First CLA for convenience businesses in Switzerland

All companies of the Bell Food Group in Switzerland have concluded a new collective labor agreement (CLA) with the Butchery Staff Association (MPV). This covers the Swiss sites of Bell, Eisberg, Hilcona and Hügli with a total of 21 production plants and around 5'200 employees. The CLA comes into force for all plants until June 4, 2020. For the meat plants, it is a new edition of the existing CLA, while the convenience plants now have a CLA for the first time. With the expansion of the social partnership to the convenience sector, a CLA has been signed for this growing area of food production for the first time in Switzerland. This lays the foundation for the continuous development of the working situation in this dynamic working environment with a solid social partnership.
The long-standing social partnership between the Bell Food Group and the MPV in Switzerland is thus being further expanded. MPV has extensive experience in the meat processing sector and now also has a strong affinity with the convenience sector. According to Giusy Meschi, Managing Director of MPV, the new CLA offers ideal conditions for constructive cooperation: "A social partnership works and thrives when both partners are adequately represented and the dialog takes place on an equal footing."

The Bell Food Group is one of the leading meat and convenience processors in Europe. Its product range includes meat, poultry, charcuterie, seafood and convenience products. With the Bell, Eisberg, Hilcona and Hügli brands, the Group covers a wide range of customer needs. Its customers include the retail and food service sectors as well as the food industry. Around 12,500 employees generate annual sales of over CHF 4 billion. The Bell Food Group is listed on the Swiss stock exchange.