Emmi Celebrates 100 Years of St. Karli Cheese Cellar as a Landmark of Swiss Sbrinz Maturing Craftsmanship

Emmi Celebrates 100 Years of St. Karli Cheese Cellar as a Landmark of Swiss Sbrinz Maturing Craftsmanship

(IN BRIEF) Emmi has celebrated the 100th anniversary of its St. Karli site in Lucerne, a historic cheese cellar that has played a central role in maturing Sbrinz since 1926. The anniversary event, held on 29 and 30 May 2026, welcomed around 300 guests from agriculture, politics, commerce and the media. Up to 60,000 wheels of Sbrinz mature at the site, where parts of the cellar lie below the water level of the River Reuss, creating stable climatic conditions that support careful maturing and efficient energy use. Ten employees at St. Karli oversee the refinement process, helping around 80 percent of all Sbrinz AOP mature under optimal conditions. The event highlighted the importance of origin, craftsmanship, quality standards and regional value creation for the future of Swiss cheese culture. Since taking responsibility for marketing Sbrinz in 2023, Emmi has worked with the brand organisation to strengthen the product’s market position, with agreed targets exceeded in 2025. The centenary showed how traditional products such as Sbrinz can continue to develop when heritage, expertise and professional marketing work together.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUCERNE, 2-Jun-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Emmi has celebrated the 100th anniversary of its St. Karli site in Lucerne, marking a century of cheese maturing craftsmanship at one of Switzerland’s most important locations for Sbrinz AOP. The anniversary event, held on 29 and 30 May 2026, brought together around 300 guests from agriculture, politics, business and the media to recognise the role of the historic cheese cellar in preserving Central Swiss cheesemaking tradition and supporting the quality of one of Switzerland’s most distinctive hard cheeses.

Located in the heart of Lucerne, the Emmi St. Karli cheese cellar has been used to refine Sbrinz wheels by hand since 1926. Today, up to 60,000 wheels of Sbrinz mature at the site, where the cellar’s unique conditions help create the stable climate required for long and careful maturing. Parts of the historic cellar lie below the water level of the River Reuss, a feature that has contributed for decades to constant temperature and humidity conditions while also supporting efficient energy use.

Speaking at the anniversary celebration, Marc Heim, Executive Vice President Switzerland at Emmi, highlighted St. Karli as an important part of Emmi’s Swiss cheese expertise. He underlined the value of experience, care and skilled craftsmanship in producing mature cheese specialties, where quality depends not only on raw materials but also on time, precision and deep knowledge of the maturing process.

Robert Emmenegger, Managing Director of the St. Karli site, offered guests an insight into the history of the cellar and the daily quality work carried out by the team. Ten employees at the site oversee the maturing process with long-standing expertise and a strong commitment to craftsmanship. Their work helps ensure that around 80 percent of all Sbrinz AOP can mature under optimal conditions at St. Karli.

Sbrinz AOP is made from fresh raw milk from Central Switzerland and neighbouring regions. Its protected designation of origin reflects strict quality standards, regional production and traditional cheesemaking knowledge. The cheese matures for at least 18 months, although many wheels are aged for much longer. This extended maturing process, combined with careful refinement by experienced specialists, gives Sbrinz its characteristic depth, texture and strong flavour profile.

The anniversary programme also included a panel discussion on the future of Swiss cheese culture. Participants included Peter Hegglin, President of Sbrinz Käse GmbH and Council of States, Josef Wyss, Head of Cheese Varieties at Emmi, and Sbrinz producer Pirmin Dörig. The discussion focused on the importance of craftsmanship, regional value creation, quality-led production and the challenges Swiss cheese faces in an increasingly international marketplace.

A key message from the discussion was that traditional products with authenticity, regional identity and clearly defined quality standards continue to hold strong relevance for consumers. As food markets become more global and competitive, products such as Sbrinz can stand out through their origin, character and the expertise behind their production.

Following the official programme, guests were invited to tour the St. Karli cheese cellar and see the maturing process first-hand. The guided visits offered a closer look at how Sbrinz wheels are cared for over time and how the cellar’s historic environment contributes to the final product. Tastings and an aperitif placed Sbrinz at the centre of the celebration, giving guests the opportunity to experience the cheese in its different forms and stages of maturity.

Emmi has been responsible for marketing Sbrinz since 2023 through its partnership with the brand organisation. The aim is to strengthen the brand, make better use of market opportunities and support the long-term sustainable development of Sbrinz. The agreed targets were exceeded in 2025, showing that traditional Swiss cheese specialties can continue to grow when heritage, expertise, quality and professional marketing are closely aligned.

As St. Karli enters its second century, Emmi is positioning the site not only as a historic cheese cellar, but also as a symbol of how Swiss cheesemaking tradition can remain relevant in modern markets. The anniversary reinforced the importance of craftsmanship, regional roots and careful maturing in shaping the future of Sbrinz.

About Emmi

The Emmi Group is a Swiss company with a long tradition, headquartered in Lucerne. Founded in 1907 by dairy farmers’ cooperatives, it is now at home around the world while remaining closely connected to its roots. Innovation and responsibility drive Emmi. With deep craftsmanship and expertise, the company produces high quality dairy products and desserts, and holds strong positions in ready-to-drink coffee with Emmi Caffè Latte, functional nutrition, specialty cheese and premium desserts. In its strategic niches, Emmi is a pioneer, creating moments that matter.

Emmi thinks long term and acts with care towards people, animals, and nature. The company is committed to making sustainable dairy the norm, creates value in rural regions and helps strengthen family-owned structures. At the heart of its activities are people who take responsibility and shape the future together across generations.

The Emmi Group is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (EMMN) and is majority-owned by ZMP Invest AG, which represents approximately 2,800 dairy farmers. Through this structure, a significant portion of profits flows back to these milk suppliers in the form of dividends. The company operates 73 production sites in 13 countries and its products are available in about 90 markets. In 2025, approximately 12,800 employees generated sales of CHF 4.7 billion. For more than 100 years, Emmi has taken responsibility – and has the courage to keep innovating.

Media Contact:

Media
Simone Burgener, Media Spokesperson & Senior Communications Manager | media@emmi.com

Investors and Analysts
Patrik Schwendimann, Head of Investor Relations | ir@emmi.com

SOURCE: Emmi