The Chopfab Brewery in Winterthur, one of Switzerland’s most recognized craft beer producers, is once again facing an uncertain future. According to Blick, about 70 employees of the site are anxiously awaiting clarity after rumors surfaced that the Brauerei Locher, owner of the brand, plans to shut down and demolish the Winterthur facility by the end of the year.
The company has not confirmed or denied the speculation. Instead, Karl Locher, owner of Brauerei Locher, announced a press conference for next Thursday to outline the group’s “strategic direction for the coming years” and to discuss “new impulses” at its various sites in Appenzell, Winterthur, Yverdon-les-Bains, and Worb. The silence has caused deep concern among the staff, who describe the atmosphere as tense. “It will certainly be reduced, but we haven’t heard anything about a complete shutdown,” one employee told Blick.
The Chopfab brand, launched in 2013, had become a national success story before running into financial trouble in 2023. After months of uncertainty, Brauerei Locher — known for its Quöllfrisch beer — stepped in to rescue the company, acquiring a majority stake and providing fresh capital (inside.beer, 15.03.2023). At the time, the move was hailed as a lifeline for Chopfab. Two and a half years after that rescue, the Winterthur site’s future appears to hang in the balance once again.
Some employees blame the brewery’s location in the city’s Grüze district, which suffers from poor motorway access and frequent traffic congestion, making logistics costly and complicated. Until the press conference next week, workers and local beer fans can do little but wait — hoping the company’s announcement will not mark the end of one of Switzerland’s most beloved brewing names.
