Ricola and Swiss-Ski join forces
Ricola is expanding its commitment to skiing via a four-year partnership with Swiss-Ski. As a Silver Partner Alpine, the Laufen-based candy manufacturer’s logo will be featured on all alpine athletes’ ski jackets from the 2024/25 ski season onwards. The company will also have a physical presence at the ski races in Adelboden, Wengen and Crans-Montana, as well as its own Ricola team (#TeamRicola).
Ricola’s Thomas P. Meier (Group CEO) and Daniela Ruoss (General Manager Switzerland) and Swiss-Ski’s Diego Züger (Co-CEO) and Matthias Rietschin (Head of Partnerships & Sponsorships) symbolically signed the contract on Uetliberg, Zurich’s local mountain. The Laufen-based candy manufacturer is aiming to scale new heights with its four-year partnership with Swiss-Ski. Thomas P. Meier is looking forward to the collaboration: “Skiing is all about nature, fresh air and Switzerland’s wonderful mountains. Our Ricola herbs are also at home in the lofty altitudes of the Alps – which makes this partnership a perfect fit.” Ricola has had positive experiences sponsoring speed specialist Niels Hintermann over the past two years, and has therefore extended its partnership with him for another four years. Niels was recently diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes; Ricola would like to take this opportunity to once again wish him a swift recovery shaped by strength and optimism.
Matthias Rietschin, Daniela Ruoss, Thomas P. Meier, Diego Züger
Official Swiss-Ski Silver Partner Alpine
As an official Silver Partner of Swiss-Ski, Ricola is committed to the Swiss Ski Association, with a focus on alpine skiing. “We are proud to be able to welcome such a long-established brand as Ricola to the Swiss-Ski family,” says a delighted Diego Züger. Ricola will have a presence on various Swiss-Ski platforms as a Silver Partner Alpine from the 2024/25 ski season onward.
Ricola logo on athletes’ ski jackets
The collaboration will see the sleeves of alpine athletes’ ski jackets bear Ricola’s logo as of the upcoming season. “Ricola, for its part, will trumpet its partnership via a national campaign with the slogan ‘For a season full of Swiss heroes’,” says Daniela Ruoss.
Physical presence in Adelboden, Wengen and Crans-Montana
As part of the partnership, visitors to the three World Cups in Switzerland – in Adelboden, Wengen and Crans-Montana – will be able to experience and enjoy Ricola in person. Tens of thousands of fans will be treated to Ricola drops, take part in competitions and other promotional activities, and share in the excitement in the yellow fan zone. “Our presence allows us to bring Ricola’s varied range of products to life in an even more vivid way. Our drops are the perfect companion – be it in everyday life or on the slopes. Ricola provides small, soothing moments that make your day even more enjoyable,” says Thomas P. Meier.
#TeamRicola: commitment to young talent
Fostering the next generation of talent is also particularly important to Ricola. As a result, the company will be supporting the Ricola team (#TeamRicola) from the 2024/25 season onward. In addition to the experienced Niels Hintermann (29), this team comprises Bern’s Laura Huber (19, C squad), speed specialist Isabella Pedrazzi (20, B squad) from Altendorf (SZ) and Eric Wyler (23, B squad) from Brienz (BE). They will all be wearing bright yellow Ricola helmets as they strive to achieve top results. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed for these talented young people and hope that our herbs’ power helps them speed to success,” concludes Daniela Ruoss.
Niels Hintermann, Isabella Pedrazzi, Eric Wyler, Laura Huber
About Ricola
Ricola is one of the world’s most modern and innovative manufacturers of herb drops. Ricola herb specialities are exported to more than 45 countries and are famous for their fine Swiss quality. Founded in 1930, with headquarters in Laufen near Basel and subsidiaries in Europe, Asia and the USA, Ricola now produces around 60 different herb drops and tea specialities. 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. Ricola has concluded fixed long-term purchase agreements with more than 100 farmers in Swiss mountain regions. Ricola is committed to sustainable corporate management, economically, socially and ecologically and is a responsible employer for around 600 employees worldwide. 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.
About Swiss-Ski
The Swiss Ski Association, Swiss-Ski, is the umbrella organisation for Swiss snow sports. Since it was established in 1904, Swiss-Ski has become one of Switzerland’s most important and successful sports associations. It brings together eleven disciplines: alpine skiing, cross-country, Nordic combined, ski jumping, biathlon, snowboarding, ski cross, freeski, aerials, moguls and telemark skiing. Swiss-Ski promotes high-performance sport and focuses on the best sporting nations in the world. It places emphasis on recreational sport, gives children and young people access to snow sports and helps to improve public health. The association also supports large-scale events in Switzerland. Swiss-Ski is an integral part of an extensive network of Swiss and international associations and organisations.
Ricola Group SA
Corporate Communications
Tel. +41 (0)61 765 41 21
media@ricola.com
Swiss Ski
Philipp Bärtsch
Head of Corporate Communication
philipp.baertsch@swiss-ski.ch