The Swiss underwear and lifestyle brand CALIDA is one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality durable, and resource-efficient underwear, sleepwear and loungewear for men, women and children.
We are a leading company for premium bodywear products.
The CALIDA GROUP is one of Switzerland's best-known premium bodywear companies with international operations. It consists of the brands CALIDA, AUBADE and COSABELLA. The CALIDA GROUP stands for high-quality products that inspire customers every single day.
Our brands
Since its launch in 1958, AUBADE has been one of the leading brands for luxury lingerie. Every piece is a perfect blend of innovative styling and glamorous creativity.
COSABELLA is a luxury underwear and loungewear brand. Since its foundation in 1983 COSABELLA is creating timeless designs that convey confidence and individuality for people of every origin, every gender and every belief.
Organisation
Strategy
Our brands are built on a strong and distinctive DNA — shaped by innovation, technical expertise, and a rich heritage. At CALIDA GROUP, we drive profitability through Operational Excellence and a 'Keep it Simple' mindset, supported by a performance-driven culture. We focus on the following strategic areas to achieve our goals:
General
- Maintaining brand share in saturated markets while ensuring profitability
- Strong home market presence with international expansion
- Strengthening product and technical expertise
- Balancing internal and external production and sourcing
- Promoting simple and cost-efficient corporate and brand structures
- External growth only after stabilizing and sustainably improving profitability
Financial
- Profitable growth is targeted
- Mid-term EBIT goal of ≥10%
- Focus on free cash flow
- Solid balance sheet with low debt and working capital ≤25% of net sales
- Dividend payout ratio of 20–30% of operating profit
-> Short-term adjustments possible based on company needs
Operational
- Product development and brand communication are key brand drivers
- Strengthen brand USPs
- Reinforce premium brand positioning
- Maintain strong internal research & development
- Preserve separate operational structures for each brand while leveraging know-how synergies
Our history
1941
CALIDA is founded by Max Kellenberger and Hans Joachim Palmers.
1987
IPO on the Swiss Exchange SWX in Zurich, 70% of the capital remains with the founding families.
1990
Large manufacturing investments in a knitting plant in Switzerland, two sewing plants in Hungary and Portugal, a fully automated distribution centre and a factory in India.
2000
The Kellenberger family acquires a majority stake of 51%. The Palmers family leaves the company.
2001
Apart from the two sewing plants in Hungary and Portugal, all activities are concentrated in Sursee.
2002
All knitting facilities within the group have been closed. As a result, the group procures newly finished fabrics worth approx. CHF 40 million.
2004
The sewing plant in Portugal has been sold, with production capacity relocated to Eastern Europe and the Far East.
2005
The company acquires the French lingerie brand AUBADE. Integration and restructuring follow in the next years.
CALIDA is closing its production site in Switzerland and increasing production capacity in Hungary and through external suppliers.
2013
The CALIDA GROUP acquires a strategic stake in the LAFUMA Group, the leading French producer of sports and outdoor clothing.
2017
The CALIDA GROUP takes over the German e-commerce specialist REICH ONLINE SERVICES (renamed to: CALIDA GROUP DIGITAL) incl. the onmyskin online shop.
2020
The company sells the EIDER brand to the South Korean K2 Group.
Repatriation of production from the Far East.
The company sells the subsidiary OXBOW to the French company Rainbow.
2022
CALIDA GROUP acquires premium lingerie brand COSABELLA.
CALIDA GROUP aquires ERLICH TEXTIL.
CALIDA GROUP sells the MILLET MOUNTAIN GROUP to Jean-Pierre Millet and Inspiring Sport Capital.
2023
CALIDA GROUP sells ERLICH TEXTIL.
2024
CALIDA GROUP sells LAFUMA MOBILIER to Peugeot Frères Industrie.
The Board of Directors of the CALIDA GROUP decides to buyback its own shares for the purpose of reducing share capital. The founding family maintains long-term commitment with reduced stake.
2024
The onmyskin online shop has been discontinued, and the e-commerce operations have been fully integrated into CALIDA.
COSABELLA undergoes a fundamental repositioning, accompanied by organizational and structural restructuring.