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Thrilling exhibition match reaches new heights: Roger Federer takes on Lindsey Vonn.
LINDT ambassador Roger Federer faced US ski racer Lindsey Vonn in an exhibition tennis match played on the Aletsch glacier to mark the opening of the “Swiss Chocolate Heaven.” The extraordinary match was watched by a live audience of guests and journalists from all over the world. SwissTelevision presenter Rainer-Maria Salzgeber took on the role of umpire and helped Lindsey using a few tricks. The spectators acclaimed loudly when it was decided that Lindsey had won the match. Roger, ever the gentleman, took it all in his stride and thanked Lindsey at the net for an unforgettable match.
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Opening ceremony for the LINDT “Swiss Chocolate Heaven”.
In front of a crowd of media representatives from all over the world, presenter Rainer-Maria Salzgeber welcomed the guests of honor at the opening of the LINDT “Swiss Chocolate Heaven:” Urs Kessler, CEO of Jungfrau Railways, Ernst Tanner, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lindt & Sprüngli, and LINDT brand ambassador and tennis champion Roger Federer. In his speech, Ernst Tanner stressed the perfect match between the Jungfrau Railway and Lindt & Sprüngli: both companies are built on innovation and creativity, the former with the construction of the legendary railroad line and the latter with the invention of the world's first melt-in-the-mouth chocolate. After a few words of welcome, the chocolate adventure was brought to life and the guests were able to try out the multimedia exhibits.
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The first themed chocolate shop w11,332 feet above sea level.
At 11,332 feet above sea level, the themed chocolate shop on the Jungfraujoch is, up until now, the first and only shop of its kind. Not only is it built high up in the clouds, it also enjoys the most spectacular location in the heart of the Sphinx massif. Per year, over 800,000 visitors from all over the world can expect an extensive range of the finest LINDT chocolates, the perfect souvenir. In addition, the Master Chocolatiers' experience next door to the shop offers a fascinating insight into chocolate-making. Guests can therefore look forward to a little added sweetness on their visit to the Jungfraujoch in the future.
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Extraordinary event location at the “Top of Europe”.
Probably the greatest challenge the event entailed was building the tennis court among all the snow and ice. Despite July being a warm season, fresh snow fell at the top of the mountain until just before the event. With great commitment and hard work, the local helpers got to work to make what seemed impossible possible. With tremendous dedication and meticulous timing, the tennis court was finished just before the start of the event. The hard work paid off. On the day of the event itself, the weather was on its best and the court appeared in true Davis Cup style against the backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains.
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The “Maître-Parlor” offers a glimpse into the fine art of chocolate-making.
In the “Maître-Parlor” next to the LINDT shop, five exhibits provide information about chocolate-making in eight languages. The ingredients are presented in a display cabinet, while short movies make an interactive recipe book revealing how they are prepared. This is followed by a replica conche, which is filled with liquid chocolate mass and a cartoon tells the story of its invention. A life-size hologram of a Master Chocolatier demonstrates how tablets and hollow chocolate figures are made. Visitors are also able to find out about the LINDT range by interacting with products on the giant touchscreen table. A LINDOR machine illustrating how the popular truffles are made provides the final highlight of the visit. Each visitor receives a real LINDOR truffle at the end of their tour.
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A unique event with a spectacular international media response.
Around 100 media representatives from around the world were present at the event itself, some reporting live from the edge of the court. The news spread, primarily via online channels, in a matter of seconds. The final figures were impressive, with the event generating extensive global media coverage. In particular, the sensational images of the tennis court surrounded by snow and ice were used on a large scale and viewed by millions. According to estimates, coverage of the event reached an audience of around 500 million, achieving an equivalent advertising value of approximately CHF 8 million based on global printing, online articles, and social media posts. It is pleasing to note that, in terms of posts by users, Lindt & Sprüngli was mentioned almost as often as Lindsey Vonn – only brand ambassador Roger Federer recorded higher traffic.
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News of the exhibition match reaches an audience of millions online.
In the run-up to the event, LINDT brand ambassador and Swiss tennis star Roger Federer skyped US Olympic champion and ski racer Lindsey Vonn to invite her to take part in a special challenge in the LINDT “Swiss Chocolate Heaven,” but without telling her all the details. In a comparison of the views from their respective apartments, Lindsey would certainly win the first point. A video of the event itself followed a few days later on YouTube, showing them both at the match. The news of the sensational exhibition match between the two superstars on the Aletsch glacier spread like wildfire around the globe online and appeared in many major Internet media platforms. Together, the videos of the Skype call and the tennis match received more than two million hits on YouTube, while the Facebook pages of LINDT (5.7 million followers) and Roger Federer (more than 14 million followers), served to reach additional fans.
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A strong partnership with Jungfrau Railway.
The Jungfrau Railway group is the leading mountain railway company in Switzerland. The group mainly operates tourist railroads and winter sports facilities in the Jungfrau region. Its most important asset is the route to the Jungfraujoch – “Top of Europe,” situated 11,332 feet above sea level in the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage site. The Jungfraujoch is a popular tourist destination, particularly with Asian tourists, and it received more than 800,000 visitors in 2013 for the second consecutive year.