The story of Andreas Franzi
Andreas Franzi is CEO of BergBlüten AG. He is also the production manager of the plants for our CBD products. Even as a young boy, he developed an interest in the various plants in his mother's garden. He smelled the different plants in the beds every day. The smell of the cannabis plant in particular left an impression on him. He liked the smell of the cannabis plant so much that he kept putting flowers in his wallet, without knowing exactly what this plant was all about.
As a bright, cheeky young lad who felt at home in the world of snowboarders and skateboarders, he came into contact with cannabis sooner or later, like many young people. After an apprenticeship as a motorcycle mechanic, he completed a four-year commercial training course. Then his path took a decisive change of direction: Andy had an old schoolmate who ran a cannabis farm during his commercial training. Due to Andy's great interest and his old acquaintance, he was given the opportunity to help out on this cannabis farm for a few months. This commitment opened the door for him. At this cannabis farm, he was able to acquire his first know-how and learn a lot about the cannabis plant.
However, Andreas carried out his first oil extraction a few years earlier, at the age of 12. At the time, he read in a growing magazine how honey could be made using butane gas. Andreas’ father organized a PVC pipe for him. They then used that PVC pipe to make honey using cannabis and buthanga gas.
In 2014, Andreas traveled to America. Through various acquaintances, he received an offer to help grow cannabis with an association just outside Washington. At that time, cannabis was not yet legal. However, it was possible to join this association as a member. As a member, you could make regular use of the association's cannabis. During this time, Andreas met various experienced growers in the industry who, in combination with the experience he had gained himself, helped him to progress. True to the motto “not only talk to professionals, but also train a lot”. Andreas stayed in America for around one and a half years. However, he missed out on entering the cannabis market that was opening up in the USA because, like his friend who had traveled with him, he didn't want to stay in the States all the time.
After his stay in America, Andreas wanted to see the world. He traveled for a long time and went to different areas in Asia or South America, always with the aim of getting to know himself better. During the trip, it was already clear to Andreas that he was not the type for a 9 to 5 job. For a short time, he floated the idea of setting up a permaculture project with the aim of living independently and running a small business with home-grown produce. This project ultimately failed due to the start-up capital that would have had to be raised for the property.
After returning to Switzerland, Andreas’ phone line was on fire. He received calls every day from people who wanted to venture into the newly opening Swiss CBD market. Because of his knowledge he was a sought-after man. Over time, he came into contact with most of the CBD companies that were new to the market. He was motivated to join by various people. Although he was undecided for a long time whether he should take this step or not, he finally decided to get into the business.
When CBD became legal in Switzerland, he wanted to meet people who were well versed in the subject. Unfortunately, there were very few people in the business who really had a lot of knowledge. Scott Blakey was one of the very few in the CBD business who, alongside Andreas, also knew a great deal about cannabis. On the one hand, he knew a great deal about the cultivation of various plants and their genetics, and on the other, he was very familiar with the terpene profile and the effects of the plants. Andreas was able to exchange ideas with Scott Blakey at the highest level and learn a lot. “If you want to constantly improve, you come into contact with people who have the same mindset and enjoy the same philosophy.”
Andreas (left) with Scott Blakey
Immediately after entering the CBD scene, he drew attention to himself, one could even speak of a first major breakthrough: Andreas bred the first stable CBD genetics called “Sour Widow”. From then on, the grow market in Switzerland really took off. With his own company, Stammbaum GmbH, Andy was the first grower to sell seedlings with stable CBD genetics. The demand was immense: start-ups and other emerging CBD companies bought his genetics. Through the seedlings of his “Sour Widow” genetics, he sooner or later came into contact with all the players in the Swiss CBD market.
Some time later, the price of seedlings on the market plummeted. Prices collapsed more and more. Other growers reproduced his genetics and started selling cuttings themselves. Andreas closed his grow room and then founded Hanfpfoten GmbH to find a sales market for his own fields. This idea also worked and by 2018 he was on his own, but did not have the resources to grow the way the company could have.
CBD seedling “Sour Widow”
In 2019, Stammbaum GmbH, Hanfpfoten GmbH and BergBlüten AG merged, while retaining the name BergBlüten. The core of the merger was to bring together the different activities that the three companies had initially pursued separately. Thanks to the merger, a steadily growing range of high-quality CBD products can now be guaranteed, which BergBlüten produces step by step in Switzerland and processes on a daily basis with the utmost respect for nature.
Today, Andreas is CEO of BergBlüten AG. Basically, he is the company's managing director and acts as a link to the shareholders. He holds intensive discussions with customers throughout Switzerland on a daily basis. Andreas is always authentic with his customers and impresses them with his expertise. According to Andreas, people can tell whether someone knows their stuff or not. His tasks also include cultivating partnerships with other companies. Andreas' guiding principle is to constantly improve his knowledge and the products he produces, so that not only he or his company, but also other people can benefit from this improvement. He wants to sell products to others that he would also like to buy himself. In the end, Andreas is a person who has found his own way to pursue his passion due to the lack of educational opportunities.
