Switzerland: Cailler-Park - A New Chocolate Experience World to Open in Switzerland

Since 1898, chocolate specialties have been produced at the Maison Cailler, which is owned by Nestlé Suisse SA, a Swiss subsidiary of the Nestlé group. Furthermore, the factory has become a well-visited visitor destination of the city of Broc as well as the canton of Freiburg. As recently announced, the company Jogne Invest will invest a total sum of 80 million Swiss Francs (approx. 75.5 million Euros) in the development of a “Cailler Parc” on the Maison Cailler site and will not only finance the construction but will also built and operate the park. Nestlé itself provides the Maison’s property for the construction of the new destination, which aims at connecting topics such as the craft of chocolate making, the Cailler brand as well as the milk and the culture of the Gruyère region. The new visitor experience will offer factory tours, ateliers, tastings, a public restaurant and a shop.

“The history of Cailler is inextricably linked to the history of the Gruyère region and Switzerland. With the new Cailler Park, we will be able to share the story of our great brand, its savoir-faire and passion for chocolate even better with the Swiss and international public. By working with local stakeholders, we are also reaffirming our roots in the region,” explains Eugenio Simioni, General Director of Nestlé Suisse.

“As a child, I spent many days in Broc, where my grandmother lived. She worked in the Cailler factory and always brought chocolate home to me. I made it a habit to run to meet her at the end of the day. The smell of cocoa coming out of the factory is still associated with happy childhood memories for me. With this project, I want to contribute to making the history of Swiss chocolate shine beyond our borders,” explains Daniel Bulliard, co-Founder and President of Jogne Invest.

Another important aspect for the developers was the connection to the public transport system. The “Fabrique Broc” stop will enable visitors to travel easily by train in the future, which will be made possible by rerouting the tracks between the stops “Bulle” and “Broc Fabrique”. The Cailler Parc project, which is currently in its approval phase, is scheduled to open in 2025. (eap)