locations:[39]

The herbs used to produce Ricola's cough drops are not cultivated in these gardens, but in natural plantations in the Swiss mountains in accordance with strict organic or BioSuisse guidelines. Ricola ensures that its cultivation areas are not situated near industrial sites or the road networks to avoid contact with harmful pollutants. Over 100 self-managed farms are under contract to Ricola in the Valais, Emmental, Puschlav and the Jura Mountains, in Central Switzerland and Ticino. They grow the herbs for Ricola products on an area equivalent to 124 soccer fields.[32] No pesticides, insecticides or herbicides are used in herb cultivation.[40]

Ricola Adventure Trail Arosa

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In cooperation with Arosa Tourism, Ricola opened the Ricola Adventure Trail in Arosa in 2021. At ten interactive stations along the 3 km (1.9 mi) path, visitors can learn about bees, herbs and the candy-making process.[41]

Advertising

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In 1980, the jingle was introduced for Ricola that is still used today. In the commercials, Ramona Pringle, among others, sings the characteristic "RIII-CO-LAAAAAAA"; in some videos she imitates Heidi.

In 1998 the first videos of the advertising campaign with the slogan Wer hat's erfunden? ('Who invented it?') aired. The ads were filmed in Finland (1998), Australia (1998), England (1999), Mexico (2000), China (2004), Brazil (2004), and Greenland (2008). The actor was Erich Vock.[42]

Since 2013, Ricola has advertised internationally with the Swiss-German slogan Chrüterchraft ('herbal power'). "Chrüterchraft is a Swiss word. It stands for herbs, for effect and enjoyment. All Ricola values are contained in this one word: the magical mixture of herbs and the Swiss origin, beneficial effect and good taste of our products”, said Felix Richterich, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ricola, to Blick.ch.[43]

Ricola then launched the "Wish you Well" campaign, which ran from 2018.[44] In autumn 2021, it was replaced by the new advertising campaign "Just take Ricola", which has since been broadcast across Europe. "With the new advertising campaign, we wanted to focus on what makes Ricola special: naturally grown alpine herbs, the Swiss origin of our company and the balance between enjoyment and functionality of the products. These are the cornerstones of Ricola's success and we will continue to build on them in the future. And as our commercial makes it clear, a pinch of humor plays an important role at Ricola", said Thomas P. Meier, CEO of Ricola, to Werbewoche.[45] The advertising campaign also included a revision of the packaging and the logo.[46]

Consumer deception lawsuit

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In 2022, Ricola was sued in the US for deceiving consumers. The plaintiff claimed that the packaging implied that Swiss herbs would soothe a sore throat, when in fact menthol was the only ingredient with this effect. The accuser wanted 5 million dollars in damages. Ricola, on the other hand, claimed that it had "correctly complied with all regulations at all times".[47]

