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 interest group for tea, spices and related products (IGTG).[further explanation needed]
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".[7][8] In November 2019 the judge dismissed two claims and let two claims proceed.[9] 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were used (ascorbic acid, citric acid, and malic acid) while labels stated "Naturally Soothing".[10][11] The suit was withdrawn without explanation in January 2016.[12]
History
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 which was 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.[13] 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.[14]
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.[14]
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.[15] The Klosterfrau Healthcare Group has been responsible for the distribution of Ricola products in Germany since 1987.[16] In 1988 the company started packaging their products in small boxes.[14] In 2019, sales in Germany switched to CFP Brands, a joint venture in which Ricola participated.[17][18]
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.[19]
In 2006, the company put a state-of-the-art candy factory into operation in Laufen[20] and in 2014 the new "Kräuterzentrum" production building was put into operation at the same location.[21] 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.[22]
In 2022, the company opened the first Ricola shop in Paris, where customers can also create their own sweets.[23] In March 2023, the company opened its Ricola shop in Laufen, Switzerland.[24]
In 2023, Ricola and IP-SUISSE agreed on a long-term partnership for the sustainable cultivation of sugar beets to produce annually 25 000 tons of sugar without use of fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides.[25][26]
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.[27]
Ingredients
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:[28]
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).[29]
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.[30] 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.[31]
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.[32]As of November2023[update], the official US Ricola site mentioned their continuing use of aspartame artificial sweetener in some products, as well as a stevia-sweetened option.[33]
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).[34]
Ricola herb gardens
Ricola has six display gardens in Switzerland. They are open to the public[35] and visitors to the herb gardens can learn about the original herbal blend in their natural environment and learn all about the cultivation and power of herbs from May to September.[36] The gardens can be visited as tourist attractions and are located at the following locations:[37]
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.[30] No pesticides, insecticides or herbicides are used in herb cultivation.[38]
Ricola Adventure Trail Arosa
In cooperation with Arosa Tourism, Ricola opened the Ricola Adventure Trail in Arosa in 2021. At ten interactive stations along the three-kilometre path, you can find out all you need to know about bees, herbs and the candy making process.[39]
Advertising
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.[40]
Since 2013, Ricola has been advertising internationally with the Swiss-German slogan Chrüterchraft ("herbal power"). "Chrütercraft 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”.[41]
Ricola then launched the "Wish you Well" campaign, which ran from 2018.[42] 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.[43] The advertising campaign also included a revision of the packaging and the logo.[44]
Consumer deception lawsuit
In 2022, Ricola was sued in the US for deceiving consumers. The accuser 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".[45]
Related Research Articles
Lavandula is a genus of 47 known species of perennial flowering plants in the mints family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Old World, primarily found across the drier, warmer regions of mainland Eurasia, with an affinity for maritime breezes.
Lemon balm is a perennial herbaceous plant in the mint family and native to south-central Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, Iran, and Central Asia, but now naturalised elsewhere.
Salvia rosmarinus, commonly known as rosemary, is a shrub with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple, or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. Until 2017, it was known by the scientific name Rosmarinus officinalis, now a synonym.
Valerian is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. In the summer when the mature plant may have a height of 1.5 metres, it bears sweetly scented pink or white flowers that attract many fly species, especially hoverflies of the genus Eristalis. It is consumed as food by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the grey pug.
Cenovis is a dark brown food paste from Switzerland consisting of yeast extract, onions, carrots and spices. It is similar to English Marmite, Brazilian Cenovit, and Australian Vegemite. It is rich in vitamin B1. It is used to flavour soups, sausages, and salads. The most popular way to consume Cenovis, however, is to spread it on a slice of buttered bread, as stated on the product's packaging (it can also be blended directly into butter, and then spread on bread, or used as a filling in croissants and buns).
