View source for E. Wedel

{{Short description|Polish confectionery company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = E. Wedel
| logo = E.Wedel logo.svg
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| foundation = [[Warsaw]], [[Poland]] (1851)
| founder = [[Karol Wedel]], Emil Wedel
| location_city = [[Warsaw]]
| location_country = [[Poland]]
| key_people =
| industry = [[Confectionery]]
| products =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees = 1,200 (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://dziendobry.tvn.pl/a/prawdziwa-wedlowska-historia-a-receptura-watki-historyczne-poruszane-w-serialu |language=pl |title=Prawdziwa wedlowska historia a "Receptura". Wątki historyczne poruszane w serialu |access-date=14 December 2022}}</ref>
| slogan =
| owner = [[Lotte (conglomerate)|Lotte]]
| homepage = {{url|www.wedel.pl}} - confectionery company {{in lang|pl}} <br /> {{url|www.wedelpijalnie.pl}} - chocolate shops {{in lang|pl}}
}}
'''E. Wedel''' (<small>pronunciation:</small> {{respell|Veh-del}}) is a Polish [[confectionery]] company, which has been producing a variety of [[chocolate]]s, cakes, and snacks since 1851.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jeffries |first=Ian |title=Socialist Economies and the Transition to the Market: A Guide |page=443 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |date=2003 |isbn= 9780203218525}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=TE0JJl-DTJcC&pg=PA90 |first1=Leo V. |last1=Ryan |first2=Wojciech |last2=Gasparski |first3=Georges |last3=Enderle |title=Business Students Focus on Ethics |page=90 |publisher=[[Transaction Publishers]] |date=2000 |isbn=9781412819046}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cYi-jtjRZ20C&pg=PA35 |last=Batra |first=Rajeev |title=Marketing Issues in Transitional Economies |page=35 |publisher=[[Springer Publishing|Springer]] |date=1999 |isbn=9780792384984}}</ref> Wedel is also a well-recognized [[brand]] of candy in Poland, considered to be the "Polish national chocolate brand" in that market, and is the leading candy brand among Polish producers, with about 14% of the Polish market in 2005,<ref>{{cite web |title=Polish confectioner finalises leading brand acquisition |url= http://www.confectionerynews.com/news/ng.asp?id=57071-polish-confectioner-finalises |website=Confectionery News |date=19 July 2005 |accessdate=16 July 2020}}</ref> and 11.7% in 2007.<ref name="rp">{{cite news|language=pl |first=Beata |last=Drewnowska |url=http://www.rp.pl/artykul/74544.html |title=Historia pachnąca czekoladą |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718022701/http://www.rp.pl/artykul/74544.html |date=5 December 2011 |archivedate=18 July 2011 |newspaper=Rzeczpospolita |accessdate=16 July 2020}}</ref>
In June 2010, [[Kraft Foods Inc]] sold Wedel to [[Lotte (conglomerate)|Lotte Group]], a South Korean-Japanese conglomerate, as part of their enforced divestment program of certain parts of the [[Cadbury plc]], which it had acquired in March 2010.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cordeiro |first=Anjali |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703964104575335093747472322?mod=googlenews_wsj |title=Kraft to Sell Poland Wedel Business to Lotte Group |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=2011-06-28 |accessdate=2011-12-06}}</ref>
==History==
[[File:Fabryka Wedla Jeziorko Kamionkowskie.JPG|thumb|Wedel factory in Warsaw's [[Praga-Południe|Praga South]] district viewed from Kamionowski Lake]]
Founded in 1851 by [[Karol Wedel|Karl Ernst (Karol Ernest) Wedel]] (1813–1902), the company and its products became known in most of [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Eastern Europe]]. The logo of the company is based on Emil Wedel's signature.<ref name="Krótka"/> His son Emil Albert Fryderyk Wedel (1841–1919) apprenticed in candy and chocolate factories in [[Western Europe]] before inheriting and expanding his father's business. His descendant Jan Wedel (d. 1960), the last member of the Wedel family to own the company, was considered "the [[Willy Wonka]]" of pre-war Poland.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.warsaw-life.com/poland/sweet-warsaw |title=Sweet Warsaw |first=Mark |last=Bradshaw |work=Local Life Warsaw |accessdate=16 July 2020}}</ref> In 1894 the company moved its main factory to Szpitalna street in [[Warsaw]].<ref name="rp"/> In 1930, during the time of the [[Great Depression]], Jan Wedel opened a second factory in [[Praga]], one of the most modern in the [[Second Polish Republic]].<ref name="Krótka">{{cite web|url= https://wedelpijalnie.pl/o-nas/historia-marki-e-wedel |title=Historia marki E.Wedel |work=Wedel Pijalnie |language=pl |accessdate=16 July 2020}}</ref> The company was also known for its very generous social welfare policies.<ref name="Histwed"/> As one of the first in Europe, it had its own [[Day care|crèche]], kindergarten, hospital and cafeteria, and rewarded its best employees with interest-free housing loans; its model was highly acclaimed by the [[Polish Socialist Party]].<ref name="Dynast">{{cite web |url= http://www.filmpolski.pl/fp/index.php/4215396 |title=Czekoladowa Dynastia |publisher=Film Polski |accessdate=2011-12-06 }}</ref> Hence prior to [[World War II]], Wedel became a successful private company, with shops in [[London]] and [[Paris]].
