Kalev (company)

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AS Kalev joint stock company is the largest Estonian confectionery manufacturer.

precursor

The predecessor of the company was founded in August 1806 when the Swiss confectioner Lorenz Caviezel founded a confectionery manufacture and shop in the old town of Tallinn . In 1864 the Baltic German Georg Johann Stude from Narwa became the owner of the company. He invested heavily in the company and bought the house next door. Studes famous Café Maiasmokk ( German for sweet tooth or Schleckermaul ) still exists today. His marzipan figures and other handcrafted chocolate products in particular soon became known beyond the borders of Estonia. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Russian tsar was a regular customer.

In 1921, shortly after Estonian independence was achieved, the brothers Karl and Kolla Wellner founded the confectionery company Kawe in Tallinn's old town . It soon became the largest chocolate company in Estonia. Kawe also exported a large part of its production to Great Britain and France , but also to the USA , North Africa , India and China .

In addition, there were three other large Estonian confectionery companies in the interwar period ( Ginovker , founded in 1906, Brandmann , founded in 1901, and Klausson , founded in 1920) as well as numerous smaller ones such as Riola , Endla , Eelis and Efekt .

Kalev during the Soviet occupation

With the Soviet occupation of Estonia in 1940, all companies were nationalized. On April 1, 1948, the Kalev company was founded from the Kawe company and other existing chocolate factories in the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic . The former name Kawe was rejected for ideological reasons, as it was reminiscent of the original founders. Kalev , the mythological Estonian king before the Christianization of Estonia , was chosen as the patron saint .

Kalev was considered a socialist model company with high quality standards. In 1957 Uus Kalev ("New Kalev") was also founded in Tallinn as a modern chocolate factory. In 1962 Kalev and Uus Kalev were united. As a company, it supplied Estonia and the entire Soviet Union with confectionery and was also known and loved abroad.

Kalev today

After Estonian regained independence, Kalev has been market-based since 1991 and privatized in 1995. AS Kalev has been listed on the Tallinn Stock Exchange since 1996 . Most of the capital is in Estonian hands.

In 2003 Kalev moved the chocolate factory from the outskirts of Tallinn to a new, state-of-the-art complex in Rae Municipality ( Harju County ).

Today, AS Kalev is the largest confectionery company in Estonia, which also includes twelve cafes and pastry shops. In addition, Kalev also produces bakery products under the company name AS Vilma . Besides the Baltic States, the main sales markets are Scandinavia and Russia . The company currently employs around 770 people.

From 2004 to 2010 the company supported the Estonian cycling team Kalev Chocolate Team as a sponsor.

literature

  • Heino Gustavson: AS Kalev. Eelaeg, sin yes elu . Tallinn 1999.

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