Prix SVC Eastern Switzerland 2026: Tisca Tischhauser AG chosen as the winner

The Prix SVC Ostschweiz 2026 was awarded in St.Gallen on March 5, 2026. There were five outstanding SMEs in the final: in addition to the eventual winner Tisca Tischhauser AG, these were Maestrani Schweizer Schokoladen AG from Flawil SG, optrel AG from Wattwil SG, Velosolutions Schweiz GmbH from Flims GR and zeintra AG from Wil SG. All five companies represent the diversity and efficiency of the SME landscape in Eastern Switzerland and were proud to celebrate their success in front of around 750 guests in the Olma exhibition halls in St.Gallen.

Tisca Tischhauser: Leading example for the textile industry in Eastern Switzerland

The independent jury of experts selected Tisca Tischhauser AG as the winner from the five finalists. The company's product range includes carpets, curtains, upholstery and decorative fabrics as well as textile coverings for sports, transportation and interior applications. Tisca's particular strength lies in the great variety, high flexibility and distinctive individuality of its products, which range from series production to hand-woven carpets and individually designed, high-quality one-off items. Founded in 1940 by Anton Tischhauser Sr., the group currently employs around 400 people and produces mainly in Switzerland. Jury President Andrea Fanzun, Partner and President of the Board of Directors of Fanzun AG, honored the winner in his laudatory speech and highlighted her outstanding achievements. «Tisca is living proof that the textile industry in Eastern Switzerland is by no means extinct. Quite the opposite: the company, which is 100% family-owned, sees itself as a leading and successful international full-service provider of textiles of all kinds and has reinvented itself, so to speak, in the »hard flooring phase': Since then, the product range has included a new generation of football turf as well as innovative textiles with additional properties: Acoustic curtains or antimicrobial or pressure-sensitive textiles."

Who else was honored

The four other finalists have nothing to hide. «Everyone on stage tonight is a winner,» it was repeatedly emphasized. Maestrani Schweizer Schokoladen AG is no exception: it is a chocolate factory steeped in tradition and stands for artisanal chocolate art with a strong focus on sustainability. Since 2017, the company has included the «Chocolarium», a visitor and experience world directly in the factory, which attracts over 230,000 people every year and offers exciting insights into chocolate production. Maestrani has expanded its range in recent years with the integration of Avelines premium chocolates and the acquisition of the Chocolat Ammann brand. Alongside the established love brands Munz and Minor, the company has been able to further strengthen its market position.

optrel AG is a leading international provider of innovative welding and respiratory protection solutions. The SME develops products with highly developed technology, including automatic darkening, high wearing comfort, maximum safety and individually adaptable solutions, and combines this with a clear demand for aesthetic design. Production is consistently «Swiss Made» in Toggenburg. Driven by a spirit of innovation and technological passion, the family-run parent company entered the market for active sunglasses in 2021 and founded the react sports brand in 2022, which is now distributed by optrel sports AG.

Velosolutions Schweiz GmbH, which operates worldwide, specializes in the planning, construction and implementation of pump tracks, bike parks and MTB trails. The Velosolutions team consists of numerous specialists from the fields of construction, design, project management, marketing and event management. To date, the company has built 1,000 pump tracks in more than 50 countries worldwide. In addition to its construction activities, Velosolutions creates sporting spaces and meeting places for young and old, is involved in social initiatives with the ’Pump for Peace« project and organizes the official Pump Track World Championships.

zeintra AG specializes in the development and manufacture of technical brushes for a wide range of applications. As a family-run company, zeintra develops and produces a wide range of products for industry, mechanical engineering and demanding special applications. With several hundred standard models as well as precise customer-specific solutions, the company offers exceptional diversity and a high level of technical expertise. The SME also has strong roots in the region and is committed to social responsibility by offering sheltered and supervised workplaces.

Business rendezvous and SVC anniversary year

The presentation of the Prix SVC Ostschweiz 2026 marked the start of the SVC's anniversary year. The corporate network was founded 25 years ago on the initiative of Hans-Ulrich Müller, who was responsible for Credit Suisse's corporate client business at the time. The aim was to give SMEs the publicity they deserved. «Back then, quarterly reports dominated wealth management, asset management and investment banking,» recalled Hans Baumgartner, current SVC Chairman, in conversation with presenter Marco Fritsche and also in an interview with our medium. The SVC now honors exemplary SMEs in nine regions, in Eastern Switzerland for the twelfth time. This year's award ceremony in the Olma exhibition halls in St.Gallen offered around 750 guests from business, politics, society and the media inspiring insights into the region's diverse entrepreneurship. Christoph Zeller, OC President of the Prix SVC Eastern Switzerland, emphasized: «The 2026 finalists represent the diversity and performance of the SME landscape in Eastern Switzerland. They come from different sectors and are exemplary of entrepreneurial continuity, innovative spirit and regional roots.»

A total of four award ceremonies will take place in the anniversary year 2026, including a new one in the Aargau Solothurn region (on April 30, 2026). The actual anniversary will be celebrated in a separate event on August 24, 2026 in Bern's Festhalle alongside the Annual General Meeting.

Source and further information: www.svc.swiss