Lindt & Sprüngli

Lindt transformed Swiss chocolate from commodity to luxury through brand-building that spans 178 years. Founded in 1845, the company pioneered conching - a refining process creating smooth texture that became synonymous with premium chocolate. Unlike mass-market competitors (Hershey, Mars) competing on price and distribution, Lindt maintained premium positioning: $15-30/kg retail vs. $5-8/kg for mainstream brands. This price premium rests on perceived quality and Swiss heritage rather than ingredient cost (cocoa, milk, sugar are globally traded commodities). Lindt's $5B+ annual revenue proves that in food categories prone to commoditization, brand heritage and premium positioning create more durable profits than volume or efficiency.