Ahlgrens facts for kids
Ahlgrens was a company from Sweden that made sweets and candies. It was started by Fredrik Ahlgren in 1885 in the town of Gävle. At first, it was a shop that sold paint and wallpaper.
Later, the company grew and began making and selling different products. These included things like perfumes and other chemical items. In 1908, Ahlgrens launched a mouthwash called Läkerol. The very next year, they started selling small, chewy candies called pastilles under the same Läkerol brand. These pastilles are still popular today and are sold in many countries.
In 1993, a company from Finland called Huhtamäki bought Ahlgrens. After this, most Ahlgrens products were given a new name, Leaf. However, one special product kept its original Ahlgrens name: Ahlgrens bilar.
Ahlgrens Bilar: Sweden's Favorite Car Candy
Ahlgrens bilar (which means "Ahlgren's Cars" in Swedish) is the most famous product from Ahlgrens. These candies are small, soft marshmallows shaped like cars. They have been a popular treat since 1953.
Why Are They So Popular?
Ahlgrens bilar are advertised as 'Sveriges mest köpta bil'. This means "Sweden's most bought car". This might sound funny, but it's probably true because so many of these car-shaped marshmallows are sold! They are incredibly popular in Sweden. You can even find them in stores outside Sweden that sell Swedish products to tourists and people from Sweden living abroad.
Other Car-Themed Candies
Besides the classic car-shaped marshmallows, Ahlgrens also sells other candies that look like car or road items. These include liquorice candies shaped like car tyres and sour candies shaped like road signs. Tourists from Germany especially enjoy the sour candies that look like elk warning signs.
