Cremo S.A.

About Cremo

Cremo S.A., headquartered in Villars-sur-Glâne, is a Swiss milk processing company and, measured by the volume of milk processed, the second-largest dairy in Switzerland. The company produces and markets butter, dairy products such as milk, UHT cream, coffee cream in portions and yoghurts, as well as hard and semi-hard cheese varieties such as Le Gruyère AOC and Vacherin Fribourgeois. In addition, Cremo produces milk powder and protein concentrates used in the food and pharmaceutical industries, and offers industrial operators and brand owners tailored formulations and private-label solutions. Via the Petit Crémier delivery platform, Cremo supplies the retail trade with fresh products through four branches in French-speaking Switzerland. The company employs more than 660 staff at several locations, mainly in western Switzerland, and is among the 500 largest companies in Switzerland. More than 90 percent of the capital is owned by milk producers.

Site

Villars-sur-Glâne, CH

Processes

Milk powder, Protein concentrates for the food and pharmaceutical industries, Private-label solutions, Distribution of fresh products (Petit Crémier, four branches in French-speaking Switzerland)

Materials

Milk powder, Protein concentrates, UHT filling, Portion-packed coffee cream

Founded

1927 (as

Employees

660+

Industries

Food industry, Pharmaceutical industry, Retail (distribution of fresh products), Trade (brand/retail)

1. 01

   Milk intake from regional direct-supplier organisations (APLC, APLCV, VBMC)

2. 02

   Processing into dairy products (milk, cream, yoghurt, butter)

3. 03

   Cheese-making and cheese ripening

4. 04

   Drying into milk powder and protein concentrates for industry and pharma

5. 05

   Filling and packaging (UHT filling)

6. 06

   Distribution of fresh products via Petit Crémier

Products and Processes

Locations

History

1. 1917

   Butterzentrale Freiburg put into operation by decree of the Federal Council

2. 1927

   Conversion into the stock corporation Cremo by the Vaud-Fribourg Milk Association and the Milk Association of the Uplands

3. 1972

   Acquisition of the Fribourg central dairy

4. 1973

   Acquisition of the activities of the butter centrals of Vevey, Neuchâtel and Lausanne

5. 1985

   Acquisition of Chocolats et Cafés Villars SA (sold to Savencia in 1995)

6. 1990

   Villars-sur-Glâne production facility destroyed by arson

7. 1998

   Cooperation with Toni AG; takeover of coffee cream production in Gossau SG

8. 2002

   Acquisition of sites of Swiss Dairy Food: Le Mont-sur-Lausanne (UHT filling), Lucens and Thun (cheese dairy and milk powder)

9. 2014

   Acquisition of Vallait SA and Valcrème SA; plans for an organic dairy in Lyss

10. 2020

    Merger of Bio-Molkerei Seeland AG into Cremo S.A.; Hervé Perret becomes Managing Director

11. 2021

    Closure of the Steffisburg site (around 40 jobs); profit of CHF 20.3 million

12. 2022

    Acquisition of the Augstbordkäserei Turtmann and Innoprax AG (Lattesso brand); sale of the Thun plant site

13. 2023

    Closure of the Lyss site; Georges Godel becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors; Petit-Crémier site in Thun closed

14. 2024

    Outsourcing of transport to Galliker and Traveco; coffee cream production outsourced to Emmi

15. 2025

    Discontinuation of Emmentaler production; resignation of Ralph Perroud, Xavier Monange becomes Director General ad interim; loss of CHF 17.1 million