Koch & Gesell: Swiss Cannabis and Tobacco Brand Goes Bankrupt

Business by 2FIRSTS.ai
Jan.10.2024
Koch & Gesell: Swiss Cannabis and Tobacco Brand Goes Bankrupt
Swiss marijuana cigarette company Koch & Gesell has filed for bankruptcy, leading to the closure of CBD and tobacco brand Heimat. The company plans to potentially restart its marijuana business.

According to a report by the Swiss media outlet Kleine Zeitung, Koch & Gesell, a cannabis cigarette company based in St. Gallen, has filed for bankruptcy, signifying the closure of the Swiss CBD and tobacco brand, Heimat. The company has suggested the possibility of relaunching its cannabis business. Additionally, the subsidiary in Austria has not been affected by the bankruptcy.

 

The primary reasons for the bankruptcy are the company's cash flow troubles and the loss of its tobacco license. Roger Koch, the founder and CEO of the company, explained to reporters that this was due to a decline in revenue, poor cash flow status, and the inability to find new sources of funding.

 

The company has a subsidiary in Austria and has launched a tobacco brand called "Tschick". However, according to the company's business director Reinhard Leitner, this subsidiary has not been affected by the bankruptcy of the Swiss company.

 

In regards to the company's next steps for development, Roger Koch suggested that one potential option may be to entirely shift the focus of their operations towards the more lucrative cannabis industry. This could involve prioritizing products such as cannabis-infused iced tea. Koch emphasized, "We possess a wealth of expertise, experience, formulations, and a global registered patent.

 

This tobacco company was established in 2015 and primarily focuses on producing locally sourced tobacco in Switzerland. In 2017, they successfully developed the world's first legal marijuana-infused tobacco cigarettes, gaining significant popularity in the market. In 2019, the company also launched industrially produced pure CBD marijuana cigarettes, for which they have already submitted a patent application for the production technology.

 

However, in 2019, due to investments in research and development, equipment purchases, and market expansion, the company faced financial difficulties and applied for bankruptcy protection. Although it managed to avoid bankruptcy in 2020, it is now unable to withstand the pressure and has ultimately filed for bankruptcy.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Former Roche Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Communications Director Ria Kioupritzi Joins PMI as Scientific Affairs Director
Former Roche Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Communications Director Ria Kioupritzi Joins PMI as Scientific Affairs Director
Eleftheria (Ria) Kioupritzi, a biopharmaceutical professional with more than 15 years of experience, has joined Philip Morris International as Director Scientific Affairs within Corporate Affairs. She previously served at Roche as Senior Scientific Communications Director for Neuroscience and Rare Diseases and worked extensively in spinal muscular atrophy. Her earlier career also covered competitive intelligence, clinical and regulatory monitoring, pipeline development and launch preparation. During her time working in Roche's SMA field, Evrysdi passed through several U.S. FDA milestones, including its initial approval, an expanded indication for younger infants and approval of a tablet formulation. Public records do not show that Kioupritzi herself led the FDA submissions.
Sep.22
Product | R.J. Reynolds Launches Four Flavored Vuse Pro Pods for Vuse Alto Devices in U.S.
Product | R.J. Reynolds Launches Four Flavored Vuse Pro Pods for Vuse Alto Devices in U.S.
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company has introduced Vuse Pro prefilled pods in Peach, Berry, Watermelon and Fresh Mint in selected U.S. states. Vuse’s U.S. website says the pods are intended for use with existing Vuse Alto devices. Each contains 2.0 mL of e-liquid at 5.0% nicotine by weight, uses nicotine salts and is offered in two- and four-pod packs. Reynolds said the rollout includes mandatory ID scanning for every purchase, purchase limits, stronger retailer-accountability requirements and strict age-restricted marketing standards. The four pods have not received marketing authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Sep.10
Gallup Tracks Nicotine Pouch Use for the First Time: 11% of U.S. Adults Smoke, 9% Vape and 4% Use Nicotine Pouches
Gallup Tracks Nicotine Pouch Use for the First Time: 11% of U.S. Adults Smoke, 9% Vape and 4% Use Nicotine Pouches
Gallup’s 2026 Consumption Habits survey tracked nicotine pouch use for the first time. The survey found that 11% of U.S. adults reported smoking cigarettes in the past week, 9% reported vaping, and 4% reported using nicotine pouches. Cigarette smoking remained near Gallup’s long-term low, while adult vaping rates stayed relatively stable in recent years.
Market
Aug.25 by 2Firsts Perspectives
InterTabac 2026: Further Sessions on Regulation, Market Access and Innovation Confirmed; 2FIRSTS to Host China Market Forum
InterTabac 2026: Further Sessions on Regulation, Market Access and Innovation Confirmed; 2FIRSTS to Host China Market Forum
InterTabac 2026 will bring together international experts to discuss European regulation, tax policy, Track & Trace, market access, retail impacts, consumer behavior and innovation. Sessions will also examine Poland’s tobacco-growing perspective and the growing fragmentation of Europe’s tobacco and nicotine market. Media partner 2FIRSTS will host the second “2FIRSTS Connect at InterTabac” on September 16, focusing on developments in China’s tobacco and nicotine industry.
Aug.06
Snowplus Enters Japan’s FamilyMart Network With Zero-Nicotine NEO Line and Kishidan Campaign
Snowplus Enters Japan’s FamilyMart Network With Zero-Nicotine NEO Line and Kishidan Campaign
Snowplus distributor H&S said the zero-nicotine, zero-tar NEO vaping line will begin rolling out across FamilyMart stores in Japan from September 14, 2026, excluding some locations. The DASH line will also be sold at selected FamilyMart stores in southern Kyushu and Okinawa. Snowplus simultaneously named Japanese rock band Kishidan as a brand ambassador, combining convenience-store distribution with a broader consumer marketing push in Japan.
Sep.15
Product | JNR Launches Shisha Hookah 70K E-Hookah With 60ml E-Liquid and 0.6% Nicotine
Product | JNR Launches Shisha Hookah 70K E-Hookah With 60ml E-Liquid and 0.6% Nicotine
JNR has introduced the Shisha Hookah 70K, a high-capacity rechargeable disposable vape designed around a hookah-inspired experience. The device comes prefilled with 60ml of e-liquid at 6mg/ml (0.6%) nicotine strength, alongside a 1,000mAh rechargeable battery and a 0.38Ω single mesh coil. It also features adjustable airflow and battery and e-liquid level displays. JNR claims the device can deliver up to 70,000 puffs and offers more than 20 flavors. Retail listings for the product have appeared in markets including Tunisia.
Market
Aug.24 by 2Firsts Perspectives