Delicious sustainability
High-quality ingredients, craftmanship and sustainable production. It seems only natural that the Laflor chocolate factory chose to design its shop in Zurich using USM modules. After all, USM and Laflor share the same values. Yet things could have turned out very differently.
Laura Schälchli, co-founder and CEO of the Swiss chocolate brand Laflor, stands in the spacious sales and events room in Zurich Altstetten. Through the glass walls, one can see rotating drums. Inside them, the cocoa mass is conched for days: the constant stirring of cocoa nibs, cocoa butter, a little sugar, and other select ingredients results in chocolate after 36 hours. During guided tours and short workshops, Laura demonstrates the chocolate-making process. Laflor’s mission? “To develop products that follow the natural cycle without unnecessarily consuming resources. Sustainability is the foundation of everything we do,” says Laura Schälchli.
This starts right at the producers’ end: “We work with cocoa farmers who promote biodiversity and prevent the clearing of primeval forest for monocultures.” The awareness of the impact of their own decisions is also reflected in the choice of shop fittings. What should a manufacturer’s shop look like when presenting an extremely sustainable, yet rather expensive, product? For Laura Schälchli, who studied design management in New York, it was clear: “Cheap shop fittings don’t suit us. A high-quality product is, by its very nature, more sustainable because it lasts a long time.”
The story of Laflor began in Zurich in 2017. Laura Schälchli, Zelia Zadra, Heini Schwarzenbach and Ivo Müller jointly developed a vision for sustainable ‘bean-to-bar’ chocolate. They wanted to retain control of the entire production process, from the raw ingredients right through to the finished bar. This was combined with a dedication to the finest craftsmanship, a comprehensive commitment to environmental responsibility and a great deal of time. The result: excellent flavour and Grand Cru chocolate.
Today, this chocolate is sold from an olive-green USM counter in their shop, amongst other places. Using components from the USM Haller furniture system, Laflor has put together a large display unit and a sideboard to showcase their specialities. “We’re still working on the ideal layout. It’s something that can still evolve,” explains Laura. Thanks to the modular nature of the USM system, it can always be adapted.
It was precisely this feature that ultimately won Laura Schälchli over. “At first, I was rather skeptical about USM,” she recalls. Back then, she was only familiar with the stereotypical configurations from her father’s photography studio. Since she started working with USM Haller, she has become a fan. “The flexibility really surprised me,” says Laura. Now she even dreams of having USM at home. “Just one small piece of furniture. A single one. Perhaps a small bedside table?”
If you want to purchase a USM Haller piece yourself design it now in our online configurator or find your local sales partner.