References

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  1. ^ "Contact". Ricola AG. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  2. ^ "Ricola-Geschäftsleiter Adrian Kohler gestorben". Basler Zeitung (in German). 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  3. ^ "Ricola steigert Umsatz und stellt sich für die Zukunft neu auf". Moneycab (in Swiss High German). 2019-05-22. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  4. ^ "gfm-Marketing-Check mit Thomas P. Meier, CEO Ricola Group" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  5. ^ "Neues Modell der Unternehmensführung bei Ricola". presseportal.ch (in German). 2020-12-17. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  6. ^ "Neuer Chef für Ricola". Schweizer Bauer (in German). 2019-01-21. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  7. ^ "Unsere Mitgliedsfirmen". IGTG - Interessengemeinschaft Tee, Gewürze und verwandte Produkte (in German). Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  8. ^ Andreatta, David (2019-02-08). "Andreatta: Steuben County woman wants Ricola to cough up $5 million". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  9. ^ "Docket for Comfort v. Ricola USA, Inc., 6:19-cv-06089-CJS - CourtListener.com". CourtListener. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  10. ^ Siragusa, Charles (2019-11-14). "DECISION AND ORDER" (PDF). CourtListener. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  11. ^ Hargett, Robbie (2015-11-30). "Ricola faces class-action suit over false advertising claims". Legal Newsline. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  12. ^ "Docket for Minker v. Ricola USA, Inc., 1:15-cv-09014 - CourtListener.com". CourtListener. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  13. ^ "Notice of Dismissal, Case 1:15-cv-09014-RA Document 14 Filed 01/15/16" (PDF). CourtListener. 2016-01-15. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  14. ^ Meske, Mara (2011). "Die Lebenswelt von Kindern heute". Natur ist für mich die Welt (in German). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. pp. 51–84. doi:10.1007/978-3-531-92760-2_3. ISBN 978-3-531-17904-9.
  15. ^ a b c "History". Ricola AG. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  16. ^ "Unsere Wurzeln". Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  17. ^ "Ricola – Die hochwertigen Kräuterspezialitäten aus der Schweiz". 2017-10-03. Archived from the original on 2017-10-03. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  18. ^ "Ricola setzt künftig auf CFP Brands statt Klosterfrau". www.markenartikel-magazin.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  19. ^ "Distribution joint venture CFP Brands". Ricola. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  20. ^ "Ricola verkauft Süsswarenproduzentin". Schweizer Bauer (in German). 2015-05-08. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  21. ^ "Produktionsneubau Ricola AG Laufen". TECTONEWS (in German). 2006-05-31. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  22. ^ "Ricola eröffnet neues Kräuterzentrum". bauernzeitung.ch (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  23. ^ "Aus Boden gestampft". Berner Zeitung (in German). 2014-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  24. ^ "Ausgerechnet Franzosen eröffnen den ersten Ricola-Shop". Blick (in Swiss High German). 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  25. ^ "Ricola: The herbal candies are now available in the experience store".
  26. ^ "Ricola setzt auf IP-Suisse-Zucker".
  27. ^ "Zucker: Ricola und IP-Suisse gehen süsse Allianz ein".
  28. ^ "Ricola Group AG - Certified B Corporation - B Lab Global". B Corporation. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  29. ^ "The Company". Ricola AG. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  30. ^ "The Magic 13 Herbs". Ricola AG. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  31. ^ "Ricola Original – Ingredients". Ricola. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  32. ^ a b "Ricola Herstellung: Natürlich aus der Schweiz". Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  33. ^ "Kräuterbonbons: Wohltuend für den Hals". Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  34. ^ "Ricola Group AG: Ricola: Ein starkes 2. Halbjahr nach herausforderndem Start ins 2021". nachrichten-heute.net (in German). 2022-05-05. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  35. ^ a b "Frequently Asked Questions". Ricola [US]. Ricola. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  36. ^ "Genussvolle Kombination: Tradition mit Fortschritt". Promarca (in German). 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  37. ^ "Ricola Kräuterschaugarten". Schweiz Tourismus (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  38. ^ "Auf den Spuren der Heilkräuter im Berner Oberland". Nau (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  39. ^ "Ricola Herb Gardens". Ricola AG. Archived from the original on 2015-12-07. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  40. ^ "Ricola herb farmers would rather inspect every single leaf individually than use chemical substances to combat insects or other pests". Ricola AG. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  41. ^ "Ricola-Erlebnisweg in Arosa eröffnet". htr.ch (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  42. ^ "Jung von Matt/Fleet: Ricola in Brasilien". persoenlich.com. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  43. ^ "Der Zungenbrecher von Ricola". Tages-Anzeiger (in German). 2013-10-15. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  44. ^ Häusermann, Thomas (2018-10-13). ""Wish you well»: Ricola verabschiedet sich endgültig von «Chrüterchraft"". Werbewoche m&k (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  45. ^ Willi, Sarah (2021-11-02). "Ricola: Neue Kampagne und neuer Claim «Nimm einfach Ricola»". Werbewoche m&k (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  46. ^ "Rriiiicola: Neues Logo und Packungsdesign | W&V". www.wuv.de (in German). 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  47. ^ "Ricola wegen falscher Versprechen vor Gericht". Blick (in Swiss High German). 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
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