A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement a person's diet by taking a pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients either extracted from food sources, or that are synthetic. The classes of nutrient compounds in supplements include vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, and amino acids. Dietary supplements can also contain substances that have not been confirmed as being essential to life, and so are not nutrients per se, but are marketed as having a beneficial biological effect, such as plant pigments or polyphenols. Animals can also be a source of supplement ingredients, such as collagen from chickens or fish for example. These are also sold individually and in combination, and may be combined with nutrient ingredients. The European Commission has also established harmonized rules to help insure that food supplements are safe and appropriately labeled.
Jägermeister is a German digestif made with 56 herbs and spices. Developed in 1934 by Wilhelm and Curt Mast, it has an alcohol by volume of 35%. The recipe has not changed since its creation and continues to be served in its signature green glass bottle. It is the flagship product of Mast-Jägermeister SE headquartered in Wolfenbüttel, Germany.
Borage, also known as starflower, is an annual herb in the flowering plant family Boraginaceae native to the Mediterranean region. Although the plant contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, some parts are edible and its seeds provide oil.
Corvalol is a tranquilizer based on the herb valerian root, as well peppermint oil Mentha piperita and hop extract Humulus lupulus and the barbiturate phenobarbital, popular in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union as a heart medication. It is available as a transparent liquid with a characteristic strong aroma, and as white bi-concave scored tablets. While not available for sale in the Western countries, Corvalol is sometimes brought over from Eastern Europe for self-administration to other countries of residence. Corvalol contains documented amounts of psychoactive chemicals, and may interact with other prescription medications that a person is taking.
Airborne is an American brand of dietary supplement containing herbal extracts, amino acids, antioxidants, electrolytes, vitamins, and other ingredients originally marketed as preventing the common cold and improving immune function.
Verbena officinalis, the common vervain or common verbena, is a perennial herb native to Europe. It grows up to 70 cm high, with an upright habitus. The lobed leaves are toothed, and the delicate spikes hold clusters of two-lipped mauve flowers.
Chinese patent medicine are herbal medicines in Traditional Chinese medicine, modernized into a ready-to-use form such as tablets, oral solutions or dry suspensions, as opposed to herbs that require cooking.
Shampoo is a hair care product, typically in the form of a viscous liquid, that is used for cleaning hair. Less commonly, shampoo is available in solid bar format. Shampoo is used by applying it to wet hair, massaging the product into the scalp, and then rinsing it out. Some users may follow a shampooing with the use of hair conditioner.
Hyssopus officinalis or hyssop is a shrub in the Lamiaceae or mint family native to Southern Europe, the Middle East, and the region surrounding the Caspian Sea. Due to its purported properties as an antiseptic, cough reliever, and expectorant, it has been used in traditional herbal medicine.
The Organic Herb Trading Company is a supplier of organic herbs and spices. It was founded by Mike Brook in 1982 in a small village called Hambleden near Henley-on-Thames. Over the last 30 years, the company has grown and sourced the UK's largest range of ingredients for a diverse range of customers in the herbal tea, food, health, and beauty markets. Their customers are based both in the UK and worldwide and include brands such as Pukka Herbs, Neal's Yard Remedies, and River ford.
Max Felchlin AG is a company headquartered in Schwyz, Switzerland which produces chocolate and other baking and confectionery ingredients.
Klosterfrau Melissengeist, also referred to as Klostermelissen or Melissengeist, is a German variation of Carmelite Water currently sold by Klosterfrau Healthcare Group as an alternative remedy for the improvement of general health and wellbeing. Melissengeist derives its name from one of its principal ingredients, Melissa officinalis L., commonly known as lemon balm. It also includes the essential oils of thirteen medicinal plants such as gentian, cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger, which are all mixed in a 79% ethanol solution. Since its origin in the 1800s in Germany, it has been used as an alternative medicine to treat an array of health issues like colds or gastrointestinal issues.
Parodontax is a brand name of toothpaste and mouthwash currently owned by Haleon, previously GSK.
Yaël Andrina Meier is a Swiss businesswoman and journalist.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
