Valentine’s Day is celebrated all over the world, everywhere a little differently, yet almost always with one constant: chocolate. And what would SWISS be if it didn’t pick up on this shared tradition of marking the day with a small, sweet gesture? This is why, just like every year, guests traveling with us on 14 February can look forward to a little surprise on board that goes beyond our traditional SWISS chocolates. An extra special sweet moment awaits guests in SWISS Business and SWISS Premium Economy on long-haul flights with pralines by Praliné Scherrer – a small chocolate manufacturer based in the heart of St. Gallen.

For Vittoria Kreis and Romina Hengartner, the mother-daughter duo behind Praliné Scherrer, Valentine’s Day plays an important role – especially as a company, the day is a significant part of their business. At the same time, their perspective goes beyond a single date: what matters more are small gestures that bring joy – whether for a partner, a parent, a child, a friend or a neighbor. This is also reflected in the choices customers make in their store, where neutral chocolate boxes are often preferred over overtly romantic designs. The heart-shaped pralines are given not only as symbols of love, but just as often as a thank-you, a small sign of appreciation or simply “just because”.

As Cabin Crew Member Susanne follows the Valentine’s Day hearts through each step of production at the manufactory in St. Gallen, we get a closer look at Praliné Scherrer’s work and story. One thing quickly becomes apparent while moving through the different stations: the team consists entirely of women. This was never planned, but evolved naturally, shaped by the detailed, hands-on nature of confiserie craftsmanship. Vittoria herself spent 14 years in a large corporate environment before reaching a turning point in 2008, when the opportunity arose to take over Praliné Scherrer. With a background in marketing, a fresh perspective and a strong sense for learning by doing, she gradually shaped the manufactory’s path forward. What began as a new chapter has since become a shared journey with her daughter Romina. Working side by side comes naturally to the two, with different generations bringing complementary perspectives, skills and experiences to the company.

The journey of the little heart-shaped pralines will soon continue into the skies on 14 February. Today, however, it is a much shorter one – to their store and café in the heart of St. Gallen’s old town. Faced with the variety of sweets on display, we naturally get curious: what are their own personal favorites? For Vittoria, it is the “Magic Cacao Bean” praline, which shares its name with a children’s book she published. The story follows the journey of cacao beans to Switzerland and their transformation into fine pralines, and the creation brings back memories of her time in Costa Rica, where she visited cacao plantations and tasted fresh cacao nibs for the first time – an experience that left a lasting impression. Romina’s favorite, on the other hand, changes almost daily. If she had to choose one timeless favorite, it would be “Miss Praliné”, with oat cookies, gianduja and cacao nibs.

The creativity, passion and care that drive Praliné Scherrer can be felt in every detail – from the pralines themselves to the lovingly decorated interior of the store and the handwritten signs at the door. It is this same spirit that Vittoria and Romina hope guests will sense on board SWISS. For Valentine’s Day, the praline filling was created exclusively for SWISS. A small moment of sweetness – and perhaps the beginning of a journey that leads from the skies back to St. Gallen, where many more hearts, classics and sweet creations are waiting to be discovered.

In the end, it is not Valentine’s Day that gives chocolate its meaning. It is the moments it accompanies – shared, gifted or simply enjoyed – that create connection and linger beyond a single date. Small gestures, like a piece of chocolate, often carry more than sweetness: they carry attention, care and a sense of togetherness. And that is something that lasts well beyond 14 February.