Stadler cultures de champignons SA has been producing mushrooms in Aigle VD since 1943. The company was founded by Armin Stadler, who bought a former parquet factory and converted it into a mushroom farm. Since then, electricity has been produced in Aigle by water power, with the help of a water turbine of the former factory, so already at that time the mushrooms were produced with renewable energies.
In 1973, Raymond Stadler took over the company and greatly expanded the mushroom production, from 12,000 kg to 200,000 kg per year. He invested in the company, ensuring its continuity. Since 2011, his son Cédric Stalder has been running the company. Before that, Cédric worked as an electrician and graduated in business administration. In 1991, he joined his father's production company. When the new cultural premises were extended in 1999, he planned the entire power supply. Currently, the company employs 78 people.
"I grew up in and with the business and running my own company was always of my interest, so it was also natural for me to continue running the family business," explains Cédric, adding, "Close to the customer, quality, service and reliability, these values still stand for the Stadler company today."
Cédric Stadler, owner and managing director Stadler cultures de champignons SA
Challenges in mushroom cultivation
Challenges include finding rising production costs and qualified and available personnel to continue producing quality mushrooms.
Market demand for organic increased and Stadler converted its operations to organic production on August 1, 2022. With green energy from its own hydroelectric power plant, Stadler covers about 80 % of its own electricity needs. Thus, it remains efficient and can supply its twelve production halls with a cultivation area of 300 m². On average, 900 tons of mushrooms are produced per year.
Stadler's organic mushrooms are mainly marketed to the retail trade and regional gastronomy. Furthermore, the company also trades and distributes wild mushrooms.
For more information:
Cédric Stadler
Champignons Stadler
Ch. de l'Ecluse 37
1860 Aigle
Tel. +41 (0)24 466 21 49
Fax +41 (0)24 466 51 43
[email protected]
www.champignons-stadler.ch