Child abuse allegations: ‘The Läderach brand has been badly damaged’

Swiss chocolate-maker Läderach is in damage limitation mode after allegations of child abuse at a religious school co-founded by the company’s former boss. How serious is the problem? Jürg Läderach, 72, who ran the family business until 2018, co-founded the evangelical school “Domino Servite” (Serve the Lord) in Kaltbrunn in canton St Gallen in 1995. In a documentary published on Thursday by Swiss public television, SRF, former pupils talked about being beaten with belts – including by Läderach himself – and living in a climate of fear. Two days later the Zurich Film Festival said its partnership with Läderach was over. The SRF documentary had “shaken everyone up”, the film festival said in a statement. After an “open exchange”, the festival and chocolate company had “jointly decided to end their partnership”. Jürg Läderach, who denies the allegations, handed over the management of the chocolate company five years ago to his eldest son, Johannes, who also attended the school, now...