In 1924, Emil Richterich bought a small bakery in Laufen, a picturesque little town near Basel, Switzerland. It was here that he created a sweet toffee confection called Fünfermocken, which was a favorite with neighborhood children. The company grew and Ricola was formed. The name Ricola is derived from the first two letters of the words in Richterich & Company, Laufen. By 1940, Emil Richterich had developed the ideal recipe for an herb lozenge composed of natural swiss herbs -- which we know today as the Ricola Original Herb Cough Drop.

Ricola is still owned by the Richterich Family and is headquartered in Laufen, Switzerland, with regional offices in Asia and the United States.