Hilcona
Liechtenstein-based food manufacturer specializing in fresh pasta, prepared meals, frozen foods, sandwiches and other convenience products.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Hilcona AG is a food-processing company headquartered in Schaan in the Principality of Liechtenstein. It began in 1935 when Toni Hilti established the business as Scana Konservenfabrik AG. The company developed from a canning operation into a large convenience-food manufacturer serving retail, food-service, impulse and industrial customers. It is also described as one of Liechtenstein's important employers and remains closely associated with the country's industrial and food-production economy. A major turning point came in 1961, when Hilcona started producing frozen foods. Frozen products became an important part of the company's commercial base, while later changes in consumer eating habits led the business toward a broader convenience-food portfolio. In 1971, founder Toni Hilti's sons Ekkehard and Jürgen Hilti joined management. The company adopted the name HILCONA, derived from Hilti Convenience Nahrungsmittel, reflecting its strategic move beyond traditional preserved foods. Hilcona became a pioneer in the regional convenience-food market when it began industrial production of fresh pasta in 1984. The move created a new large-scale fresh-pasta category in Switzerland and Liechtenstein and established pasta, sauces and prepared meals as central parts of the brand's identity. Over time, the business added frozen meals, canned products, pizzas, sandwiches, salads, vegetables and other food solutions. The company's products have been sold through retail channels, supplied to food-service operators and made for industrial customers. The business expanded internationally during the late twentieth century. It established a German subsidiary in 1988 and a French branch in 1991. In 1993, it acquired Deni's Pizza in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, and in 1999 began operating a fresh-pizza plant in Orbe. Its later export markets included Germany, France, Austria, the United Kingdom and the Benelux countries. Hilcona's production network has included facilities in Schaan, Orbe, Landquart and Bad Wünnenberg, supporting fresh, frozen, chilled and shelf-stable products. Ownership changed significantly in the 2010s. In early 2011, Bell AG, majority-owned by the Coop cooperative, acquired a 49 percent interest in Hilcona AG and retained an option to increase its holding. Hilcona subsequently broadened its product and production capabilities through the acquisition of Gastro Star AG and schwarz viva AG in 2012, adding salad and vegetable operations. Bell exercised its option for an additional 2 percent in May 2015, becoming the majority shareholder with 51 percent. Bell later acquired the remaining 49 percent held by the Toni Hilti family trust, with the transaction taking effect retrospectively from 1 January 2017. The company continued to expand its convenience and specialist capabilities. In 2017, Hilcona took full ownership of Frostag Food-Centrum AG in Landquart and developed the site into the Hilcona Taste Factory, with a particular focus on vegetarian products and regional handmade specialties. In 2019, Bell announced planned investment of CHF 120 million across several areas of the Hilcona site in Schaan. Hilcona also took over Aryzta Switzerland's sandwich business, including its Schlieren production site, effective 1 August 2021. Today, Hilcona's business spans fresh pasta and sauces, ready meals, frozen food, pizza, sandwiches, salads, vegetables, canned goods and plant-based offerings. Its products are marketed under Hilcona and related labels, including The Green Mountain for plant-based products. The company participates in industry organizations including IG Bio and SwissPasta. Its positioning combines industrial scale, convenience, fresh and frozen food expertise, regional production and product development for changing eating habits.
History
Hilcona traces its origins to 1935, when Toni Hilti founded Scana Konservenfabrik AG in Liechtenstein. The original business focused on preserved foods. In 1961, it entered frozen-food production, beginning the transition toward a broader convenience-food model. Toni Hilti's sons Ekkehard and Jürgen joined management in 1971. In response to changing eating patterns and demand for convenient prepared foods, the company adopted the HILCONA name, formed from Hilti Convenience Nahrungsmittel. In 1984, Hilcona began industrial production of fresh pasta, becoming an early large-scale producer of the category in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Fresh pasta, sauces and prepared meals subsequently became core parts of the business, alongside frozen meals, canned foods and products for food service and industrial customers. The company expanded outside its home market by establishing a German subsidiary in 1988 and a French branch in 1991. It acquired Deni's Pizza in Yverdon-les-Bains in 1993 and opened a fresh-pizza plant in Orbe in 1999. The company expanded its portfolio and production footprint during the 2010s. Bell AG acquired 49 percent of Hilcona in 2011, then increased its holding to 51 percent in 2015. In 2012, Hilcona acquired Gastro Star AG and schwarz viva AG, adding salad and vegetable operations in Dällikon and Villigen. Bell acquired the remaining family-trust interest in Hilcona with effect from 1 January 2017, making Hilcona fully controlled by Bell. Also in 2017, Hilcona acquired Frostag Food-Centrum AG in Landquart and converted the operation into the Hilcona Taste Factory. The facility developed a specialization in vegetarian products such as hummus and tofu, as well as regional handmade specialties. Bell announced a planned CHF 120 million investment in the Schaan site in 2019. Hilcona also launched a plant-based burger under The Green Mountain label that year. Hilcona's production network has included Schaan in Liechtenstein, Orbe and Landquart in Switzerland, and Bad Wünnenberg in Germany. Schaan houses group management, central administration and production of fresh, frozen and other finished products. Orbe has been associated with fresh pizza, sandwiches, salads, water and green tea. Landquart functions as a vegetarian and specialty-food center, while Bad Wünnenberg was converted from a Bell Germany facility. In 2021, Hilcona took over Aryzta Switzerland's sandwich business and its Schlieren production site. The company has also faced supply-chain scrutiny. During the 2013 European horse-meat scandal, undeclared horse meat was detected in some ready-made meat products on the market, including products linked to Hilcona. The company attributed the issue to its direct supplier, Vossko, terminated the relationship and changed its branded meat products to use 100 percent Swiss beef. Hilcona now operates as a Bell Food Group company serving European retail, food-service, impulse and industrial markets with fresh, frozen, chilled, shelf-stable and plant-based convenience foods.
