Baking, Brewing, Candy-Making

They start their day before the break of dawn. They mix, knead, fold, and bake with the highest precision, and what they make brings a smile to many people in the early morning hours. Naturally, we’re describing bakers. Their craft is an ancient one with a long tradition in Basel, especially. Bread is one of the most ancient foodstuffs, long considered an integral part of our daily diet. However, it became sidelined after the Second World War. The enlarged middle class enjoyed new prosperity during the postwar years and discovered new food items flooding the market, including convenience foods. The number of bakeries in and around Basel dropped dramatically, but locals never lost their taste for freshly baked goods, not even today.

Industry Night gives you a chance to peek behind the scenes at local bakeries and try your hand at the baker’s art. Bäckerei KULT is known for their exceptional croissants and sourdough breads. It’s a place you’ll discover bread with all your senses: test their range of loaves, inhale the delectable scent of freshly baked butter crescents, and even try your hand at plaiting dough. The Sutter Begg production facilities offer insight into an up-to-date bakery, with almost 30 branches in the larger Basel region. This century-old family business offers you a unique tour through the bakery, answering all your questions and welcoming you to slip into the role of baker, pastry chef, or confectioner in their apprentice workshop.

At VITO, pizzaiolas and pizzaiolos conjure masterpieces out of flour. The business began in 2016 with a shop in the Basel neighbourhood of Gundeldingen. From the start, the metre-long pizzas made a splash. Now, eight years later, VITO has just opened its sixth branch, with four in Basel and two in Zurich. Industry Night is the perfect chance to learn more about VITO’s values and vision. Their curiosity is what motivates them, so why not tinker with their chefs and perfect the best sugo, toppings, and doughs?

Jakob’s Basler Leckerly is continuing a long tradition of success. The family business in the St. Johann neighbourhood was established over 270 years ago, making it the oldest in all of Switzerland. Their eponymous leckerly biscuits, similar to gingerbread, have become one of Basel’s trademark specialities. They were ubiquitous when the city successfully competed for the Federal Council in 2023.

Ricola too has remained true to its roots. The legendary Swiss firm is known for its herbal sweets, pastilles, and powders. Since their founding in 1930, their headquarters remain in Laufen, where they have close ties, as their name testifies (it’s an acronym of Richterich Compagnie Laufen.) The company exclusively uses herbs grown in the Swiss Alps. Find out for yourself how they create their herb sugar following an original recipe during Industry Night at Messeplatz – and even taste it for yourself. Birtel brewery is similarly committed to sustainable supply chains. The beer manufacturer uses their own Swiss-grown hops and malted barley. They’ll share the secret to their success at Industry Night and explain each step of making their craft beers. The Fahrbar is the place to try all their offerings.