Origin of the Rizerie du Simplon
The Rizerie du Simplon is a small family business whose story begins at the end of the 19th century. In 1895 Gratien Torrione bought a mill just opposite the Martigny station, alongside the tracks of the CFF. He worked several kinds of cereals there. In 1906 he took advantage of the opening of the Simplon tunnel: the trains now allowed the transport of rice, which was too heavy for efficient transport to Italy by the Alpine passes. Gratien Torrione founded his rice plant and gave it the name of the tunnel that had made its existence possible. Little by little the other cereals were abandoned and today rice is the only cereal to be worked in the rice plant.
A few dates
1895 Gratien Torrione buys a mill located opposite the station at Martigny. 1906 Founding of the Rizerie du Simplon following the opening of the Simplon tunnel. 1925 Death of Gratien Torrione. His two sons, Henri and Joseph take over the rice plant as a ‘Société en commandite’ – a kind of limited partnership. 1958 Founding, by the children of Henri and Joseph, of the limited company "Rizerie du Simplon Torrione & Cie S.A." which has lasted to today. The director at that time was Michel Torrione, son of Henri. 1963 Entry into the company of Jean-Pierre Torrione, son of Joseph. 1964 Beginning of manufacture of wafers. 2006 In January, Jean-Pierre Torrione retires. His son replaces him at the head of the company.
Today
All the stock-holders in our company are descendants of the founder, which makes the Rizerie du Simplon the last family rice producer in Switzerland.
