Ricola
Encyclopedia
Ricola Ltd./Ricola AG
is a well known manufacturer of cough drop
s and breath mint
s in Switzerland
. The company focuses primarily on using herbal ingredients. The head office of Ricola is located in Laufen, Basel-Country.
. Under Richterich, the bakery specialized in confectionery such as “Fünfermocken," a sweet which was similar to caramel. In 1940 Richterich created Ricola's Swiss Herbal Sweet incorporating a blend of 13 herbs. In the 1950s the sweet became appreciated for its ability to be dissolved in boiling water, creating an aromatic herbal tea, which inspired Richterich to create a Ricola Herbal Tea a few years later.
The business was then handed over by Richterich to his son, Hans Peter, in the 1960s. Hans renamed the company Ricola, an abbreviation of Richterich & Compagnie Laufen, and floated the company on the stock market, beginning export and introducing Ricola's products to foreign markets. At the end of the decade, Ricola moved to a new purpose-built factory in the vicinity of Laufen, where its headquarters are still located.
In 1976, after extensive research on sugar-free confectionery, Ricola launched Switzerland’s first chewable, sugarless herbal sweet. Ricola first started to advertise its products on television in the 1980s, an era that saw increased awareness of the need for good dental hygiene, increasing the demand for sugar-free products such as the ones that Ricola offered. In 1988 the company started packaging their products in small boxes.
The company is now managed by Felix Richterich, son of Hans Peter and grandson of the founder. Today, Ricola exports to over 50 countries in Asia, North America and Europe.
in most Ricola products is menthol
, an important part of Ricola products is the herb mixture. Sixteen herbs are mentioned on Ricola's U.S. website:
Of these, the first thirteen are noted as Ricola's classic herbal mixture.
In Germany, packages of Ricola cough drops list fifteen herbs. In the U.S., ten herbs are listed, and two of these are not mentioned at all on Ricola's website (see above list). These unlisted herbs are Linden Flowers
and Wild Thyme
.
s) (2004) and employs 400 workers. Around 200 independent produce companies in the surrounding area service Ricola. In order to obtain enough herb
s for the different production of herbal drops, the firm also owns private herbal gardens (see below). Ricola is known for its commercials featuring Heidi (Ramona Pringle
) depicting mountaineers shouting "Ri-co-la!" and blowing through a large Alphorn
.
Many Ricola products include aspartame
.
http://www.ricolausa.com/products/
http://www.ricola.com/en-us/World-of-Herbs/Ricola-Herb-Gardens/Ricola-Herb-Gardens
http://www.ricola.com/index.cfm?uuid=4877049A423B8F578DC61A728DBEC342
Aktiengesellschaft
Aktiengesellschaft is a German term that refers to a corporation that is limited by shares, i.e. owned by shareholders, and may be traded on a stock market. The term is used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland...
is a well known manufacturer of cough drop
Throat lozenge
A throat lozenge, cough drop, troche, or cough sweet is a small, medicated tablet intended to be dissolved slowly in the mouth to temporarily stop coughs and lubricate and soothe irritated tissues of the throat , possibly from the common cold or influenza...
s and breath mint
Mint (candy)
A mint is a candy characterized by the presence of mint flavoring or real mint oil, whether it be peppermint oil, spearmint oil, or another natural or artificial source...
s in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The company focuses primarily on using herbal ingredients. The head office of Ricola is located in Laufen, Basel-Country.
History
Ricola's history began in 1930 when Emil Wilhelm Richterich established Confiseriefabrik Richterich & Co. Laufen after the purchase of a small bakery in Laufen, just outside BaselBasel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
. Under Richterich, the bakery specialized in confectionery such as “Fünfermocken," a sweet which was similar to caramel. In 1940 Richterich created Ricola's Swiss Herbal Sweet incorporating a blend of 13 herbs. In the 1950s the sweet became appreciated for its ability to be dissolved in boiling water, creating an aromatic herbal tea, which inspired Richterich to create a Ricola Herbal Tea a few years later.
The business was then handed over by Richterich to his son, Hans Peter, in the 1960s. Hans renamed the company Ricola, an abbreviation of Richterich & Compagnie Laufen, and floated the company on the stock market, beginning export and introducing Ricola's products to foreign markets. At the end of the decade, Ricola moved to a new purpose-built factory in the vicinity of Laufen, where its headquarters are still located.
