For more than 60 years, we, Bardini+Keller AG, have represented the utmost quality and reliability in the international distribution of fruits and vegetables. Our professional product expertise and our personalized style of trading have made us a leading, fully certified partner in Central Europe. Thanks to our precise logistics and our extensive quality management, we guarantee our partners a complete assortment and long-lasting, mutual success.
Over 60 years of professional product know-how & logistics experience
Extensive, diversified product range & specific expertise in niche products
Certified quality, efficient infrastructure & personalized trading
Diverse and in part exclusive product distribution of fruits & vegetables from over 16 countries
Strong distribution network in Switzerland and 7 countries of the EU
Long-standing, personal contacts with customers, logistics companies and producers/suppliers
The creation of Bardini+Keller begins
1958
Bardini+Keller AG was founded by Mario Keller and Hugo Bardini at Oberen Graben 3 in St. Gallen.
Hugo Bardini’s wife, Giulia Bardini, contributed as the secretary. The very first business deal was a railroad wagon loaded with 5 tons of carrots from Sicily – addressed to: Zurich Markthalle, express freight.
Thus the trading of fruits from Vignola (province in Modena) began, and with it the successive build-up of customers in Switzerland.
Customer acquisition rapidly expanded to Düsseldorf and Munich (wholesale market customers) and Paris (Rungis wholesale market).
First purchase of stone fruit for direct consumption in the region of Oberthurgau and South Tyrol for storage in cold stores.
At that time, there was a progressive billing model: 1/3 down payment in fall, remaining payment after sale and sorting in spring.
In the 60s, Swiss agricultural products were still tradable on the international market. Bardini+Keller AG exported potatoes, apples, cherries and apricots to Italy, Germany, Austria and France.
1960
Start of trade relations with industrial processing companies (Hero Conserven, St. Galler Konserven, Konservenfabrik Sonnegg, Hilcona, Reitzel and Estavayer).
The best-selling items were apricots and strawberries, bitter oranges and onions.
Start of potato trading from all over Europe for the Italian market. Packed goods for fresh consumption and loose potatoes for the French fries industry were transported to Italy on dump trucks.
Start of trading with cauliflower and broccoli heads for Ditzler AG.
René Keller (son of Mario Keller) joins the company.
1970
At the start of the 1970s, customer acquisition in Austria began. In this way, renowned clients such as Spar, ADEG, Zumtobel, Strobl and Grabher were gained thanks to mixed trucks from Verona.
Start of trading with Italian pickled cucumbers for the Reitzel, Sonnegg and Estavayer processing plants.
Start of trading in halved peperoni chilis for St. Gallen preserves and fresh beans and spinach for Hilcona.
Start of trading with leeks from Turkey for the Swiss market.
1980
Start of trading with fresh figs from Turkey.
Retirement of Hugo Bardini from day-to-day operations.
Start of trading with Kapija from Turkey for the Swiss market.
1990
Start of trading with fresh pickled cucumbers from Turkey for the Reitzel, Sonnegg, Chirat and Estavayer processing plants.
Retirement of Mario Keller from day-to-day operations.
Commencement of the marketing of Danube asparagus, chestnuts and walnuts.
Implementation of the IT solution SAP Business One.
Start of trade relations with Poland.
SwissGAP certification successfully passed.
2000
Relocation from the city of St. Gallen (Oberer Graben 3) to the Business Park (Lagerstrasse 4) in Gossau SG.
Bio Suisse certification successfully passed.
Purchase of the avocado and mango estate “Agricola Vista Alegre” in Peru.
Export of Swiss fruits and vegetables to Russia (Switzerland did not adopt the sanctions of the European Union).
2010
ISO 22000 certification successfully passed.
Start of trading with watermelons from Hungary for Germany, Poland and Austria.
Retirement of René Keller (son of founder Mario Keller).
We are the first Swiss company to receive GlobalGAP CoC (chain of custody) certification.
Merger of Bardini+Keller AG and Verdeimport AG to form Bardini & Verde.
2020
Remo Keller (son of René Keller and grandson of founder Mario Keller) is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors.
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