Appenzell print shops join forces

The upheaval was triggered by the strategic decision of St. Galler Tagblatt AG to concentrate on its core business. As the owner of Appenzeller Medienhaus AG, it intends to withdraw from commercial printing, according to a press release published on Thursday. These plans have been known since the summer, explained Marcel Steiner, former Managing Director of Appenzeller Medienhaus AG, when asked by the SDA news agency. The media company in Herisau previously included a commercial printing plant, the Appenzeller Verlag publishing house and the editorial office of the Appenzeller Zeitung newspaper. This AG is now effectively being dissolved.

Publisher bought out

In a management buyout, Marcel Steiner - as the previous publishing director - has purchased the Appenzeller Verlag from Tagblatt AG. From January 1, 2015, the company will continue to operate with ten employees in Schwellbrunn. "Otherwise the publishing house would have disappeared sooner or later," says Steiner.

The editorial team of the Appenzeller Zeitung will now report directly to the editor-in-chief of the St. Galler Tagblatt. However, this has in fact been the case for a long time, said Steiner. The editorial team will continue to work in its current premises.

The biggest changes are in printing: this division will be taken over by the Appenzeller Volksfreund AG printing company based in Appenzell on April 1, 2015.

Three jobs disappear

Production is reorganized under the future name Appenzeller Druckerei AG: In future, printing will take place in Herisau. The editorial office, advertising sales and some of the printed matter sales will remain in Appenzell. The location of Kunz-Druck & Co. AG in Teufen, will be closed. The new company will employ around 100 people, according to the press release.

The restructuring will result in job losses: There will be no changes in Herisau, but three jobs will be cut in Appenzell, said Markus Rusch, head of the Appenzeller Volksfreund printing plant and future managing director of the new company. In Teufen, there will be a reduction in part-time positions.

Desired partner of Tagblatt AG

Rusch explained that they were Tagblatt AG's preferred partner because most of the jobs could be retained with a merger. The print shop in Appenzell had too little space and a new building was being planned. This project is now superfluous. Around half of the 50 employees in Appenzell will work in Herisau in future.

Rusch emphasized that these were two healthy companies coming together. The offer had been carefully examined. It was unusual for the small company to take over the big one. The relationship between Innerrhoden and Ausserrhoden had also been an issue in the run-up. He explained that it was important that the core business remained in Appenzell, even if production, which generates cash flow, would in future be located in Herisau. (SDA)