Switzerland: Wauwiler Champignons takes over Fine Funghi

On 1 January 2017 Wauwiler Champignons will take over the Swiss Fine Funghi in Gossau, Canton of Zürich. Fine Funghi has 20 employees and is specialized in the production of edible gourmet mushrooms.

Contracts were signed at the beginning of December and on 1 January 2017 the change of ownership will take place. Wauwiler Champignons AG expands its portfolio with the purchase of Fine Funghi, a company specialized in the production of mushroom spawn and edible gourmet mushrooms.

The current owner of Fine Funghi, Patrick Romanens, started the production of mushroom spawn and the cultivation of edible mushrooms in 1988. He is renowned all over Europe for his pioneering work in the cultivation of shiitake and king oyster mushroom. His company has made a significant contribution to expanding the knowledge and use of originally Asian mushrooms in the Swiss cuisine. Now the company’s founder and owner has sold his life work to ensure his succession. The takeover arrangements were quietly agreed upon. Patrick Romanens will be the managing director of Fine Funghi as an independent subsidiary of Wauwiler Champignons, and the company continues with its 20 employees.

The takeover of Fine Funghi will result in an expansion of their pool of employees to 200. In the future the company will produce 55 metric tons of button mushrooms in Wauwil per week and about 2 metric tons of gourmet mushrooms in Gossau per week. The weekly trade in 10 metric tons of cultivated and wild mushrooms in Switzerland and abroad complement the range. 

Wauwiler Champignons AG also owns a 40% share in Gotthard Bio Pilze in Stansstad, founded in the summer 2016. Wauwiler Champignons is one of the largest producers of Swiss mushrooms and is member of the VSP (Association of Swiss mushroom producers), as are Fine Funghi and Gotthard Bio Pilze. 

In the future, Wauwiler Champignons will start various projects together with Fine Funghi. For instance, the increase of the production of mushroom spawn and the supply of organic mushrooms produced in Switzerland too.

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