In 1976, after extensive research on sugar-free confectionery, Ricola launched Switzerland’s first chewable, sugarless herbal sweet. Ricola first started to advertise its products on television in the 1980s, an era that saw increased awareness of the need for good dental hygiene, increasing the demand for sugar-free products such as the ones that Ricola offered. In 1988 the company started packaging their products in small boxes.
The company is now managed by Felix Richterich, son of Hans Peter and grandson of the founder. Today, Ricola exports to over 50 countries in Asia, North America and Europe.
Herbs
While the active ingredientActive ingredient
An active ingredient is the substance of a pharmaceutical drug or a pharmaceutical ingredient and bulk active in medicine; in pesticide formulations active substance may be used. Some medications and pesticide products may contain more than one active ingredient...
in most Ricola products is menthol
Menthol
Menthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is -menthol, which is assigned...
, an important part of Ricola products is the herb mixture. Sixteen herbs are mentioned on Ricola's U.S. website:
- ElderSambucus nigraSambucus nigra is a species complex of elder native to most of Europe.It is most commonly called Elder, Elderberry, Black Elder, European Elder, European Elderberry, European Black Elderberry, Common Elder, or Elder Bush when distinction from other species of Sambucus is needed...
(Sambucus nigra) - HorehoundMarrubium vulgareMarrubium vulgare is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to Europe, northern Africa and Asia....
(Marrubium vulgare) - MallowMalvaMalva is a genus of about 25–30 species of herbaceous annual, biennial, and perennial plants in the family Malvaceae , one of several closely related genera in the family to bear the common English name mallow. The genus is widespread throughout the temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of...
(Malva silvestris) - PeppermintPeppermintPeppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between the watermint and spearmint . The plant, indigenous to Europe, is now widespread in cultivation throughout all regions of the world...
(Mentha × piperita) - SageCommon sageSalvia officinalis is a small, perennial, evergreen subshrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers. It is a member of the family Lamiaceae and is native to the Mediterranean region, though it has naturalized in many places throughout the world...
(Salvia officinalis) - ThymeThymeThyme is a culinary and medicinal herb of the genus Thymus.-History:Ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming. The ancient Greeks used it in their baths and burnt it as incense in their temples, believing it was a source of courage...
(Thymus vulgaris) - CowslipPrimula verisPrimula veris is a flowering plant in the genus Primula. The species is found throughout most of temperate Europe and Asia, and although absent from more northerly areas including much of northwest Scotland, it reappears in northernmost Sutherland and Orkney.-Names:The common name cowslip derives...
(Primula veris) - Burnet (Pimpinella saxifraga)
- YarrowYarrowAchillea millefolium or yarrow is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere. In New Mexico and southern Colorado, it is called plumajillo, or "little feather", for the shape of the leaves. In antiquity, yarrow was known as herbal militaris, for its use in...
(Achillea millefolium) - Marsh MallowAlthaea officinalisAlthaea officinalis is a species indigenous to Africa, which is used as a medicinal plant and ornamental plant...
(Althaea officinalis) - Lady's MantleAlchemillaAlchemilla is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the Rosaceae, and a popular garden herb with the common name Lady's mantle. There are about 300 species, the majority native to cool temperate and subarctic regions of Europe and Asia, with a few species native to the mountains of Africa,...
(Alchemilla vulgaris) - Speedwell, aka VeronicaVeronica officinalisVeronica officinalis is a species of Veronica, native to Europe and western Asia....
(Veronica officinalis) - PlantainPlantago lanceolataPlantago lanceolata is a species of genus Plantago known by the common names ribwort plantain, English plantain, and narrowleaf plantain. It is a common weed of cultivated land....
(Plantago lanceolata) - HyssopHyssopHyssop is a genus of about 10-12 species of herbaceous or semi-woody plants in the family Lamiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to central Asia. They are aromatic, with erect branched stems up to 60 cm long covered with fine hairs at the tips. The leaves are narrow oblong, 2–5 cm...
(Hyssopus officinalis) - Lemon Balm, aka Lemon Mint, Melissa (Melissa officinalis)
- "Orange-Mint"Mentha citrataMentha citrata is a herb...
(Mentha citrata)
Of these, the first thirteen are noted as Ricola's classic herbal mixture.
In Germany, packages of Ricola cough drops list fifteen herbs. In the U.S., ten herbs are listed, and two of these are not mentioned at all on Ricola's website (see above list). These unlisted herbs are Linden Flowers
Tilia
Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The greatest species diversity is found in Asia, and the genus also occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but not western North America...
and Wild Thyme
Wild thyme
Thymus serpyllum, known by the common names of Breckland Thyme, Wild Thyme or Creeping Thyme is a species of thyme native to most of Europe and North Africa. It is a low, usually prostrate subshrub growing to 2 cm tall with creeping stems up to 10 cm long, with oval evergreen leaves...
