Hello,

My name is Chris and am following my wife to Switzerland in August. She is finishing veterinary school and got a necropsy residency (3 years) at Uni Bern beginning in September. We both speak German (I spent 1.5 years in Germany, she spent 1) and will have work visas. Neither of us have spent any time in Switzerland, but are both very excited to move back to Europe, especially where we can continue our second languages.

I am a bread baker in Minneapolis, Minnesota running a solo microbakery, specializing in organic, naturally leavened bread delivered by bike, which I will close during the summer, as well as a part time gig at a small flour mill. I would like to continue baking in Switzerland if there are any great recommendations. I know nothing about food systems in Switzerland, but I have been interested and working towards how to improve the local grain economy in Minnesota and create a network between farmers/millers/bakers.

We also have a great dog named Frankie that we are continuing to train, as I expect swiss puppies to generally be very obedient as was the case in Germany.


Cheers!
Chris

Welcome to the forum and soon to Switzerland.

Don't forget you need to have Type D visas to be able to enter Switzerland long term legally. Apply for them at the nearest Swiss embassy/consulate to where you live.

Switzerland is a bit of a waste-land for high-quality bread.

But there are a few openings, as it looks like.

http://www.jobs.ch/de/stellenangebot...&web-results=1

Given your background, I'd avoid bakery chains like Jowa (the bakery of Migros) and Coop.
But if your ultimate goal is self-employment anyway, those jobs certainly pay the bills and let you get to know the market.

Even if you're used to running your own business it might be worthwhile to try one of the local companies just to get work experience in Switzerland. Off the top of my head, a few places with multiple shops in Bern are Reinhard, Glatz, and Eichenberger. All of them sell a mix of breads and sweet goodies.

Otherwise do a Google search for Backerei Bern and you'll get a list of places you can consider as potential employers.

There's also the Swiss Baker's organization, which might be worth checking out. https://www.swissbaker.ch/de/sbc-home/

Good luck!

Once in a while we drive to Konstanz to buy our favorite breads at Reginbrot at Münzgasse. The have great sourdoughs and the bread keeps fresh for many days. They are looking for bakers :https://www.reginbrot.de/jobs/

OP says his wife will be at Uni Bern. Any chance that company has some locations or affiliates in central CH?

They only work from Konstanz, very regrettably so. I would LOVE a branch in Zürich!

But it could be a first step to get familiarized with working in an European bakery who produces artisanal bread as I understood he does right now, too. He might learn something new and maybe open up a branch or put the new knowledge to good use his own business in the future. Berne needs good bread, too :-)

My wife has a contact at the Uni who made it seem as if it is somewhat normal for people to commute from Zürich (for example) to Bern for work. Is this the case? We were considering looking for residence wherever I might find a suitable job, since I am also unsure about commuting to work for third shift.

Some of our governement do

It's possible ofcourse but it's really wearisome if you have to do that every day. Twice.

Yes, travelling 1hr+ for work is considered quite normal. I don't like it personally, but many do have this kind of arrangement (especially when the partner has a job in a different city than you)

There are a lot of people having moved to Aarau, for example, since it's much cheaper than living in Zurich. And with the train taking just 30min or so, it's not much farther than if you life in the suburb of Zurich and have to take bus+S-Bahn+Tram to get to your work place. Relatively long commutes are quite normal. And honestly, as long as you can do it by train without interchange (or not with too many interchanges), it's not that bad. You can use your smartphone, read a book/magazine, just go along your thoughts..

I'd not think of commuting 1hr+ with a car, but by train, especially on a direct line, it's not that terrible. Once you're used to it, you'll basically throw everything into that "commuting time" that can be done in the train. Be it eating breakfast, checking news/emails, or even applying make up (for our female readers..) - it's all considered quite "normal"..

Depends how you define normal.

I commuted from Zürich to Bern for a year and from Zürich to Basel for six years so it is doable but I would not recommend it

The thing is, assuming your wife is a non-EU national, she's supposed to live in the same canton that her workplace is based in - so that limits you to Bern canton. You might be able to find some place near the eastern border by Canton Lucerne which would make a commute to Zurich a bit easier, but you'd need to check rail links for both your commutes. I wouldn't advise driving to Zurich as it's a pain once you get near the city proper and she might find a train better for her commute too.

She can ask another canton if she can live there, but she needs permission from both that canton and Bern canton to be able to do so. Bern canton has been kind enough to grant her a permit so they'd like her to reciprocate by giving them her taxes. If she lives in another canton, that canton will get her taxes, not Bern.

If she's an EU national then the limitation doesn't apply.

What breed is your dog? Some breeds are banned/restricted in some cantons here. You'll need to take your dog to a Swiss vet within 10 of arrival so it can be checked over and entered into the AMICUS databse. Some info here, though note the requirement to do the SKN dog ownership course has been suspended.

https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mi...nual-pets.html

https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/en/home...frettchen.html

That and while the train may only take an hour from station to station (or 56 minutes, now that I checked), only in very rare circumstances are you going to

a) live next to the main station in Zurich
b) work next to the main station in Bern
c) or vice-versa

Even walking from the back of the train to the front of the train and the exit of the main-station in Zurich will take five minutes.

It's possible. But it has been shown to have very negative long-term health-effects - mainly because while you can do a lot of things on the train, working out is not one of them.

Plus, in Winter it's a constant battle over not getting sick in an overheated cabin stuffed with people like a sardine-box - and half of them sick.

Daughter #3 currently trains as a baker-confectioner.

Whilst Jowa and other big chain bakeries really produce many a bread without special characteristics, the small baker in your village still makes everything from scratch .........

Considering the working hours you'll have (if you want indeed to work as a baker here) you might need your own personal transport. Or find a place to live which is not too far away from your work so you could go to and fro by bicycle or motor scooter.

Starting hours are anything between 1 and 2 a.m. usually , in more rural areas there won't be any public transport that late (or early) in the night.

I think it might actually be a good idea to see to get some work experience here working not in a big chain bakery, but a smaller place, since you speak German the language hurdle falls away and makes it easier to find a job.

__________________
Voluntary SWISS shoe -horn to Expats since 1999, do I get a medal now?

This is all really helpful info..food for thought. Thanks everyone!

Our dog is a mutt, so who knows. My wife is finishing her training to be a Veterinarian (Tierärztin) and will be working in that regard at the Uni, so I believe we will be able to get doggie issues sorted out..although those links were helpful - didn't know you needed dog insurance.

I am familiar with working baker's hours. Although I currently set my own schedule for the most part, I used to start my shift anywhere between midnight - 3am.

Once again, all your comments are great! Keep em comin

There are a couple of bakeries in the Länggasse-Quarter where most of the Uni -buildings are. Bakers: Glatz, Bohnenblust, Apfelgold, Tingel-Kringel (great cakes) and more!

Yeah, it's usually just a few francs more per month on your personal liability insurance scheme.

Also make sure you check and double check that your dog will be welcome at any place you're looking to rent. If possible get it written into the rental contract. Please don't just assume that he/she will be welcomed everywhere because, unfortunately, that not always the case.

Very exciting!
Once you do start making your own bread and flour mill business here, I hope you make it available by post! I'd love to support your passion. Keep us posted! best of luck.

Don't work in Zurich. They have enough bakers. Come to Bern!!!

Have to admit that I was totally taken-in by the sour-dough though...
Shame that it's already so good by certain great bakeries here