The tradition-rich Hero Group plans to cut 55 jobs in jam packaging in Lenzburg. The Aargau government council as well as the Lenzburg city council have been informed by Hero, as this is a mass dismissal that entails a consultation procedure. According to a TV report, production in Lenzburg will probably be discontinued in addition to packaging. However, Hero’s global headquarters and Hero Switzerland will remain in Lenzburg, Hero assures. The Group has been led by Dutch CEO Rob Versloot since 2012. The development at Hero is a further setback for the security of supply in Switzerland and the reduction in packaging activities is another sign of the disdain shown for the packaging industry by large sections of the Swiss food industry and the two major distributors.

In order to meet the increasing demand for packaging solutions for sterile goods, Südpack Medica AG, based in Baar ZG, is investing in the expansion of its French site in the Orne region. With the groundbreaking ceremony for the Coulmer plant on September 19, the company laid a foundation stone for the further expansion of its role in the production of pouches under ISO 7 cleanroom conditions. It is gratifying that a Swiss subsidiary of a German group is investing and growing, but unfortunately the growth is not taking place in Switzerland.