INTERVIEW - Mammut is becoming Chinese. The CEO says: 'The mountains simply do not end at the Swiss border'

Mammut, a Swiss outdoor brand with deep roots in the country, is set to be acquired by a Chinese investment firm. CEO Heiko Schäfer asserts that the company's Swiss identity remains intact, stemming from its design, development, and strategic decisions made in Switzerland, regardless of ownership.

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The mountains and mountain sports simply do not end at the Swiss national borders.

Schäfer addressed potential credibility issues arising from 80 percent of Mammut's products being manufactured in Asia, while the brand continues to promote its "Swiss 1862" heritage. He likened Mammut's global operations to those of its competitors in the sports equipment industry, highlighting that the brand has been active internationally for decades, with 85 percent of its revenue generated outside Switzerland. "Our goal must be to make a traditional Swiss brand into a global player," Schäfer stated. "The mountains and mountain sports simply do not end at the Swiss national borders."

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Our Swiss identity results from what we do every day – and not from who owns the company.

Concerns about job security and the future of the Swiss headquarters were also raised. However, Schäfer reassured employees that there are no plans for layoffs and that the new owners share a common understanding of prioritizing business continuity, stability, and a positive work environment. He pointed to the ongoing construction of a new headquarters in Lenzburg as a clear commitment to the Swiss location. Mammut was previously sold in 2021 to the private equity firm Jacobs Capital, under which it underwent modernization and became more profitable.

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We are building a new headquarters in Lenzburg. That is a clear commitment to the Swiss location.