The Swiss Cheese Union (German: Schweizerische Käseunion AG, pronounced [ˈʃvaɪtsərɪʃɛ ˈkɛːsɛ.uˌni̯oːn aːˈɡeː]) was a marketing and trading organization in Switzerland, which served as a cartel to control cheese production from 1914 to 1999. To this end, the Swiss Cheese Union mandated production be limited to only a few varieties, chiefly Gruyere and Emmental, and bought the entire production and distribution of cheese at prices set by the Swiss Federal Council. It also coordinated the national and international marketing for these varieties of cheese.
The Swiss Cheese Union was particularly successful in campaigning for cheese fondue, which became a very popular dish in Switzerland and abroad. It is now often considered to be the Swiss national dish. Before that, it was only a regional dish.[1]
- ^ The Oxford Companion to Cheese. Oxford University Press. 2016. p. 692. ISBN 978-0-19-933089-8.
One highly successful campaign focused on popularizing fondue, formerly a regional dish. Over many decades advertisements and slogans promoted the wholesomeness of fondue and associated fondue parties with stylish living.