La Semeuse celebrates 125 years and invests CHF 10 million in the canton of Neuchâtel
Agri-food
6 February 2025
La Semeuse’s historic roasting facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds, where it has been producing high-quality coffee since 1900. | © La Semeuse
Swiss coffee roaster La Semeuse marks its 125th anniversary with a major expansion in La Chaux-de-Fonds, investing CHF 10 million in a new roasting and storage facility.
La Semeuse, the renowned coffee roaster based in La Chaux-de-Fonds (canton of Neuchâtel), is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2025 with a CHF 10 million investment in a new roasting and storage facility. The project, set to begin construction in April, includes a 500 m² extension with a 15-meter-high roasting unit, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to quality coffee production.
To commemorate the milestone, La Semeuse will host two days of festivities on 20-21 June 2025 at its La Chaux-de-Fonds facility, welcoming visitors to experience its heritage and innovation in coffee roasting.
The expansion project had been delayed due to the July 2023 storm, which caused severe damage to the company’s warehouse at Crêt-du-Locle. The facility, now nearly rebuilt, has been transformed into one of the largest solar-powered buildings in the canton, with an annual electricity output of 850,000 kWh.
A century-old tradition of innovation
Founded in 1900 by Marc Bloch, La Semeuse started as a family-run business specializing in high-quality cold-pressed vegetable oil before expanding into coffee roasting in the 1920s. Since then, it has maintained a strong emphasis on quality and sustainability. In 1992, it became one of the first Swiss roasters to offer certified organic and fair-trade coffee.
Under the leadership of Nicolas Bihler, who took over in 2015, La Semeuse continues to uphold its founding values while expanding its reach beyond Western Switzerland. Today, the company employs 35 people and produces around 2,000 tons of coffee per year, more than doubling its output over the past decade.
Recognized as “Swiss Roaster of the Year” in 2021 by the German magazine Crema, La Semeuse remains a key player in the Swiss coffee industry, blending tradition with innovation.
