Migros store to open round the clock; Swiss court saves holes in Emmentaler cheese ; Toblerone reclaims its Swiss identity

News for 15 April 2025

The country’s biggest supermarket chain will open its first 24/7 branch — a rarity in Switzerland — this summer at one of its locations in Herisau (AR). "The need for shopping opportunities outside of regular store opening hours is increasing," Migros said in a press release. This would be a test phase, pending final approval from the municipality.

In concrete terms, the store will operate normally during regular opening hours. Then, outside of these hours, it will be unmanned, with complete self-service, using self-scanning devices. Access and surveillance technologies will be activated. The company did not say whether similar models will be put into use elsewhere in Switzerland.

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The tell-tale holes on the Emmentaler cheese — so called because it is produced in the Emmental valley in the Bernese Oberland — have been shrinking for years. The regulation holes, according to the Emmentaler Switzerland association, must be ‘cherry-sized’ — that is, between 2 cm and 4 cm in diameter.

However, due to modernisaton of cheesemaking techniques, as well as stricter hygiene standards, the holes have become smaller, making the cheese more prone to fissures. The producers have been wanting to add hay dust  (fine particles from hay) to the manufacturing process to keep the holes from shrinking, but met with the opposition from the Federal Agriculture Office.

The dispute ended up in the Federal Administrative Court which has just ruled in favour of bigger holes — meaning that  the Emmentaler will remain as holy as ever.

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Since shifting part of its production to Slovakia in 2023, Toblerone has no longer qualified to claim it is Swiss made. The iconic Matterhorn vanished from its packaging, replaced by a generic peak. Now, its owner, the US multinational Mondelez, plans to reconnect the product with Switzerland, reported SRF.

After losing the right in 2023 to label the chocolate bar made in Switzerland with a Matterhorn logo, the chocolate will soon feature the Swiss flag again on most of its packaging. Whether dropping the Matterhorn was a branding misstep, Mondelez will not say.

The brand’s Swiss identity will be further reinforced by a CHF 65 million investment in the Bern-Brünnen factory, where around 90% of Toblerone output is produced. The plant will gain a new production line by autumn, along with expanded nougat and chocolate-making facilities. The company currently churns out 4 million Toblerone bars daily from the site.