[[File:Kamienica Emila Wedla w Warszawie p7.jpg|thumb|Wedel's Residence on Szpitalna Street, one of the few preserved apartment houses from the end of the 19th century]]
Jan Wedel made plans for World War II, and the company managed to continue production during the first few years of the war; it also started producing basic foodstuffs such as bread for [[Hunger Plan|starving Warsaw]], and was the site of the [[education in Poland during World War II|underground teaching]].<ref name="Histwed">{{in lang|pl}} [http://www.katarzyna-stepniak.reaktywni.pl/historia_wedla.htm Historia Wedla] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915032847/http://www.katarzyna-stepniak.reaktywni.pl/historia_wedla.htm |date=2018-09-15 }}</ref> Despite the family's German ancestry Wedel refused to [[Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy|collaborate]] with the [[Occupation of Poland (1939–1945)|Germans]], and did not sign the [[Volksliste]]; increasingly this led to him and his employees being persecuted by the Nazis.<ref name="Dynast"/> The war devastated Poland and the company; the buildings at Warsaw were destroyed during the [[Warsaw Uprising]].<ref name="Histwed"/> After the war, Wedel rebuilt the factory, only to have the [[People's Republic of Poland|communist government]] [[nationalization|nationalize]] the company.<ref name="Krótka"/><ref name="Histwed"/> The Wedel plant itself was renamed '22 Lipca' (22 July) after the Communist 'Independence Day' ([[PKWN Manifesto]]), although even the communists chose to retain the Wedel [[brand|brand name]], with products bearing both the new and old logos (particularly as after 10 years of not using the logo, all attempts at exporting proved futile).<ref name="Krótka"/><ref name="Dynast"/> The company was reprivatized in 1989 after the [[revolutions of 1989|fall of communism]] in Poland. In 1991 it was bought by [[PepsiCo|PepsiCo Foods and Beverages]], at which time sales were about $50–$60 million. In 1995 sales exceeded $200 million.<ref>[http://www.allbusiness.com/wholesale-trade/merchant-wholesalers-nondurable/556589-1.html "PepsiCo sells Wedel's chocolate business" Candy Industry, October 1, 1998]. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.</ref> About 10% of the products are exported, primarily to the [[United Kingdom]], [[United States]] and [[Canada]].<ref name="rp"/> The Warsaw facility employed 1,100 workers in 1998.<ref name="allbusiness1"/>
==Cadbury-Wedel Polska==
[[File:Staroświecki Sklep Wedla Szpitalna 8 Warszawa.JPG|thumb|right|The original E.Wedel shop at 8 Szpitalna Street in Warsaw]]
[[File:InterContinental Warszawa - pijalnia czekolady E.Wedel.jpg|thumb|Wedel chocolate fountain and cafe at InterContinental hotel]]
[[File:Muzeum Fabryka Czekolady E. Wedel 2024a.jpg|thumb|Fabryka Czekolady E. Wedel Museum opened in 2024.]]
[[Cadbury plc|Cadbury Schweppes]] made its initial investment in Poland in 1993, constructing a chocolate plant for its own products in [[Bielany Wrocławskie]].
