Cereal sector

The Swiss cereal sector brings together all those involved in the process from field to plate.

Farmers grow bread grains (mainly wheat, rye and spelt) in accordance with high environmental and sustainability standards set by legislation and the market.

The crops are then collected in silos, stored and processed by mills before reaching artisan bakers or the food industry. This sector promotes local production, guarantees recognised quality and contributes to the country’s food security, whilst supporting the regional economy.

Production

The production of bread wheat in Switzerland is spread across the country’s various regions, mainly in the lowlands, covering an area of around 80,000 hectares (ha).

This accounts for around 85% of the Swiss milling industry’s requirements, which can be supplemented by a fixed import quota of 70,000 tonnes (equivalent to approximately 12,000 hectares).

Thanks to research and collaboration within the swissgranum industry association, producers select suitable varieties developed through Swiss breeding programmes, which meet strict criteria regarding protein content, baking quality and yield. From an agronomic perspective, farmers pay particular attention to crop rotation, soil conservation and crop management to ensure sustainable production whilst guaranteeing the quality required for bread-making

Swiss Federation of Cereal Producers

Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG)

Swiss granum Grain Industry Association

Flour milling

Flour production in Switzerland meets 97% of the demand for use in bakery products.

The four largest mills in Switzerland produce 75% of the total output, which can reach up to 1,000 tonnes of milled wheat per day. Whilst the size of the facilities varies considerably from one mill to another, the milling techniques are generally similar, whether the mills are industrial or artisanal.

FMS

Swiss bread

Bakery

There are around 1,600 artisan bakeries, representing approximately 3,800 outlets across Switzerland.

En 2024, les consommateurs ont acheté pour 2617,5 millions de francs de pain et de produits de boulangerie dans le commerce de détail suisse. Cela correspond à un volume total de 266’045 tonnes de pain et de produits de boulangerie. A noter qu’un pain seulement sur trois est acheté chez un artisan boulanger.

SBC

FOAG Market Analysis

Cereal sector

Production

Flour milling

Bakery

The sector in pictures