Fredag

What Fredag does

Fredag is a Swiss convenience food manufacturer headquartered in Root, Canton Lucerne, that produces chilled and frozen products across five categories — poultry, meat, seafood, vegetarian, and vegan — for the domestic gastronomy channel and Swiss retail private-label customers. The company operates a single production site with daily capacity of 20–25 tonnes (approximately 9,000 tonnes annually) and employs around 200 staff from more than 40 nationalities. Proprietary process technologies include SMART Premium Formstücke, which reassembles trimmed chicken breast scraps using natural protein into 100% muscle-meat formed pieces, and wet extrusion used in plant-based meat alternatives under the Happy Vegi Butcher brand. The product portfolio spans 10 owned sub-brands including Happy Vegi Butcher, Nature Gourmet, noppa's (tofu), Börgär (burgers), Ocean's Best (seafood), SMART, Us Schwiizer Güggeti, Queen of Asia, Délicorn, and Swissline.

The company makes money through B2B sales of own-branded convenience products to hotels, restaurants, catering, and collective catering (gastronomy) via a dedicated external sales team organised by Swiss region (Food Service West, Ost, Mitte, and Convenience & Events), supported by inside sales. A separate revenue stream is private-label manufacturing for Swiss retail chains, historically including the Délicorn range at Coop (launched 2006) and Weight Watchers-branded products (2005). Distribution runs through a network of 24 gastronomy wholesale partners including Aligro, Pistor AG, TopCC AG, and Transgourmet/Prodega, plus a direct-to-consumer factory store in Root opened in 2024. Pricing is quote-based with minimum order thresholds (100 kg for frozen Fredag products; CHF 250 for Pastinella; CHF 200 for Le Patron) and a CHF 40 surcharge for below-minimum orders; pricing is not publicly disclosed.

Fredag is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ORIOR AG, a Swiss food and beverage group listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker: ORIOR) since April 2010. ORIOR took a majority stake in 1990 and full ownership in 2000; Fredag AG was renamed Fredag – ORIOR Food AG in 2025 as part of ORIOR group structural simplification. Certifications include FSSC 22000, IFS (2005), ISO 9001 (1996), Suisse Garantie, Bio Suisse, MSC, ASC, EU Bio, and Naturform. The company is a recognised vegetarian/vegan pioneer in Switzerland with 20+ years in the category, first launching vegetarian products (VegiFit and Quorn) in 1995.

Name

Fredag

Legal name

Fredag - ORIOR Food AG

Website

https://fredag.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Fredag is a Swiss convenience food manufacturer producing chilled and frozen poultry, meat, seafood, vegetarian, and vegan products for domestic gastronomy and retail private-label customers, operating from Root with ~200 staff as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ORIOR AG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Convenience Food Manufacturing

NAICS

Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing (311991), Animal Slaughtering and Processing (3116)

SIC

Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)

akta.pro primary industry

Frozen Meat & Poultry Meals & Value-Added Proteins (CRADADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plant-Based & Alternative Proteins (Packaged) (CRADAAAH), Frozen Plant-Based & Vegetarian Meals (CRADADAF), Refrigerated Meat & Seafood (Processed/Packaged) (CRADACAK), Frozen Entrées & Complete Meals (CRADADAA)

Keywords

• Convenience food manufacturing
• Poultry products
• Vegetarian and vegan food
• Foodservice supply
• Private label manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Root

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Own-branded Convenience Products (B2B foodservice): Fredag manufactures and sells its own branded convenience products (poultry, meat, seafood, vegetarian/vegan) directly to hotels, restaurants, catering companies, and collective catering (gastronomy segment) via its own sales team. Products are sold chilled and frozen. The company has operated a factory store in Root since 2024, selling directly to end consumers.
2. Private-Label Manufacturing: Fredag produces private-label convenience products for retail chains. Historical examples include the Délicorn range sold at Coop (launched 2006) and Léger/Weight Watchers branded products (2005). Products are manufactured to retailer specifications and sold under the retailer's own brand.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Fredag manufactures and sells a broad portfolio of chilled and frozen convenience food products spanning poultry, meat, seafood, vegetarian, and vegan categories. Products are sold primarily to the Swiss gastronomy (hotels, restaurants, catering) through a dedicated B2B sales team and wholesale distribution network, with additional private-label manufacturing for retail chains and a direct-to-consumer factory store in Root.

