Healthy roots make us strong

In 1922 in the canton of Zürich, the country doctor and pharmacist Dr. Med. Aufdermaur discovers the exceptional healing power of natural herbs. Using tablets of his own preparation, he successfully combats the coughs and hoarseness of his patients, thereby establishing a basis for the Swiss family business DOMACO, Dr. Med. Aufdermaur AG.

The name DOMACO stands for Doctor Med. Aufdermaur Company.

In 1962 our company founder Alfons Meier took over the firm and developed the 20 herbal lozenges with honey proven and beloved to this day. It is to his innovative strength combined with a pioneering spirit that DOMACO owes the first sugar-free peppermint hard-boiled candy and the process for turning blends of dried, all-natural herbs into granulate form. Thus, the first instant teas were invented, at a time when the term ‘instant’ was new and unfamiliar. Thanks to the convincing advantages, the natural healing powers of herbal essences and honey, and the fast and simple preparation, the herbal teas could establish themselves in the market quickly and successfully.

In 1972 the first instantly soluble children’s teas were launched. The instant healing-teas with the convincing product advantages of granulation and the purity of herbs and fruits, specially formulated and meticulously manufactured for babies and children, were the logical next chapter in the success story of this new technology.

In 1982 the company was able to move into the new building at its current site in Lengnau. Thanks to far-sighted planning and sufficient land reserves, Domaco was able to expand their operations in Lengnau in multiple stages to its current production space of 14 000 m2.

Since 1993 his oldest daughter, Silvia Huber, has lead the company. Thus, the business remains in the second generation of the family and thereby guarantees familiar, open and socially responsible dealings with employees. Healthy growth of the business, which is rich in tradition, has allowed it to acquire additional companies: Tiki AG, with its children’s sherbet (well-known throughout Switzerland), and Belart Confiseur AG, which produces premium fruit pâtés supplied to the best locations for confectionery.

In 2004 the business strategy changed from food to over-the-counter/pharmaceutical products. New buildings at Lengnau were constructed in accordance with the requirements of the newest GMP standards, with clean rooms and a strict hygienic-zoning concept.

In 2007 approval for the production of medications and a GMP Certificate (Certificate of GMP Compliance) were granted by the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic).

In Lengnau today over 200 employees daily produce some one million hard-boiled candies, lozenges and tablets, 1.5 million pastilles, and granulate for 800 000 litres of instant beverages, which are distributed all throughout Switzerland and 35 other countries.

The company history reflects the DOMACO success story. In a mere 40 years, the business has developed itself from small, courageous beginnings into an international conglomerate with subsidiary companies in the USA and France.