Production of traditional and innovative Swiss pasta specialities in Kerns, from UrDinkel to large-volume catering quantities.
Kernser Pasta AG
Kerns (Industriestrasse 3, 6064 Kerns)New on Amplifa
About us
Since 1936, Kernser Pasta AG has produced dry pasta products and pasta specialities at its site in Kerns in the canton of Obwalden. The range includes the traditional UrSchweizer line (including Original Älpler-Magronä, Stanser-Hörnli), UrDinkel pasta made from 100% Swiss UrDinkel, products made from Swiss durum wheat semolina, wafer-thin rolled sheet pasta specialities, vegan as well as gluten-free pasta made from rice and corn flour, soup garnishes and shaped pasta. Production follows typical pasta processes: dough kneading, pressing through dies or sheet rolling, multi-stage gentle drying for up to 16 hours at a plant capacity of approx. 500 kg per hour, plus packaging and filling, for the catering sector also in 10 kg boxes. Raw materials are regionally sourced goods such as UrDinkel flour, fresh free-range eggs, spring water from the Arvigrat as well as durum wheat semolina from Canada and the EU. Customers include major retailers such as Coop, Migros, Spar, Volg and Avec, the catering industry and large-scale consumers. Around 40 employees work at the Kerns site, which combines production, factory shop and administration.
- Site
- Kerns
- Processes
- Pasta production (pasta manufacturing: dough kneading, pressing through dies, gentle drying, Sheet-rolling process (wafer-thin rolled pasta: rolling, strip cutting, forming into nests,, Steam pre-cooking (Gourmet Lasagne is pre-cooked with 90°C steam), Bulk filling for catering (10 kg box), Quality inspection/certification according to FSSC 22000 (ISO 22000:2018, ISO/TS 22002-1:2019),, Online shop, Factory shop, Large catering volumes (10 kg box)
- Materials
- Swiss UrDinkel, Spelt, Swiss durum wheat semolina, Durum wheat (Canada, approx. 10% EU), Rice flour, Corn flour, Fresh free-range eggs (Malters LU), Kerns water from the Arvigrat (spring water)
- Certificates
- FSSC 22000 (ISO 22000:2018, ISO/TS 22002-1:2019), Demeter, Suisse Garantie, UrDinkel brand programme, Bio Knospe (Bio Suisse) / CH Organic Ordinance, From the Region. For the Region. (Migros Luzern), Manor Lokal supplier, EWO natural electricity (100% hydropower from Obwalden, naturemade star), FSSC 22000 (ISO 22000 / ISO/TS 22002-1), Bio Knospe (Bio Suisse), ISO 9001
- Founded
- 1936
- Employees
- almost 40
- Industries
- Food retail (Coop, Migros, Spar, Volg, Avec, Manor), Catering/large-scale consumers
- 01
Raw material sourcing (UrDinkel, durum wheat semolina, eggs, spring water)
- 02
Dough kneading
- 03
Pressing through dies / sheet rolling
- 04
Cutting and shaping
- 05
Multi-stage gentle drying (up to 16 h)
- 06
Packaging
- 07
Filling / palletising (incl. large catering volumes)
Raw materials & Processes
UrDinkel (Oberkulmer, Ostro)
Original Swiss spelt not crossbred with wheat, the basis of the UrDinkel line produced since 1999.
Swiss durum wheat semolina
First product line since 2020/2023, in sustainable paper packaging and egg-free.
Durum wheat (Canada, approx. 10% EU)
Standard durum wheat semolina, sourced via Swiss grain mills.
Rice flour
Basis of the gluten-free pasta ranges.
Corn flour
Basis of the gluten-free pasta ranges.
Fresh free-range eggs
Since 1998 exclusively Swiss free-range eggs from Malters LU for the 3-egg pasta.
Kerns water from the Arvigrat
Untreated local spring water, receives natural minerals.
Sheet-rolling process
Wafer-thin rolled pasta, cut into strips, formed into nests and dried in the oven.
Steam pre-cooking
Gourmet lasagne is pre-cooked with 90°C steam; gratinating time without pre-cooking only approx. 25 minutes.
Site
Kerns
CHProduction, factory shop, administration
- Lot size
- Retail packs up to large catering volumes (10 kg box)
- Materials
- UrDinkel, spelt, Swiss durum wheat, durum wheat semolina, rice/corn flour, eggs
- Fully automatic pasta press (Bühler, commissioned in 1938)
- Fully automatic Bühler short-goods line (1963)
- Spaghetti production line (2018)
- Wolf packaging machine (2018)
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasta production (pasta manufacturing: dough kneading, pressing through dies, gentle dryingOther (food processing) | – | – | – | – | UrDinkel, spelt, Swiss durum wheat/durum wheat semolina, rice flour, corn flour, fresh eggs, spring water |
| Sheet-rolling process (wafer-thin rolled pasta: rolling, strip cutting, forming into nests,Other (food processing) | – | – | – | – | UrDinkel flour, saffron, lemon, wild garlic, chestnuts, porcini mushrooms |
| Steam pre-cooking (Gourmet Lasagne is pre-cooked with 90°C steam)Other (food processing) | – | – | – | – | UrDinkel |
| Bulk filling for catering (10 kg box)Other (food processing) | – | – | – | 10 kg box | durum wheat semolina, free-range eggs, UrDinkel |
| Quality inspection/certification according to FSSC 22000 (ISO 22000:2018, ISO/TS 22002-1:2019),Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
4 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasta press (fully automatic) | Bühler | 1 | – | 1938 (Inbe | Kerns |
| Short-goods line (fully automatic) | Bühler | 1 | – | 1963 (Inbe | Kerns |
| Spaghetti production line | – | 1 | – | 2018 | Kerns |
| Packaging machine | Wolf | 1 | – | 2018 | Kerns |
Additional services
Reference customers
Certified & Tested
Since 2015, the FSSC 22000 certification system has applied (ISO 22000:2018, ISO/TS 22002-1:2019); the operation is inspected and certified annually by ProCert. In addition, certifications exist under Demeter, Suisse Garantie, UrDinkel, Bio Knospe, Migros AdR and Manor Lokal.
| Evidence | Kerns |
|---|---|
| FSSC 22000 (ISO 22000 / ISO/TS 22002-1) | |
| Demeter | |
| Bio Knospe (Bio Suisse) | |
| Suisse Garantie | |
| ISO 9001 |