13.10.2026
The site will focus on its role as a hub for logistics and product finishing. Production is planned to be relocated to Switzerland and Indonesia by the end of 2027.
The Villiger Group plans to realign its facility in Waldshut-Tiengen. The site will remain an important location for the Villiger Group, but in future will focus on product finishing, including “Track & Trace”, as well as logistics, distribution and sales for Germany and other European markets. Production in Waldshut-Tiengen is to be gradually relocated to Pfeffikon, Switzerland, by the end of 2027. Production of certain products will also be transferred to the facility in Jember, Indonesia.
The planned realignment is driven by significant existing overlaps in product portfolios and production processes across the Group’s sites, as well as changing market conditions in the tobacco industry. These include the long-term downward trend in tobacco consumption and increasingly stringent regulatory requirements, particularly in the area of tobacco product traceability. Thanks to its central role in product finishing, logistics and distribution in Europe, the Waldshut-Tiengen site will continue to play an important role within the Group, where approximately 80% of revenue is generated.
“The planned relocation of production represents a significant change for our facility in Waldshut-Tiengen. We are aware that this development creates considerable uncertainty for our employees. At the same time, I want to emphasise that the site will remain strategically important to Villiger and will assume an even more clearly defined role within the Group going forward,” says Christoph Schüpbach, CEO of the Villiger Group.
“Our facility in Waldshut-Tiengen has extensive experience in product finishing, including ‘Track & Trace’, logistics and sales for our largest market, Germany, as well as other key markets within the EU. We intend to further develop these strengths and make even better use of them in the future. Our headquarters and main production facility in Pfeffikon has the necessary capacity and will gradually take over the production volumes currently handled in Waldshut-Tiengen. Consolidating production is an important step towards positioning the company for the future.”
The company currently employs approximately 190 people at its Waldshut-Tiengen site. Under current plans, the number of employees at the site is expected to decrease to around 150 by the end of 2027 as a result of the realignment. The specific staffing requirements and any resulting personnel measures will be discussed with the works council as the process progresses. Particular consideration will be given to natural employee turnover, retirements and opportunities for continued employment within the Group. If additional workforce reductions prove necessary, these will be implemented as socially responsibly as possible, in compliance with applicable legal and company requirements. Other employment opportunities within the Villiger Group, including at the Pfeffikon site, will also be assessed.
“We recognise that the planned changes present a major challenge for many of our colleagues. It is therefore important to us that we manage this process carefully, fairly and transparently,” says Dirk Zipfel, Site Manager in Waldshut-Tiengen. “We are now discussing the specific implications and measures with the works council. In addition, we aim to develop individual solutions for affected employees and support them in finding new professional opportunities.”
The planned relocation of production to Pfeffikon and Jember will take place in stages and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027. This phased approach is intended to ensure that quality, delivery reliability and customer service are maintained throughout the transition.
Villiger informed employees at the affected sites about the planned realignment today during staff meetings.