Masterpieces of Swiss Entrepreneurship

Over many decades, Swiss entrepreneurs built viable, durable companies.

This overview of three dozen Swiss companies with decades-long track records ranges from Sefar, a weaving company launched in 1833, to Wyon, a battery maker which opened in 1999.A handful of these companies have operated since the 19th century.They rely on an array of strategies to compete in a variety of industries, but most of the founders launched their companies as young men, and only a few came from wealthy families. 

Some, like Ricola, are well-known brands. Many focus on small B2B market segments. None of these companies was founded by women, in part, because many of these concerns focus on technology and engineering, fields that only recently began to welcome women in leadership roles. During the time when many of these companies were founded, society did not encourage women to run businesses.

Most of the firms studied remain family-owned.

Ownership of the three dozen companies studied has remained under family control across generations. Subsequent offspring of founders have remained devoted to controlling these companies and maintaining...