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| From corn to wine |
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| In 1876, when the first train on the Gotthard railway rolled through the tunnel, the economic situation in the city of Lucerne changed fundamentally. Until that time, Lucerne had been a reloading point for shipments of grain on their way towards the Gotthard by lake. Businger, which had been Lucerne’s leading trading company for three centuries, lost its main source of income; the owners sold the company to the local wine wholesaler Jules Bataillard – he soon concentrated on the wine business and gave the company the name it bears today. |
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| Long-standing family tradition
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| In 1924, Alfred Curti took over Bataillard & Cie AG. He and his descendants managed the business parallel to his wholesale food operation in the old warehouses between the railway station and the lake, where the new post office now stands. The company is still owned by the family to this day, and is run by siblings Corinne and Marc Fischer, who are members of the fourth generation. |
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| On the ball |
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| Wine quotas were introduced in 1938. Bataillard & Cie AG was given a very large import quota, which guaranteed sales, but thanks to its foresight, the company was the first to install a bottling plant in the 1960s, which also permitted the sale of branded/labelled wines. This consolidated the company’s position and the future was also secured, even after the demise of the quota system. |
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| From supplier to partner |
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| In 1972, a close business relationship – which exists to this day – developed with A. Racke GmbH+Co in Bingen am Rhein. Racke had become very successful at creating wine brands. Sold via chain stores, they soon became best-sellers. Bataillard AG adopted this concept, and thus became Switzerland’s leading supplier of Swiss table wines. |
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| In 1975, the construction of the company’s present premises in Rothenburg formed the basis for a successful enterprise that remains the industry leader – in terms of quality control, process efficiency and technical installations – to this day. |
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| Broad diversification, significant innovations |
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Our wide selection of foreign wines, as well as wines bottled in their place of origin, has been increasingly in demand since the 1980s, and is a real source of pride: our product range now includes 2,000 different wines.
In the 1980s, Bataillard AG set an example by introducing the returnable half-litre bottle; the company was the first of its kind in Switzerland to offer its customers this environmentally friendly product on a large scale, which ultimately led to substantial growth.
Thanks to the expansion of our exclusive product lines for specific retail trade customers, the distribution of well-known brands from all over the world and the introduction of category management, the company again grew considerably during the 1990s. At the same time, we added several international suppliers to our distribution portfolio, which significantly strengthened our sales of specialist wines. |
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| Substantial investments |
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The years 2000 to 2003 were characterised by substantial investments in our infrastructure: extending the office building enabled us to create a professional-standard laboratory and made an accreditation possible. An integrated merchandise management system significantly streamlined processes. And in the same breath, two outdated bottling plants were replaced by a modern machine. True to its philosophy, Bataillard AG is always at the cutting edge in terms of technology, and can now and in the near future concentrate entirely on investing in the market.
Today, we are one of Switzerland’s largest importers and wholesalers, and are well aware that every single member of staff has contributed to this success. |
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BATAILLARD– LE BON VIN
Your partner when it comes to wine |
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