Olma chief balances fair tradition with plans for a city district

Olma Messen St. Gallen CEO Christine Bolt says the Swiss agriculture and food fair must keep evolving while staying true to its roots. In an interview with SRF, she outlined plans to make the exhibition grounds a more active part of city life.

Bolt said the Olma has remained successful through sustained investment and development. Its focus on agriculture and food keeps it relevant, she said, while fair organisers must make strategic choices about which products and themes to invest in. Other Swiss events, including Züspa, the Basel trade fair and the Geneva Motor Show, have disappeared.

The Olma is still often associated outside eastern Switzerland with St. Gallen and its bratwurst, Bolt said, but the fair is gradually building a broader image. Regional specialities remain part of its identity.

Bolt also defended the fair’s pig race, which has drawn criticism and a petition calling for it to be stopped. She said the animals are carefully cared for and trained, and that organisers work closely with the veterinary office and place great importance on animal welfare.

The future use of the exhibition grounds is a key focus for Bolt, who has led Olma Messen St. Gallen since June 2020. She said the venue is already heavily used but is sometimes only partly occupied. The company’s vision is to create a lively city district with additional uses such as housing, education, hotels and services. The precise form of any housing plans has not yet been decided.

Bolt previously served as deputy head of the St. Galler Tagblatt newspaper and director of Toggenburg Tourism. The interview was conducted by Iwan Santoro.