.
Nutritional Values
According to the package of the classic herbal mixture of Ricola has the following specific counts of nutritional values per 100 grams.- Calorific Value
- 1670 kJ / 400 kcal
- Proteins
- 0 grams
- Carbohydrate
- 98 grams
- Fat
- 0 grams
Business culture
Ricola holds assets of 245 Million CHF (Swiss FrancSwiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
s) (2004) and employs 400 workers. Around 200 independent produce companies in the surrounding area service Ricola. In order to obtain enough herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
s for the different production of herbal drops, the firm also owns private herbal gardens (see below). Ricola is known for its commercials featuring Heidi (Ramona Pringle
Ramona Pringle
Ramona Pringle is a Canadian actress, digital journalist, television host and multiplatform media producer.Born in Toronto, she was named after the Ramones by her punk rock parents, Michaele Jordana and Douglas Pringle...
) depicting mountaineers shouting "Ri-co-la!" and blowing through a large Alphorn
Alphorn
The alphorn or alpenhorn or alpine horn is a labrophone, consisting of a natural wooden horn of conical bore, having a wooden cup-shaped mouthpiece, used by mountain dwellers in Switzerland and elsewhere...
.
Many Ricola products include aspartame
Aspartame
Aspartame is an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener used as a sugar substitute in some foods and beverages. In the European Union, it is codified as E951. Aspartame is a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide. It was first sold under the brand name NutraSweet; since 2009 it...
.
Products
Ricola has various kinds of different products along with different flavors for each product. (color of the pack)- Cough Drops
- Original Herb / Natural Herb (yellow with plants)
- Honey Lemon with Echinacea (pink)
- Orange Spice with Echinacea.
- Menthol
- Sugar Free Cough Drops
- Mountain Herb (yellow with plants on white)
- Green Tea with Echinacea (emerald green on white)
- Menthol (blue on white)
- Throat Drops
- Lemon Mint (yellow)
- Cherry Honey (cherry red)
- Honey Herb (orange with honeycomb)
- Lemon Verbena with White Tea (apple green) ((Whole Food Market exclusive in US market))
- Sugar Free Throat Drops
- Sugar Free Lemon Mint (yellow on white)
- Sugar Free Cherry (cherry red on white)
- Nature's Protection: contains daily value of Vitamin C
- Cranberry
- Elderberry
- Orange Mint (orange)
- Ricola Refreshers
- Lemon Mint (yellow)
- Elderflower (blue violet)
- Ricola Breath Mints
- Spearmint
- Peppermint
- LemonMint (yellow)
- Good Night Tea
http://www.ricolausa.com/products/
- Ricola Swiss Herb Candy
Ricola Herb Gardens
The company promotes natural earth gardens for cultivation in Swiss Mountain regions. The organic gardens can be visited as tourist attractions and are located at the following locations:- NenzlingenNenzlingenNenzlingen is a municipality in the district of Laufen in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.-Geography:Nenzlingen has an area, , of . Of this area, or 41.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 49.2% is forested...
, nearby the company headquarters. - Trogberg, a mountain in the canton of Solothurn.
- Klewen Alp in BeckenriedBeckenriedBeckenried is a municipality in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.-History:The first settlers in what would become Beckried were from Alamanni tribes that moved into the area over 2000 years ago. During the Middle Ages the region was part of extensive estates that were shared between...
. - KanderstegKanderstegKandersteg is a municipality in the Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located along the valley of the River Kander, west of the Jungfrau massif. It is noted for its spectacular mountain scenery and sylvan alpine landscapes. Tourism is a...
. - ZermattZermattZermatt is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of about 5,800 inhabitants....
. - PontresinaPontresinaPontresina is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History and name:The city was first mentioned in medieval Latin documents as pontem sarasinam in 1137. In 1237 it was mentioned as de Ponte Sarraceno and in 1303 as ponte sarracino...
.
http://www.ricola.com/en-us/World-of-Herbs/Ricola-Herb-Gardens/Ricola-Herb-Gardens
Awards
- Reader's Digest "Most Trusted Brand 2008"
- Awarded top marks in the "Sweets" category by “Lebensmittel Zeitung”
- Reader's Digest "Most Trusted Brand 2010"
http://www.ricola.com/index.cfm?uuid=4877049A423B8F578DC61A728DBEC342