Major change at ski brand Zai
04/04/2018
Chief executive, Benedikt Germanier, has said a small group of investors now owns 80% of Zai and has encouraged the move. He said consolidation in the international ski production market is another reason for the change, and he explained that Zurich is the choice for the brand’s new headquarters to allow it to be close to the ETH science and technology university there.
Of Simon Jacomet, Mr Germanier described the parting of the ways as “very emotional” and said: “It does hurt, but we need to focus on the customer and we cannot structure the development of the company around people. Simon did not want to be part of this reorientation. But the roots of Zai will always remain connected with Simon.”
He confirmed that some members of the Zai workforce had chosen not to move to Zurich and have, therefore, ceased to be part of the Zai team. This change involves seven people in total, three of whom worked part-time.
On the question of ski manufacturing, Zai announced in November 2017 that it was changing its policy, would stop making its own skis at the end of March and would work with an outsource manufacturing partner instead. It did not name any partner at that time but insisted it would work with a company “based in Switzerland”.
Blossom Skis does not quite fulfil this criterion, but it almost does. It is based in Chiavenna on the Italian side of the Alps, but will make skis for Zai in the municipality of Bregaglia on the Swiss side. Therefore, Zai’s skis will continue to be handmade in Switzerland. “The higher price-point will stay,” Mr Germanier said, “but in combination now with lower price-points too.”
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