Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane (CH) - The companies FELCO SA and VICTORINOX AG have entered into a co-branding agreement: from June 2009, the company based in Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane will assume responsibility for the marketing and sales of pruning and grafting knives manufactured by the company from the canton of Schwyz. FELCO SA, which specialises in the manufacture of pruning and cutting tools, can now offer the famous manufacturer of Swiss knives the benefit of its commercial links with professionals from the horticultural and arboricultural sectors.

One of the results of the agreement entered into by FELCO SA and VICTORINOX AG is that from the month of June 2009 a new product range will be launched including 8 different types of knives, grafting knives, budding knives and pruning knives, all carrying the logos of the two brands. Because of its network of subsidiaries and retail outlets established in more than 130 countries, FELCO SA will assume responsibility for the promotion and sales of this new product range, with the exception of the Swiss, German and Japanese markets where VICTORINOX AG already operates a specialised sales network. The main distribution channels will be centred on the wine-growing, arboricultural and horticultural sectors, as well as park maintenance and gardening.

For commercial and marketing director at FELCO SA, Stéphane Poggi, this agreement will allow the company situated near Neuchâtel to further extend its tool product range aimed at professionals in the horticultural and arboricultural sectors. "Of course, we are dealing here with a highly specialised market niche. However, it is also one that annually generates a significant level of demand because the market includes not only the grafting activity carried out by nurserymen, grape growers and horticulturists, but also florists who like to use very sharp knives when preparing bouquets and flower displays. These tools will allow us to get even closer to our end-users by presenting them with a wider product range that carries the same guarantee of quality and service that is true of all the other tools we manufacture".

The FELCO-VICTORINOX range includes eight tool types, three of which are available in two different models, one with standard alloy lining and one with solid brass lining. They include a light weight knife (two models), a rose budding knife (two models), with straight blade and bark lifter, a fruit tree budding knife with curved blade and bark lifter, an all-purpose knife (two models), an all-purpose grafting knife with a solid brass bark opener, a pruning knife with a slightly curved blade for grafting large trees and a pruning knife with a hardwood handle, ideal for desuckering.


VICTORINOX AG:

Founded in 1884, the company VICTORINOX AG is one of the flagships of Swiss industry. Its turnover in 2008 was 485 million Swiss francs and the company employs around 1,700 employees at its sites in Ibach (its headquarters, in the canton of Schwyz), in Porrentruy (watch factory), in Delémont (the Wenger cutlery works) and at its own retail outlets. It produces around 26 million knives and other pocket tools per year with a range of 900 different models. The company from Schwyz gained a worldwide reputation after the Second World War for its famous Swiss army knife.


For further information, please contact:

Stéphane Poggi, Sales and Marketing Director
T + 41 328 581 466
spoggi@felco.com
www.felco.com

[ Download picture ]  [ Packaging for the FELCO-VICTORINOX grafting and pruning knives ]  [ See the different grafting and pruning knife models ]  [ Website of the famous manufacturer of Swiss knives VICTORINOX ]  [ MediaBin, FELCO's IMAGE DATA BANK ]