Business area Bell Switzerland

The business area Bell Switzerland reported a good result for 2025. All sales channels and product groups reported growth, in some cases very pronounced. At 137.4 million kg (+3.9 million kg), sales volume achieved a new peak. In the retail sales channel, the fresh meat and poultry product groups reported the greatest increase. Charcuterie and poultry performed above average in the food service sales channel. Thanks to successful customised product/assortment services, the food industry sales channel also grew substantially.

Increased price competition in the retail trade, with demand shifting towards lower-priced product ranges, and growing shopping tourism further intensified competition. Bell Switzerland increased the number of products included in its entry-level price segment compared to the previous year. Personnel and overhead costs were in line with expectations and cost increases were absorbed effectively.

Raw material availability is becoming an ever greater challenge. Procurement markets continued to be plagued by cost-push factors. On the one hand, volume growth led to an increase in demand, and on the other, the long-standing decline in the livestock herds and the effects of animal epidemics meant that supply was limited. Heightened demand in some product groups, such as poultry and beef, further exacerbated this supply shortage. Volatile availability means that stockkeeping is more challenging and complex, as it is ever more difficult to forecast supply trends. However, the higher raw material prices could mostly be passed on to the market.

Bell Switzerlandʼs investment programme is in its final phase. In Oensingen (CH), the new cattle slaughterhouse setting new standards for animal welfare, energy efficiency and productivity was commissioned as planned. The interior construction work for the logistics centre has been finished and test operations started in October 2025. Normal operations will start in the first half of 2026 and will be ramped up gradually over the following months. The slicing and packaging lines have been installed in the new slicer centre. Commissioning is planned for 2026.

Bell Switzerland transfers the business operations of Service Gastronomie Molard in Plan-les-Ouate near Geneva to Del Maître as part of an asset deal. As of 1 June 2026, the Geneva-based company will take on all permanent employees, the Service Gastronomie Molard brand under licence as well as the entire business activity. Molard has a strong local focus, whereas Bell Switzerland in Food Service consistently concentrates on national operations.

In order to leverage synergies in a targeted manner and remain competitive in the long term, the seafood business was transferred from the Zurich site to Bell Seafood in Basel by the end of 2025.