About Pakka
How it all began...
It all began in India in 2006. The cashew nuts there tasted so good to the two Pakka founders Ueli Baruffol and Balz Strasser that the idea of trading in fairly traded, organically produced cashew nuts arose from their enjoyment. Pakka has remained true to this idea and has grown organically over the last 20 years, just like the nuts themselves.
The beginnings were very private. Pakka was a family business in the truest sense of the word. The living room table at home served as the production line. The first bags of precious seeds were packed and delivered with the help of the whole family.
In 2014, the strategic focus was generally expanded to include nuts and nut value chains. Dried fruit and chocolate products were added to the nuts. As the company has grown, its structure has also constantly changed and evolved. The current model, consisting of Pakka AG, Pakka Finance AG and the Pakka Foundation, is the provisional result of this development.
«Genuine, authentic and of very good quality»
«Pakka» comes from Hindi and means "cooked", "ripe" or "solid". That's where it all began: in India, the country of origin of our first cashew products. If you call something "pakka" in India today, you mean that it is of very good quality, genuine and authentic.
The name says it all for us! Not only should our products be "pakka", but also the way in which they are grown and delivered to our customers. Our raw materials are grown in the south by farmers with whom we have more than just a trading relationship. We and our partners operate sustainably. Our focus is on joint, healthy growth that is socially and environmentally compatible. This requires trust, respect and intercultural sensitivity. And that usually doesn't grow as quickly as the next harvest, but it is all the more enduring. Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to do things differently. We have that!
Milestones
20 years of Pakka
The story of Pakka began 20 years ago. A reason to celebrate!
Consolidation and strengthening of the raw materials business
The raw materials business of Pakka Sourcing GmbH is merged with that of BioPartner and EcorNaturaSi. Biodina AG is founded.
A new member of the Pakka family
The hazelnut processor Pakka Georgia joins the Pakka family.
Standardisation of Pakka company names
The financing business is renamed Pakka Finance AG and the raw materials trading business is renamed Pakka Sourcing GmbH. This consolidates the Pakka model "From the source to you" with the Foundation, Financing and Sales divisions.
Establishment of the Pakka Foundation
The establishment of the operational Pakka Foundation strengthens grassroots work in the countries of origin of the raw materials.
Pakka continues to grow and specialise
The raw materials and financing business is separated from sales and transferred to independent companies. Tom von Euw takes over the operational management of sales at Pakka AG. Ueli Baruffol continues to manage the raw materials and financing business.
Winner of the Swiss Ethic Award
Pakka is honoured with the Swiss Ethic Award for his work.
The birth of Pakka
Pakka is founded. The company covers the entire nut value chain from origin to the shop shelf: from project work with producers to the procurement of raw materials and the financing of supply chains through to the distribution of products via the retail trade.