Product overview

Fredag is a convenience food manufacturer offering a diversified portfolio across five main product categories: Geflügel (poultry) featuring SMART Premium Formstücke and Us Schwiizer Güggeli sub-brands; Vegetarisch & Vegan (vegetarian & vegan) under Happy Vegi Butcher, Nature Gourmet, noppa's, and Quorn sub-brands; Fleisch (meat) with the Börgär burger label; Seafood under the Ocean's Best brand; and Spezialitäten (Asian specialties) including spring rolls and gyoza. Products are sold to food service (gastronomy) and retail customers, with a factory outlet store and recipe inspiration resources. The company operates as a B2B supplier with a dedicated sales team and holds multiple quality and sustainability certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Happy Vegi Butcher: Premium meat-free meat alternative brand offering plant-based products without compromises on taste, texture, fiber, recipe choice, or origin.
• Nature Gourmet
• noppa's
• Börgär
• Ocean's Best
• SMART
• Us Ämmitaler Güggle / Us Schwiizer Güggeli
• Queen of Asia
• Délicorn
• Swissline

Products and services

• Geflügel (Poultry) Versatile poultry product range for professional kitchens and retail, including SMART Premium formed pieces, Us Schwiizer Güggeli, chicken nuggets, chicken burgers, schnitzel, cordon bleu, yakitori skewers, and chicken wings.
• SMART Premium Formstücke (SMART Premium Formed Pieces) Innovative formed pieces from 100% muscle meat using natural protein technology, offering premium quality with authentic meat texture, structure, and taste without grinding, combined with efficient raw material utilization.
• Us Schwiizer Güggeli Swiss premium poultry line made from 100% Swiss poultry, prepared with handcraft tradition, no artificial additives (E-numbers), using only flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs.
• Vegetarisch & Vegan (Vegetarian & Vegan) Vegetarian and vegan product range for foodservice and retail including Happy Vegi Butcher, Nature Gourmet, noppa's tofu, and Quorn mycoprotein-based products.
• Happy Vegi Butcher Premium plant-based meat alternative brand offering vegan products such as nuggets, burgers, kebab, wings, sausages, and sliced products that replicate meat taste, texture, and fiber without compromise.
• Nature Gourmet Vegetarian and vegan products based on high-quality natural ingredients and refined spices, prepared according to Swiss quality standards, including nuggets, schnitzel, vegetables, and burgers.
• noppa's High-quality tofu creations with traditional and innovative recipes, including bio tofu, smoked tofu, tofu with vegetables, and silken tofu, produced according to high Swiss quality standards.
• Quorn Products based on mycoprotein, a nutritious protein source rich in fiber, meat-free, and naturally low in saturated fats, including schnitzel, geschnetzeltes, and minced products.
• Fleisch (Meat) 100% Swiss meat products including burgers under the Börgär label, beef products like meatballs, pork schnitzel and cordon bleu, and specialty cuts for foodservice and retail customers.
• Börgär Burger line featuring original patties from 100% Swiss meat, vegan alternatives, and trendy seasonal burgers for creative recipes, unified under a single brand label.
• Seafood Frozen fish and shellfish from around the world under the Ocean's Best brand, including mangrove shrimps, prawns, seafood specialties, and fresh/saltwater fish, carrying Bio, MSC, and ASC certifications.
• Ocean's Best Brand representing consistent top quality for frozen fish and shellfish from around the world, carrying important certifications including Bio, MSC, and ASC labels for sustainable sourcing.
• Spezialitäten (Specialties) Asian specialties including spring rolls and gyoza, popular as finger food and appetizers for foodservice and retail customers.
• Factory Store (Direct-to-Consumer Outlet) Direct-to-consumer factory outlet store at Fredag headquarters in Root (Oberfeld 7), open Fridays and Saturdays, offering the full range of poultry, meat, vegetarian/vegan, and seafood products to end consumers.
• Private-Label Manufacturing Contract manufacturing of private-label convenience products for Swiss retail chains, produced to retailer specifications and sold under the retailer's own brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water consumption reduced by over 23% since 2018 through production process optimization.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered major and regional.

• AligromajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale distribution partner serving hotels, restaurants, and catering businesses across Switzerland. Listed as a primary partner on Fredag's partner page with direct link to aligro.ch.
• Pistor AGmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale distribution partner. Listed as a primary partner on Fredag's partner page with direct link to pistor.ch.
• TopCC AGmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale distribution partner. Listed as a primary partner on Fredag's partner page with direct link to topcc.ch.
• Transgourmet/ProdegamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Swiss gastronomy wholesale distribution partner. Listed as a primary partner on Fredag's partner page with direct link to transgourmet.ch.
• Agemo SAregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale partner based in Western Switzerland (Westschweiz region).
• Berger SAregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale partner.
• G. Bianchi AGregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale partner.
• CC AligroregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale partner (related to Aligro group).
• Dörig&Brandl ComestiblesregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale partner specializing in fish and seafood (der-frisch-fisch.ch).
• Eggenschwiler AGregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale partner.
• FrigalimentregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale partner.
• Gourmador frigemo AGregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale partner.
• Hosberg AGregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale partner.
• Marinello & Co. AGregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale partner.
• Mundo AGregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale partner.
• SavivaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale partner.
• VermoregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy wholesale partner.
• BolayregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy partner in the West Switzerland region.
• SGG Waser AGregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy partner.
• Pitoeuf SAregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy partner in the West Switzerland region.
• Dupasquier SAregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy partner in the West Switzerland region.
• Bonfrais Bongel & Berger frigemo SAregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy partner.
• Von Kaenel Comestibles SAregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gastronomy partner.
• Forster Früchte und Gemüse AGregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss produce and vegetable supplier partner.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Frigemo (fenaco): Swiss producer of frozen and chilled convenience foods for gastronomy and retail, competing in the same domestic foodservice convenience niche.
• Bell Food Group: Leading Swiss meat and convenience food processor supplying retail and foodservice; directly comparable in Swiss meat/poultry and convenience manufacturing, competing for similar customers.
• Micarna (Migros): Major Swiss meat, poultry and seafood processor producing value-added and convenience products, competing directly in Fredag's core protein categories in the Swiss market.

Broad incumbents

• Garden Gourmet (Nestlé): Global plant-based convenience brand from Nestlé competing in the same vegetarian/vegan foodservice and retail space, though as part of a far larger portfolio.
• The Vegetarian Butcher (Unilever): Plant-based meat-alternative brand serving foodservice channels; overlaps with Fredag's Happy Vegi Butcher positioning for gastronomy customers.

Emerging players

• Beyond Meat: Pure-play alternative-protein manufacturer; a category competitor to Fredag's plant-based lines in retail and foodservice.
• Planted: Swiss plant-based protein startup using extrusion to make meat alternatives for foodservice/retail, overlapping directly with Fredag's Happy Vegi Butcher vegan line.
• Rügenwalder Mühle: German producer of both meat products and plant-based alternatives, comparable in its dual meat/vegan convenience portfolio strategy.

Direct peers

• Hilcona: Swiss/Liechtenstein manufacturer of chilled convenience and prepared foods for gastronomy and retail—very close overlap in convenience food category, channels and geography.

Others

• Quorn (Marlow Foods): Mycoprotein-based meat-alternative maker; both a Fredag brand partner/ingredient and a comparable in the vegetarian convenience category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fredag