Freia (chocolate)

Infobox Company
company_name = Freia AS
company_
company_type = Subsidiary
foundation = 1889
location = flagicon|Norway Oslo, Norway
key_people =
area_served = Norway
industry = Food manufacturing
products = Confectionery
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
parent = Kraft Foods
subsid =
homepage = [http://freia.no freia.no]
footnotes =

Freia is a Norwegian chocolate brand. The company was founded in 1889, but real success was seen only in 1892, when Johan Throne Holst (1868-1946) took over management. Holst realized that there was a potential market for edible milk chocolate, in addition to the dark chocolate and other minor products Freia were producing at the time. By the turn of the century, Freia was the leading Norwegian brand in sweets.

Based on the success in Norway, the Throne-Holst family in 1916 founded the chocolate factory Marabou in Upplands Väsby outside of Stockholm in Sweden. The name Freia (or Freja) could not be used due to a conflicting trademark in Sweden, and the name of the species of bird on the Freia logo (a Marabou Stork) was chosen instead.

On the basis of their famous Melkesjokolade Freia produces several other candy bars, with added nuts, raisins, cookies and Daim pieces.

Later Years

The company’s flagship has since then been Freia Melkesjokolade (Freia Milk Chocolate), and the brand has constantly been marketed in a national romantic spirit - as the essence of everything that is Norwegian. The public image is a little deceptive, however, as Freia in 1993 was purchased by Kraft Foods, for NOK 3 billion.

Today it is famous for the Freia Melkesjokolade, the Freia Kokesjokolade and the Kvikk Lunsj, but also candy and other products for food and deserts.