In 1867, Franz-Xaver Dettling established a trading company in Brunnen, Switzerland specializing in Italian wines and operating a distilling plant for mountain cherries from Central Switzerland. Dettling’s business quickly became successful.

In 1909 Franz-Xaver’s son, Arnold, took over the company, and it was renamed to include his name. In the 1930’s – an economically difficult period in Switzerland – the company was managed by Arnold Dettling’s son, also named Arnold.Thanks to his business acumen the company survived World War II and was again successful after the war. Beginning in 1978, the company was creatively managed by another Franz-Xaver Dettling, the great-grandson of the founder.