Bell's history
Bell’s success story began on 29 March 1869, when master butcher Samuel Bell-Roth opened the «Ochsenmetzg» butchery. In doing so, he laid the foundations for Bell’s success story.
Bell has grown from a small Swiss butcher’s shop to become today’s number one in Switzerland’s meat market and a leading European supplier of meat and charcuterie products.
Establishment of the company «Samuel Bell Söhne»: Eduard Bell, Samuel Bell-Vollenweider and Rudolf Bell. Father Samuel Bell-Roth is also involved. 14 employees. When established, the company also acquires the properties at Streitgasse 20 and Weisse Gasse 21 across the road, which is used as a sales outlet from 1 November 1899. After the death of his wife in 1899, Samuel Bell-Roth marries Anna Baur in 1902.
Bell celebrates its 25th anniversary (since the opening of the factory at Elsässerstrasse in 1908). Opening of a production plant in Zurich-Altstetten.
Establishment of the Bell Pension Fund, one of the first in Switzerland – formed by merging the pension foundation of Bell Ltd (employer; since 1924) and the staff pension fund of Bell Ltd (employees; since 1927).
Bell's "Quick" specialities are launched on the market. Opening of branches in St. Moritz and Sion. Acquisition of the meat and sausage counters in most of the Jelmoli Group stores. Acquisition of the butchery Bachmann AG in Lucerne.
New collective employment agreement for all Bell Group companies (contracting partners: VHTL, MPV and SKV). Relocation of the Lausanne factory to new premises at the abattoir compound. 18 June: gathering at the headquarters in Basel for all Bell employees to celebrate the company's 120th birthday ("Bell Party").
21 April: Bell Ltd changes its name to Bell Holding Ltd. Commissioning of the third expansion phase in Basel and the salami factory. Integration of the former GWI Group into the Bell Group.
Important cross-border initiative: Bell starts exporting charcuterie specialities to Luxembourg.
140 years of Bell. Bell celebrates its 140th anniversary with a big competition and many special offers and activities. In January, Bell Holding Ltd takes over 75 percent of the shares of the German sausage manufacturer Abraham GmbH in Seevetal near Hamburg.
Bell Holding Ltd generates more than CHF 2 billion in sales revenue for the first time.
Bell and Hilcona decide to reorganise their complementary activities in the fresh convenience food sector under the management of Hilcona AG. As part of this merger, the Hilcona Group takes over Bell's convenience food division and Bell in return acquires 49 % of Hilcona. In May 2011, Bell takes over the German Hoppe GmbH (convenience).
Bell takes over Kocherhans und Schär AG in Churwalden. This acquisition provides Bell with its own drying facilities for the production of Graubünden specialities.
In Switzerland, Bell acquires Geiser AG, a specialist supplier to the food service segment, and the Valais-based charcuterie specialist Cher-Mignon SA. Bell takes over the Eisberg Group specialising in fresh convenience salads and fruit, merges Eisberg with Gastro Star and sets it up as an independent subsidiary of Hilcona.
Bell takes over the poultry specialist Huber Group.