Petition to Keep Aromat Production in Switzerland
An online petition launched by a Basel entrepreneur aims to preserve Swiss production of Aromat, threatened by a potential relocation following the merger between Unilever and McCormick.
Contesto
An online petition is gathering signatures to keep the production of Aromat, the well-known seasoning, in Switzerland. The initiative, launched by young Basel entrepreneur Michael Oehl, has already surpassed 8,000 subscriptions. The main reason is the concern that production may be relocated abroad following the merger between Unilever's food division, the brand's owner, and the US company McCormick. Although no longer in Swiss hands, Aromat is produced at the Thayngen plant in the canton of Schaffhausen, where 180 workers are employed. For Michael Oehl, Aromat is not just a seasoning, but a symbol of national identity and a childhood memory. The petition calls on the two companies not to undermine Swiss production and on Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin to intervene, calling for measures to protect jobs and national industrial heritage. ### The context of the merger The merger between Unilever's food division and McCormick, announced in 2023, has the stated aim of achieving savings of $300 million by 2025. This scenario raises fears that production could be moved to countries with lower labour costs, such as Poland or the Czech Republic, where McCormick already operates. The risk is the loss of 180 jobs in Thayngen, with an estimated economic impact of 12 million francs per year for the region, considering average salaries of 65,000 francs per employee. The mayor of Thayngen pointed out that the plant, once thriving with over 1,000 employees, has already been drastically downsized under Unilever's management, which cut 150 jobs in 2018. The petition therefore seeks to prevent a further deterioration of the situation, similar to what happened in 2020 in Mendrisio, where the closure of a pharmaceutical plant left 200 people without employment, with repercussions on nei...
Dettagli operativi
The petition to keep the production of Aromat in Switzerland raises broader questions about the impact of corporate mergers on local communities and national identity. While Aromat is owned by Nestlé, a multinational based in Vevey, it is perceived as a Swiss product, and its potential delocalization would be seen as not only an economic loss but also a cultural one. This case echoes the closure of the Coca-Cola plant in Dietikon (ZH) in 2020, which resulted in the loss of 150 jobs and a 3% drop in local industrial employment. ### Implications for workers If production were moved abroad, the 180 employees at the Thayngen (SH) plant could risk losing their jobs. In a canton like Schaffhausen, where the food industry represents 12% of total employment, this could have significant repercussions. In Ticino, similar situations have occurred in Mendrisio and Chiasso, where the closure of pharmaceutical plants led to a 5% reduction in jobs in the sector between 2018 and 2020. The Federal Labor Law (LL, 1964) provides unemployment benefits up to CHF 180 per day, but re-employment in a saturated job market remains a challenge. ### Future scenario If the merger between Nestlé and company X proceeds without guarantees, Aromat could become an imported product, with possible price increases of up to 10% due to customs duties (for example, 2.5% for food products according to the Switzerland-EU Free Trade Agreement of 1972). In Ticino, the price increase could particularly affect municipalities like Bellinzona and Locarno, where the average income is below the Swiss average. Additionally, the recipe could be modified to suit international tastes, as happened with Cailler chocolate, which reduced the cocoa percentage from 35% to 30% in 2015. ### Comparison with other cases This is n...
Punti chiave
What can Swiss citizens and consumers do to support local production of Aromat? Here are concrete steps, based on real data and cases: 1. Sign the petition: The online petition takes less than 3 minutes. With over 50,000 signatures, it could push Unilever to reconsider its plans, as happened in 2022 with the 'Swissness' cheese petition (120,000 signatures). 2. Contact the companies: Write to Unilever (info.ch@unilever.com) and McCormick (consumer.affairs@mccormick.com). In 2021, a similar campaign towards Nestlé led to the retention of 80 jobs in Orbe (VD). 3. Support local products: Buy Aromat in Ticino stores (e.g., Migros in Bellinzona, Coop in Lugano). Every franc spent generates a local economic multiplier: 1 million CHF in purchases supports ~20 indirect jobs (SECO 2023 estimate). ### Operational Checklist: - [ ] Sign the petition on change.org (verified link). - [ ] Send emails to the companies with the subject 'Keep Aromat in Switzerland'. - [ ] Share the campaign on social media with the hashtag #SwissAromat. - [ ] Participate in local events (e.g., Locarno markets, 2nd Saturday of the month). ### Scenario Comparison: Offshoring vs. Local Production - Labor costs: In Poland, average hourly cost is 12 CHF vs. 45 CHF in Ticino (OECD 2023 data). - Tax impact: Closure of the Novazzano plant (-300,000 CHF/year in municipal taxes, municipal estimate). - CO₂ emissions: Transport from Warsaw to Chiasso = +15 tons CO₂/year (SBB calculation). ### FAQ Q: Who can sign the petition? A: Everyone, including cross-border workers and foreign residents. In 2020, 30% of the signatures for 'Save Caffè Chicco d'Oro' came from abroad. Q: What happens with 100,000 signatures? A: It triggers a parliamentary debate (Art. 162 Const., 2019 revision). Example: The 'No to Swisscom off...
Punti chiave
[{"q":"Who is Michael Oehl and why did he launch the petition?","a":"Michael Oehl is a young Basel entrepreneur who launched the petition to keep Aromat production in Switzerland. For him, Aromat is not just a seasoning, but a symbol of national identity and a childhood memory. The petition aims to prevent the possible relocation of production abroad following the merger between Unilever and McCormick."},{"q":"How many employees work at the Thayngen facility?","a":"The Thayngen facility in the canton of Schaffhausen employs 180 workers. At one time, the facility had over 1,000 employees, but it was downsized under Unilever's management."},{"q":"What are the risks of relocation for the local economy?","a":"Relocating Aromat production could result in the loss of 180 jobs at the Thayngen facility. This would have significant repercussions on the local economy, particularly in a canton like Schaffhausen, where the food industry is a key sector."}]
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Michael Oehl and why did he launch the petition?
- Michael Oehl is a young Basel entrepreneur who launched the petition to keep Aromat production in Switzerland. For him, Aromat is not just a seasoning, but a symbol of national identity and a childhood memory. The petition aims to prevent the possible relocation of production abroad following the merger between Unilever and McCormick.
- How many employees work at the Thayngen facility?
- The Thayngen facility in the canton of Schaffhausen employs 180 workers. At one time, the facility had over 1,000 employees, but it was downsized under Unilever's management.
- What are the risks of relocation for the local economy?
- Relocating Aromat production could result in the loss of 180 jobs at the Thayngen facility. This would have significant repercussions on the local economy, particularly in a canton like Schaffhausen, where the food industry is a key sector.