- 2021
Aryzta sandwich business acquired
[1]Hilcona takes over Aryzta Switzerland's sandwich business and its Schlieren production site.
- 2019
Plant-based burger launched
[1]Hilcona introduces a burger under The Green Mountain plant-based label.
- 2017
Hilcona Taste Factory created
[1]Hilcona acquires Frostag Food-Centrum in Landquart and develops it into the Hilcona Taste Factory.
- 2017
Bell acquires the remaining Hilcona interest
[1]Bell takes over the 49 percent interest held by the Toni Hilti family trust.
- 2015
Bell becomes majority owner
[1]Bell exercises its option for an additional 2 percent, raising its holding to 51 percent.
- 2012
Salad and vegetable operations added
[1]Hilcona takes over Gastro Star AG and schwarz viva AG, including their production sites.
- 2011
Bell acquires a minority stake
[1]Bell AG takes a 49 percent stake in Hilcona and receives an option to increase its ownership.
- 1999
Fresh-pizza plant opens in Orbe
[1]Hilcona begins operating its fresh-pizza factory in Orbe.
- 1993
Deni's Pizza acquired
[1]Hilcona acquires Deni's Pizza in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland.
- 1991
French branch established
[1]The company adds a French operation as part of its European expansion.
Products and positioning
A Liechtenstein-origin convenience-food manufacturer combining fresh, chilled, frozen and shelf-stable products for retail, food service, impulse and industrial customers. Hilcona emphasizes product innovation, convenience, European distribution and specialized production capabilities in pasta, prepared meals, pizza, sandwiches, salads and vegetarian foods.
Fresh convenience food · 1984
Fresh pasta and sauces
Fresh pasta has been one of Hilcona's defining product areas since the company began industrial production in 1984. The range includes pasta formats and accompanying sauces designed for retail and convenience-oriented meal preparation. This category helped establish Hilcona as a specialist in chilled prepared foods.
Prepared meals
Ready meals
Hilcona produces prepared meals for consumers seeking quick, convenient food solutions. The portfolio is supported by the company's fresh, frozen and shelf-stable manufacturing capabilities and is sold through retail, food-service and other customer channels.
Frozen convenience food · 1961
Frozen foods
Frozen food production began in 1961 and remains a major part of Hilcona's historical and current capabilities. Products include frozen meals and food-service or industrial solutions, benefiting from the company's established convenience-food manufacturing platform.
Prepared bakery and meal products · 1993
Pizza
Hilcona expanded into pizza through the acquisition of Deni's Pizza and later operated a fresh-pizza factory in Orbe. Pizza products are made for food retail and form part of the company's fresh prepared-food portfolio.
Chilled convenience food
Sandwiches and salads
The company supplies chilled grab-and-go products including sandwiches and salads. Hilcona strengthened this area through salad and vegetable acquisitions and its 2021 takeover of Aryzta Switzerland's sandwich business.
Plant-based food · 2019
The Green Mountain plant-based burger
Introduced in April 2019, the plant-based burger marked Hilcona's expansion into meat alternatives. It was marketed under The Green Mountain label and aligned with growing interest in vegetarian and plant-based meals.
Vegetarian and plant-based food · 2017
Vegetarian specialties
The Hilcona Taste Factory in Landquart is associated with vegetarian products including hummus and tofu, as well as regional handmade specialties. The site supports Hilcona's positioning in differentiated and meat-free convenience foods.
Controversies
2013
Horse-meat contamination and mislabelling incident
During the wider European horse-meat scandal, undeclared horse meat was detected in some ready-made meat products associated with Hilcona. The company's direct supplier was identified as German meat processor Vossko. Hilcona ended its cooperation with the supplier and changed its branded meat products to use 100 percent Swiss beef.
Brand decisions
2021
Aryzta Switzerland sandwich business acquiredM&ABackground
Hilcona sought to strengthen its chilled and grab-and-go food capabilities.
Action taken
Effective 1 August 2021, Hilcona took over Aryzta Switzerland's sandwich business, including the Schlieren production site.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Hilcona's sandwich manufacturing and distribution platform.
2019
The Green Mountain burger enters the marketProduct launchBackground
Growing demand for vegetarian and plant-based alternatives created an opportunity to extend Hilcona's prepared-food expertise into meat substitutes.
Action taken
Hilcona launched a plant-based burger under The Green Mountain label.
Aftermath
The launch broadened Hilcona's offering beyond conventional pasta, frozen meals and other prepared foods.
2017
Bell acquires the remaining Hilcona stakeM&ABackground
After becoming majority owner, Bell proceeded to acquire the interest held by the Toni Hilti family trust.
Action taken
Bell took over the remaining 49 percent with retrospective effect from 1 January 2017.
Aftermath
Hilcona became fully controlled by Bell Food Group.
2015
Bell exercises its option to become majority ownerM&ABackground
Bell held 49 percent of Hilcona and had an option to increase its stake.
Action taken
Bell acquired a further 2 percent, bringing its ownership to 51 percent.
Aftermath
Bell became Hilcona's majority shareholder, while the Toni Hilti family trust retained the remaining interest until 2017.
2011
Bell takes a 49 percent stake in HilconaM&ABackground
Bell AG sought a strategic interest in Hilcona, a convenience-food producer with established operations in Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
Action taken
Bell acquired 49 percent of Hilcona AG and received an option to purchase an additional 2 percent.
Aftermath
The transaction began Hilcona's transition into the Bell group and was followed by Bell's move to majority and then full ownership.
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