For ten years, little boxes of Läderach pralines were given to some passengers flying on Swiss International Air Lines. From mid-April this will no longer be the case, following negative headlines about the Läderach CEO’s opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion.
The carrier dropped the maker of premium chocolate in November, according to a reportExternal link in Swiss news magazine Beobachter on Wednesday.
Läderach’s head of marketing, Patrick Th. Onken, said the split was the result of Swiss having concerns about the negative coverage.
Beobachter said headlines like “Chocolate king fights against abortion and homosexuals” in Zurich’s Tages-Anzeiger last September was “clearly too much for the airline, which has many gay crew members”.
SWISS spokesperson Meike Fuhlrott didn’t go into details but said the decisive factors when choosing a supplier were “the quality, various economic factors and the brand fit”.
‘Direct conversations’
Johannes Läderach, an evangelical Christian and company CEO, recently denied being homophobic or misogynist but repeated his opposition to same-sex marriage and a woman’s right to have an abortion.
“Business continued to grow in 2019, but we have customers who no longer buy from us. However, new customers came into the shop,” he told the NZZ am SonntagExternal link.
According to Beobachter, Läderach would not say how many companies had severed links, but the chocolate maker pointed out that “in almost all cases a direct conversation could clear up the situation”.
More
More
Swiss chocolatier denies being homophobic and misogynist
This content was published on
Johannes Läderach, an evangelical Christian, has defended his opposition to same-sex marriage and a woman’s right to have an abortion.
Swiss climate activists block vehicles near Gotthard tunnel
This content was published on
Around ten climate activists briefly blocked the A2 motorway near the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel on Thursday.
Watches belonging to Michael Schumacher up for auction
This content was published on
Schumacher's family is auctioning off eight rare watches from his collection in Geneva. The Christie's auction will take place on Monday.
Joya Marleen and Baschi named best solo acts at Swiss Music Awards
This content was published on
St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
This content was published on
The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
This content was published on
In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
This content was published on
As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
This content was published on
After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
This content was published on
Swiss voters will decide whether discrimination against homosexuals is acceptable. Will the law combat homophobia or is it an attack on free speech?
Support for social housing collapses, anti-homophobia reform remains solid
This content was published on
A proposal to combat real estate speculation is unlikely to win a majority in a vote on February 9, according to pollsters.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.