Swiss military lacks this essential product; Lidl launches a brand to add ‘Swissness’; Swiss cities among top-10 ‘smartest’ in the world — again

News for 29 April 2025

The Swiss military is not lacking weapons, tanks, ammunition, or even an army knife. Rather, the Defence Department is on the lookout for canned ravioli that can feed the troops for the next two years. A call for tenders published on the Swiss government's procurement platform, seeks a supplier to deliver more than 54,000 boxes of ready-to-eat ravioli, to be consumed between 2026 and 2027.

That is because canned ravioli is a Swiss military classic. Last year alone, Swiss troops consumed 64 tons of ravioli, or 175 kilos per day, according to the military procurement agency, Armasuisse.

"Ravioli are an important part of the storage strategy," Armasuisse pointed out. Its long shelf life and ease of preparation make them an ideal food in the field, and it is nutritional as well: it contains 22 percent protein, 16 percent carbohydrates, and 9 percent fat — ingredients that "effectively contribute to the soldiers’ energy needs.”

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Together with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, the German discounter Lidl is focusing on ‘Swissifying’ some of its assortment, with the new ‘Qualité Suisse’ label. To achieve this — and to attract more Swiss customers to the stores — the retailer is betting on the folkloric theme, represented by its new mascot, a St. Bernard dog.

The Qualité Suisse label, for sale starting May 8th, will initially comprise 200 products, such as meat, cheese, milk, and vegetables, which have previously been sold under various names, such as Milbona, Fromani, Maestade, and Bonvalle. By the end of the year, the new line will be expanded to include around 500 products.

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For the sixth consecutive time since the survey began in 2020, Zurich nabbed the top spot in the 2025 ‘Smart City Index,’ carried out be the IMD Business Institute in Lausanne. Of the 146 cities surveyed, Zurich scored the highest, landing in the first place. Next are Geneva (third place) and Lausanne (10th).

The IMD’s findings are determined by the “balanced focus on economic and technological aspects of cities on the one hand, and ‘humane dimensions’ (quality of life, environment, and inclusiveness) on the other.”