Hilcona celebrates 90 years and expands its Schaan site
Ready for the future
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90 years ago, Toni Hilti founded a company in Schaan to provide people with long-life food. The small canning factory from 1935 has grown into an international culinary company that today stands for fresh pasta, colorful bowls, sandwiches and plant-based alternatives. The expansion of the plant in Schaan will further strengthen the location in Liechtenstein.
In the 1930s, people wanted supplies for times of war, so canned peas and sauerkraut were the main focus. Today, our lives are shaped by trends such as a lack of time, mobility, health awareness and sustainability. Hilcona recognized these developments early on and played a key role in shaping them - from the introduction of fresh pasta in the 1980s to the to-go range from 2002 and the current trend towards plant-based nutrition.
Technology as a driver of innovation
Technology has been a key driver of this transformation. As early as the 1950s, the mechanization of harvesting made work easier. The introduction of frozen food opened up a new chapter in terms of shelf life, quality and enjoyment. In step with technical progress, the range has expanded over the decades, from fresh and ultra-fresh products to fresh salads, meals and sandwiches.
Impressive figures and regional roots
Today, Hilcona is part of the Bell Food Group and employs around 2,000 people in seven European countries, 1,000 of whom work in Schaan in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Over 1,600 different products are manufactured here, including ultra-fresh meals or müeslis, fresh pasta or long-life canned food. Hilcona Schaan produces the equivalent of 7.5 kilos of food per inhabitant in Switzerland and Liechtenstein every year. To achieve this, more than 500 farms - from Switzerland and Liechtenstein - supply 10,000 tons of potatoes, 2,000 tons of peas and 1,500 tons of Parisian carrots every year.
Ready for the future - Schaan construction project
A long-term construction project has been underway at the Schaan site since 2019, in which the plant is being developed in three phases to make it fit for the future and sustainable. The second phase was completed this year with the commissioning of the automated high-bay warehouse. With the expansion of production, the plant development will be completed by 2027.
"With this pioneering construction project, we are reaffirming our commitment to the region and continuing to place great emphasis on the Schaan site. Hilcona is thus well prepared for the coming years," says Marco Tschanz, CEO of the Bell Food Group.
"We are proud of our 90-year history - but looking ahead is even more important. That's why we are focusing on sustainability in the new buildings, for example with the photovoltaic system, district heating and Minergie standard," says Dr. Martin Henck, CEO of Hilcona. "Our aim is to inspire people with innovative and enjoyable products while at the same time taking responsibility for the environment and society."
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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