In 1999, Cadbury bought E. Wedel and the factory in Praga, from PepsiCo for [[United States dollar|US$]]76.5 million.<ref name="allbusiness1">[http://www.allbusiness.com/wholesale-trade/merchant-wholesalers-nondurable/721142-1.html "PepsiCo sells Wedel's chocolate business" ''Candy Industry'', October 1, 1998]. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0DQA/is_1999_Feb_11/ai_53979727 "PepsiCo sells Wedel brand to Cadbury Schweppes" ''Eurofood'', February 11, 1999]. Retrieved on January 24, 2008.</ref> The Praga factory was modernised in 2007, with investment in both new laboratories and office space, as well as a new production line for the brand's flagship product [[Ptasie Mleczko]], a chocolate candy with a [[marshmallow]] like centre.<ref name=discoverpl>{{cite web|url= http://discoverpl.polacy.co.uk/art,cadbury_and_wedel_8211_a_sweet_investment,3574.html |title=Cadbury and Wedel – a Sweet Investment - Discover Poland Magazine - Travel, do business and invest in Poland! |publisher=Discoverpl.polacy.co.uk |accessdate=2010-06-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100125170416/http://discoverpl.polacy.co.uk/art%2Ccadbury_and_wedel_8211_a_sweet_investment%2C3574.html |archivedate=2010-01-25 }}</ref>
In 2007, as part of the [[Wałbrzych]] Special Economic Zone, Cadbury-Wedel Polska started building a £100m [[chewing gum]] plant in [[Skarbimierz]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foodprocessing-technology.com/projects/cadbury/ |title=Cadbury Schweppes Confectionery Factory, Skarbimierz |publisher=Food Processing Technology |date=2009-02-10 |accessdate=2010-06-28}}</ref> It presently produces brands such as Trident, Stimorol, V6, and Hollywood. The company also acquired rights to an additional {{convert|60|acre|km2}} plot which in 2009 it started to develop as a new chocolate facility, which would take over production of brands previously made at the [[Somerdale Factory]] in [[Keynsham]], [[Bristol]] from 2011. In 2008, Cadbury received the accolade of “Most Significant Investor in Poland” from the [[Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency]].<ref name=discoverpl/>
In recent years the company has also branched out, opening a series of chocolate shops based on pre-war tradition.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25101-2004Dec24.html |last=Haughney |first=Christine |title=Poland's Sweet Comeback |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=26 December 2004 |page=P04 |accessdate=16 July 2020}}</ref>
==Lotte ownership==
In March 2010 [[Kraft Foods Inc]] acquired [[Cadbury plc]]. The European Commission insisted that Wedel be sold in order for the takeover to go ahead as a combined Kraft/Cadbury-Wedel would have too large a share of the Polish confectionery market.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/06/28/business-specialized-consumer-services-us-kraft-foods-poland-unit_7724561.html?boxes=Homepagebusinessnews |title=Kraft sells Polish Cadbury business to Lotte Group |work=Forbes.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-28}}{{dead link|date=January 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref> To satisfy this demand Wedel was sold to [[Lotte (conglomerate)|Lotte]] of South Korea in June 2010.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Kraft Foods to Sell Wedel Business in Poland to Lotte Group |url= https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kraft-foods-to-sell-wedel-business-in-poland-to-lotte-group-97287214.html |website=www.prnewswire.com |date=28 June 2010 |accessdate=16 July 2020}}</ref> This was Lotte's first investment in Europe although they are the 3rd largest chewing gum maker in the world and a large player in the Asian confectionery market.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.lotte.co.jp/english/oversea/index.html |title=Lotte |publisher=Lotte |date= September 1978|accessdate=2010-06-28}}</ref> Kraft Foods have kept the rights to the Cadbury, Halls, and other brands along with two plants manufacturing Cadbury products in [[Skarbimierz]].
==Popular products==
* [[Ptasie mleczko]] – chocolate covered marshmallow
* Mieszanka Wedlowska – assorted chocolate covered candy with a variety of fillings
* Torcik Wedlowski – a large, circular, chocolate covered wafer with hand-made decorations
* Pawełek – chocolate bar with a flavored filling that contains a small amount of alcohol
* Krówka – individually wrapped milky cream fudge candy
* Delicje Szampańskie – circular cookies with sponge base, mound of jam, and covered with chocolate (also known as [[Jaffa cakes]])
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==See also==
*[[Economy of Poland]]
*[[List of Polish companies]]
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
* Mieczysław Kozłowski, ''The Story of E. Wedel. How Poland’s Chocolate History was Made'', Kraków 2004.
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* Tiffany, Susan, [http://www.allbusiness.com/wholesale-trade/merchant-wholesalers-nondurable/556589-1.html Wedel meets the demands of a market-driven Poland], ''Candy Industry'', Wednesday, May 1, 1996
* {{in lang|pl}} Tadeusz Władysław Świątek, [http://www.jednota.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=346&Itemid=66/ Fabryka Cukierków i Czekolady "E. Wedel"], ''Jednota'' 15 06 2005
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[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Warsaw]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1851]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Polish brands]]
[[Category:Polish chocolate companies]]
[[Category:Confectionery companies of Poland]]
[[Category:1851 establishments in the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:Food and drink companies established in 1851]]
[[Category:Wedel family]]
[[Category:European chocolate bars]]