A visit to an artisan market in Emmetten

The beginnings of a passion

Ruedi’s love of baking began as a child: even as a young boy, he loved being in the kitchen, and at the age of ten he accepted his first cake order. What began as a hobby quickly developed into a passion that led him to become self-employed at the age of 25. With little prior experience, he and his wife took the courageous step of opening a small business in Endingen AG. Initially, they planned to work alone without any employees, but thanks to a lot of hard work and entrepreneurial skill, the company grew rapidly. After just ten years, they had 45 employees.

The most important resource in Ruedi’s career has been the next generation of talent, and he has had the privilege of training over 40 (!) apprentices. “It’s always been the most amazing thing to follow the apprentices’ ongoing development,” explains Ruedi. Each week, he spent an hour with each of them to discuss tasks together and reflect on their personal progress.

Handover and a new start

At the end of 2021, Ruedi decided to hand over his original business to his son Joël, ensuring the continued existence of the family business for the next generation. This handover was the result of careful planning and in-depth discussions within the family. But rather than retiring, Ruedi began a new chapter, to build Ruädis Märcht in Emmetten.

His aim was to strengthen the regional community and create a place that promotes local products.

He is particularly proud of his traditional artisanship: in his small market, he bakes bread in a wood-fired oven that works in a very special way using stored heat – an authentic treat that both locals and tourists love. (And our Jonny was also delighted to be able to enjoy some warm bread straight from the oven.)

A focus on regionality

Another core element of Ruädis Märcht is the close collaboration with local producers. For Ruedi, it is of utmost importance that all products on offer come from the region and that he knows the manufacturers personally. “At first, I had to be proactive in approaching people, but the concept is now well established”, he recalls proudly. For him, the quality of the products is paramount – and the close connection to the people who make them.

Ruedi plans to hand over his new project in about five years’ time. Until then, he wants to inspire many more people with regional products and traditional artisanship.

This visit to Ruädis Märcht has once again shown how important it is to maintain close partnerships with our clients and to be aware of their stories. It is inspiring to work with people like Ruedi Alt, who are supporting and developing their region with such passion and dedication. We look forward to being part of this journey in the future!