Streamlining and Automation

In 1945, Migros bought a canning factory in Thurgau’s Bischofszell region. Production to steadily increased due to the modernisation of the machines. In 1956, demand for canned goods was so great that Migros – together with Conserves Estavayer SA – opened a second production plant in western Switzerland.

Four days before the end of the war, Gottlieb Duttweiler signed an agreement to purchase the Tobler & Co. cannery in Bischofszell, arming Migros for the post-war period in which demand for canned goods would steadily grow. Migros’ canning operations were relocated from Meilen to the new site and the unprofitable factory was completely overhauled. In summer, the Bischofszell factory produced vegetable and fruit preserves; in winter, jams, syrup, ravioli, condensed milk, tomato purée and canned meat. In addition, Pomol, a fruit juice concentrate invented by the factory founder – remained in production.
Thanks to the factory’s modernisation, daily ouput during the 1950 vegetable harvest reached 100,000 cans – an amount that, in turn, required new harvesting methods. Instead of being hand-picked, peas were quickly and automatically machine-threshed from the vines. By 1956, though, demand could no longer be met and Migros built a second production site at Estavayer-le-Lac, from where it supplied western Switzerland.