"Prost!", "Santé!", "Salute!"—no matter where you are in Switzerland, there’s one thing you’ll find everywhere: the celebration of apéro. Generous hosts lay out a spread of savory snacks—crackers, cheese, cured meats, nuts, veggie dips—accompanied by a glass of white wine, prosecco or orange juice. But apéro isn’t about eating your fill. It’s about spending time together. It’s about conversations, stories, shared laughter and moments of joy. Once a tradition of the upper class, apéro has found its place across all walks of life. No special occasion needed—life itself is reason enough to celebrate. That’s exactly the spirit Benedict Fanconi, Head of Catering Operations & Logistics wanted to bring onboard SWISS. "We wanted to share the apéro culture that is such a beloved part of life in Switzerland with our guests," Fanconi explains. And so, the Cold Cuts Platter made its way onto the SWISS Saveurs menu for short-haul flights.

For collectors and Swiss culture lovers
The Cold Cuts Platter comes with a delightful surprise: in addition to the culinary part—a selection of dried meat, pickles and pearl onions—guests are gifted a handcrafted wooden board on which they can enjoy the aperitif and take home as a souvenir after the flight. They come engraved with seven traditional Swiss motifs, each representing a unique Swiss region and one of its cherished traditions—perfect for frequent flyers who love to collect. Brand designer Damian Hess immersed himself in Swiss culture for the project: "It was fascinating to reinterpret these often centuries-old traditions in a modern and contemporary way."

Visiting Walter Nef – where the boards are born
To ensure the board isn’t just Swiss in design but also in spirit, the Hospitality & Catering team sought out a local supplier. Instead of being shipped across the world, the wooden boards are delivered just a short distance from the Zürcher Oberland to Kloten. SWISS found the perfect partner in Bauma: Nef Holzwaren, a family-run business with a 50-year legacy. Founder Walter Nef is still actively involved in the workshop, where a small team of nine people produces a wide range of wooden goods. The wood is sourced from nearby forests—something that’s essential to Walter: "Only when the wood comes from our region can we fully stand behind our product."

Creating each board requires multiple precise steps—from sanding and shaping to the final and most crucial one: burning the design into the wood. The burning process must be timed to precision. Too short, and the design is too faint. Too long, and it burns too deep. Each board is carefully positioned by hand under a stencil before the design is applied with a branding iron. At a time when mass production favors speed, efficiency, and low cost, this kind of careful handwork stands out. It’s a celebration of values we hold dear at SWISS: local, handmade, and deeply rooted in tradition.

A window into Swiss culture
Each motif is a subtle invitation to explore Swiss culture more deeply—the kind of culture that’s not always on display, but that quietly shapes daily life across the country. Passed down over generations, these traditions have become part of the Swiss identity. Walter Nef believes that’s exactly what fascinates visitors from around the world: "They see that the original way of life is still alive here." Benedict Fanconi is especially fond of the "Silvesterchläuse" from Appenzell. This New Year’s tradition, celebrated twice a year, goes back to a 16th-century disagreement over the Gregorian calendar. When the Pope introduced it, the people of Appenzell Ausserrhoden wanted to tick with the Julian calendar—celebrating New Year on 13 January. And they still do to this day.

Ready for apéro?
If you’re in the mood for a taste of Swiss tradition, you can pre-order the "Cold Cuts Platter" on your next SWISS short-haul flight. But don’t worry—spontaneous apéro moments are always welcome on board. Benedict Fanconi’s tip: the platter is perfect for sharing. Best enjoyed with a glass of fine wine and good company.