This spring, a group of EMBA students and alumni from the University of Geneva had the unique opportunity to visit Läderach – the iconic Swiss premium chocolatier – as part of a carefully organized Company Visit to the company’s HQ in Bilten, Glarus Nord.
The visit offered an exclusive experience. Due to the intimate size of the group, participants were able to engage directly in a private meeting with the CEO and co-owner of the company, a third-generation chocolatier. This firsthand insight into the company’s strategy, vision, and expansion plans made the experience especially meaningful — a true luxury for any business school cohort.
From premium chocolate tasting and visiting production site to deep conversations about leadership and innovation, the visit offered far more than just a look behind the scenes — it gave us access to the mindset that drives one of Switzerland’s most dynamic brands.
Among the many impressive aspects of Läderach’s story, several stood out in particular:
- The company’s commitment to freshness is not only central to its chocolate but also to its branding, innovation culture, and business mindset.
- In just five years, Läderach has expanded into over 20 international markets, with two more planned for this year.
- Students were especially inspired by the way the company invests not only in its shops choosing the best premium locations around the world, with the highest customer traffic, but also in its corporate culture and leadership values as key enablers of global growth. As Johannes Läderach, the CEO, reminds of the famous Peter Drucker quote – culture eats strategy for breakfast!
The Geneva EMBA community is sincerely grateful to Läderach for their warm hospitality and openness, and pride in bringing such a high-caliber visit to our EMBA participants, symbolically connecting French- and German-speaking Switzerland.
