SCCC COMPANY PROFILE
Lindt & Sprüngli
http://www.lindt.ca
LINDT & SPRUENGLI – A SUCCESS STORY
The story begins in 1845. The confectioner, David Sprüngli-Schwarz and his inventive son, Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann, own a small confectionery shop in Zurich’s Old Town and then a second and larger confectionery and a cafe at Zurich’s Paradeplatz.
When Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann retired from commerce in 1892, he divided the business between his two sons. The younger, David Robert received the two confectionery stores. The elder brother, Johann Rudolf Sprüngli-Schifferli, received the chocolate factory from his father. He found a suitable plot of land in Kilchberg, a nearby town on the Lake of Zurich, and built a new factory there in 1899. At the same time he was offered the option of acquiring the small but famous chocolate factory of Rodolphe Lindt in Berne.
Between 1920 and 1945 the firm had to face almost unimaginable challenges. Global protectionism and the depressions of the 1920s and 1930s led to the progressive loss of all foreign markets and it was necessary to reorganize and concentrate on the slowly-expanding Swiss market. The Second World War brought rigid import restrictions on sugar and cocoa and, in 1943, rationing. After the war, demand exploded first within the home market and later abroad.
A further step in the company’s expansion and aim at the world-wide leadership in the premium chocolate segment, was the acquisition of the venerable chocolate manufacturer “Caffarel” in Luserna San Giovanni near Torino in September of 1997. In January 1998, Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG announced the acquisition of the American chocolate manufacturer “Ghirardelli Chocolate Company”.
Today the Group is comprised of manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Austria and the USA; sales and distribution subsidiaries are located in England, Poland, Spain, Canada, Australia, Mexico and Sweden, and sales offi ces in Hong Kong, and Dubai. Lindt & Sprüngli also markets its products via an extensive, worldwide network of distributors.
The Canadian head office was established in Toronto in 1995. Offices in Montreal and Vancouver opened shortly thereafter. Currently, Lindt chocolates are sold in various channels and large retail banners and stores throughout Canada like Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws, Walmart, just to name a few. There are also four (4) Lindt Outlet stores (Montreal, Mississauga, Scarborough, Kitchener), and two (2) Shop-in-Shop boutiques (Sears in Toronto Eaton Centre and Vancouver Pacifi c Centre) located across Canada.
Over the past 163 years, the combination of passion and innovation have played a key role in the success, and longevity of Lindt & Sprüngli as a leader in the premium chocolate market.
