Olle Larsson founded Medela in 1961, and the company is based in Switzerland. Medela has developed into a major player in breastfeeding products and medical vacuum technology under the leadership of Olle Larsson's son Michael, thanks to continued testing, creativity, and appraisal of customers' needs. In Europe, North America, and Asia, Medela has 18 branches. Medela sells its goods in over 100 countries, either directly or by third-party distributors. Medela employs 1,740 employees worldwide, with 440 of them working in Switzerland (as of 31 December 2016).