130 years of HOCHDORF

The history of our locations is characterized by pioneering spirit, innovation and change — through good and difficult times.

The beginnings in Hochdorf

The dairy industry was an important branch of Swiss agriculture as early as the 19th century. Small condensed milk factories were built all over the country in order to keep milk as natural and as durable as possible.

History was made in Hochdorf on January 28, 1895:21 entrepreneurs founded the “I. CentralSchweizerischenaturmilch Exportgesellschaft” at Hotel Hirschen. Just two years later, due to increasing capital requirements, it was converted into a joint stock company. From 1898, the world-renowned dairy economist Dr. Niklaus Gerber contributed his expertise in condensed milk and milk drying technology (roller drying). In the same year, the company was renamed “Schweizerische Milch-Gesellschaftag” (SMG).

From sterilized canned milk to children's flour

Milk powder was produced for the first time in 1905 for the “Lucerna” chocolate factory in Hochdorf — an important step towards industrial supply. Production of “Bébé” children's flour began as early as 1908, followed by another milestone in 1912 with the first spray drying system based on the “Trufood” system.

Before the First World War, the British Admiralty won the company as a customer. During the war years, large quantities of condensed milk were exported.

The set-up in Sulgen

The Milchpulverfabrik Sulgen (MFS) was founded in Sulgen in 1931 by the Central Association of Swiss Milk Producers and three regional milk associations with the following purpose:

“The importance of the Sulgen milk powder factory for milk producers is not limited to the financial result. It is much more important that, as a result of their activities, significant quantities of fresh milk can be purchased and used beneficially.”

Board of MFS when founded (1930):
F. Siegenthaler (National Council, President) · E. E. Girard (Farmer) · A. Säuberli (Rector) · H. Bretscher (Central Secretary) · A. Weber (Agricultural Teacher) · H. Studer (District Council) · C. Müller (Milchverband Winterthur) · E. Pfister (National Council) · J. Angehrn (District Judge)

In the post-war years, the economy grew — and with it the two factories in Sulgen and Hochdorf. Sulgen was able to acquire adjacent land reserves in 1945 and 1954, on which a new building with rail connection was built in 1963/64.

Growth, Innovation & Specialization

In 1954, the former Swiss milk company InHochdorf introduced “Humana”, the first fully adapted infant formula. At the same time, Sulgen founded the Société Français de Laits MédicauxMaterna in Paris to sell MATERNA infant milk.

In the 1960s, Hochdorf expanded its range of milk baking agents for bakeries, which began in the 1930s. Sulgen invested in modern plant technology such as oil heating and atomizer dryers and grew into a modern dairy plant.

How to get to HOCHDORF Swiss Nutrition AG

From the year 2000, a phase of profound change began. New business areas were set up and the Sulgen milk powder factory was fully integrated into HOCHDORF in 2003. Major investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure followed: Tower 8 was inaugurated in 2010, the ultra-modern spray tower 9 and a new can filling line in 2018. Tower 9 measures 25 m in height and 11 m in diameter.

In 2018, the Swiss infant formula brand was acquired with Bimbosan — a strong sign of our commitment to combine quality, Swissness and innovation.

Today, HOCHDORF is a globally active company with expertise in powder technology for refining milk and whey raw materials for modern, functional nutrition. Following a successful operational turnaround, Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition was sold to Swiss-British financial investor AS Equity Partners in December 2024. It is now one of the largest refiners of Swiss milk and is therefore also important for the Swiss dairy industry. By the end of 2025, the company will concentrate its production at a location in Sulgen, Thurgau.