In a country already known for iconic brands, from Toblerone and Swisscom to SBB and On, it can be argued that the Swiss label that has seen the biggest growth in the UK and beyond has been Emmi. Thanks to Julie Plant, the Managing Director of Emmi UK, the brand has developed into one of the most distinctive food brands in the British market.

In introducing a large swathe of the British public to the Swiss company, Plant has successfully connected two countries with very different food cultures through a shared focus on quality, innovation and sustainability.

Tea plantations and chocolate ice cream

Speaking to us, Plant noted that her first professional curiosity can be traced back to her childhood, growing up in Kenya on a tea plantation where her father worked as an engineer. “I was fascinated by his explanations of the science behind tea production,” she noted, adding that these experiences planted the seeds of a lifelong interest in the intersection between science, food and manufacturing.

This interest led her to the United Kingdom, where she would study Food and Management Science at King’s College London. After graduation, Plant would find herself on the factory floor, working as the Team Leader on the Choc-Ice production line at Lyons Maid. 

It was an intense introduction to manufacturing, but Plant reflected that it gave her a foundational understanding of operations and gave her invaluable lessons she would translate into her leadership.

Management and Emmi UK

Where Plant truly found her calling was in management. Though “in the early part of my career, success was more closely linked to performance and career progression…the most rewarding aspects of my career have been bringing people into my teams, investing in their development, and seeing them grow in confidence and capability.”

Plant’s leadership journey eventually led her to Emmi, one of the largest dairy companies in Switzerland. Taking up the role of managing director of Emmi UK, she was given the task of expanding the Swiss brand into the United Kingdom – not an easy task given the level of competition from domestic providers.

In her role, Plant was able to combine the precision, quality and dairy expertise from Switzerland with the dynamic consumer market in the UK. One example was the onshoring of Onken yoghurts in the UK using Swiss milk, combining the high standards of Swiss dairy with British manufacturing capacity. The result is a product that retains Swiss standards while responding to the realities of British consumers.

Under her direction, Emmi has become a prolific brand across the United Kingdom, making it one of the shining examples of business cooperation between the country and Switzerland. All of this could not have been done without her leadership, which has spanned over a decade.

Collaboration and people at the centre of leadership

For her, leadership begins and ends with planning and collaboration. “Be very clear on your objectives from the start,” she advises. “Support your proposals with solid data and market insights.” Consensus, careful planning and evidence-based decision making are at the centre of business.

The most important lessons she has learned over time are to remain true to herself and her values, noting that in a fast-moving industry where trends change quickly and pressures can be intense, authenticity builds trust and strengthens teams.

Looking ahead, Plant sees enormous opportunities for collaboration between the UK and Switzerland when it comes to food. “Together, we can innovate in ways that actually scale,” she explains, creating products that are clean-label, sustainable and still delicious. 

For Plant, she’d like to be remembered modestly, as “someone who made a positive difference for the people around me and helped them succeed.” For the next generation of food innovators and industry leaders, Plant has a clear message: “Focus on doing better, not just more…Prioritise quality, sustainability and innovation that can truly scale.” Through her own work, Plant is an example of this philosophy in action.