Richi AG receives the successor prize Phoenix Award 2024 in the category "SMEs with 100 to 250 employees"

Thanks to successful succession planning, the family business Richi AG has been in existence for 100 years. In the canton of Zurich, with its 113,000 companies, of which around 17,800 are facing an open succession, only just under 20 companies achieve this every year. The Swiss umbrella organization for corporate succession - CHDU - recognizes such outstanding entrepreneurial achievements with its succession award "Phoenix Award for long-term Swiss entrepreneurship". In the category "SMEs with up to 50 employees", the This year's award has already gone to Fröhlich Info AG.

A story of innovation and family succession

The award certificate was presented by Hans Jürg Domenig, President of the CHDU, and laudator René Spielmann, member of the Phoenix Award jury and co-owner and board delegate of H. Rüetschi AG, which received the Phoenix Award in 2020. In his laudatory speech, the experienced entrepreneur paid tribute to Richi AG with these words: "The history of Richi AG is characterized by the recognition of market opportunities, process optimization, innovation and, in particular, diversification. The latter from its foundation in 1924 with a haulage and gravel extraction business to its expansion into today's five business divisions. At the same time, the succession within the family, now in its fourth generation, has been well managed. An entrepreneurial and family challenge that needs to be mastered and for which I would like to congratulate them on their success."

Dr. Fabian Streiff, Head of the Office of Economic Affairs of the Canton of Zurich, also offered his personal congratulations: "What an achievement to run a successful business for 100 years. Starting with a good succession plan with a lot of prudence and the willingness to let go, the courage to change, perseverance, innovative strength and much more. Richi AG has exactly that and thus demonstrates perfectly what is needed for long-term success. I am therefore all the more delighted that the company has received the Phoenix Award and thus the visibility it deserves. Especially as this successor prize is the first time an SME in the canton of Zurich has been honored in the '100 to 250 employees' category."

Jürg Sulser, President of the Cantonal Council of the Canton of Zurich, and Martin Saladin, Head of SECO's Location Promotion Directorate, also congratulated the award winners in person at their company headquarters. Jürg Sulser has been on friendly terms with the Richi family for decades and did not miss the opportunity to personally present a few more gifts - including a few bottles of "Cantonal Council wine" - together with his best wishes for the company's continued prosperity.

Honor and inspiration

The Phoenix Award for long-term Swiss entrepreneurship has been presented annually since 2020. The award honors Swiss SMEs that have mastered their succession planning for at least a century. Companies that have existed for such a long time have already had to overcome several crises such as world wars and economic crises and rise anew like the "Phoenix from the ashes". The focus as potential award winners is therefore on Swiss SMEs that are 100 years old in the respective year or have been entered in the Swiss commercial register for 100 years.

An expert jury and a jury advisory board with representatives from science, entrepreneurship and the media select the winner of the Phoenix Award from these companies in a multi-stage process. The evaluation focuses on the companies' innovative and disruptive capabilities, team performance and their contribution to society and the economy.

Foresight, courage for disruption and sustainable strategy convince the jury

In 1924, Jakob Richi comes across gravel and sand while working in the fields. He decides to mine both and from then on to use his own horse-drawn cart to supply gravel to builders in the Limmat Valley and Zurich. The foundation stone for the Richi company was laid. The company's development from then until today has been characterized by the ability to make sensible use of technological opportunities for healthy growth and to respond to changing market conditions and customer needs with both foresight and flexibility. Not forgetting a good dose of courage and pioneering spirit.

This is demonstrated by milestones such as the Berna tipper truck purchased in 1929. During the war years 1939-45, this truck ran on a wood carburetor and wood from the Weiningen forest instead of petrol. Until the 1970s, the main business of gravel extraction grew steadily. At the same time, the first diversification took place with the addition of a skip service due to major construction activities. Further transportation and logistics services are added. In 1983, the company makes a name for itself with the most powerful hydraulic pneumatic crane in Switzerland at the time. The initial spark for the current constellation of the Weiningen SME came from various setbacks and adverse legal requirements, which prompted the current Chairman of the Board of Directors, Jakob Richi, then Managing Director, to reorganize the company's logistics in 2002 in a star-shaped structure designed for short distances.

Weiningen becomes a center for material processing and recycling. With the completion of the disposal and processing center in Weiningen in 2003, the step into the material cycle economy was taken. From now on, the motto is "Turn old into new". Richi AG has remained true to this philosophy ever since. Extensive measures to reduce CO2, such as a PV system covering almost 5,000 m2 on the roofs of the company buildings and the operation of the company's own biomass power plant, in which the wood from dismantled buildings is used to generate electricity and heat energy, are just a few examples. The construction of a noise barrier to relieve the surrounding population from the accompanying noise emissions of the company are also testimony to Richi AG's code of values: "In harmony with people, nature and the environment".

Richi AG impresses with diversification, sustainability and a strong brand presence

A clear attitude which, in combination with the long-term success, convinced the Phoenix Award jury and jury advisory board. They summarized the company's award worthiness in these points, among others:

Consistent and forward-looking succession planning as a family business, today still in its third generation, soon to be in its fourth generation

• Outstanding transformation performance and stable growth from an agricultural and gravel pit business to today's company (group of companies) with five divisions >> Securing future viability through diversification.
• Development of a strong brand with a regional connection
• Commitment to sustainability: use of recycled gravel and concrete, recycling of building rubble, own photovoltaic system, biomass power plant, etc.

"We are delighted to have received the Phoenix Award. This succession award is a wonderful tribute to us as a family or family entrepreneurs, for whom a succession plan that is right for everyone is an important concern. At the same time, the award is a great recognition for our entire team, for whose constant commitment we are very grateful," summarizes David Richi in his acceptance speech, representing the third and fourth generations. His father Jakob Richi was also delighted with the award and pointed out how important the whole family was and still is in supporting the company's success. Because: "Being an SME is a wonderful thing. But I am now concerned about a few developments," said Jakob Richi, referring to increasing regulation and the growing administrative apparatus that is swallowing up more and more money. In particular, he also warned of the effects of the inheritance tax initiative, which aims to tax assets of over 50 million francs at 50 percent. With a view to future succession planning, such an undertaking would also have consequences for many family-run SMEs. But aside from such political statements, David Richi opened the drinks reception with the words: "Full speed ahead into the future".

Source: www.chdu.ch, Further information on the award winner