August Storck facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Confectionery |
| Founded | 1903 |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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Axel Oberwelland (owner) |
| Products | Sweets |
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Number of employees
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6100 |
Storck is a famous German company that makes lots of delicious candies and chocolates. You might know some of their popular treats like Werther's Original, Toffifee, or Merci. The company is based in Berlin, Germany, and its main factory is in Halle, North Rhine-Westphalia. Storck sells its sweets all over the world! In 2022, it was one of the biggest candy makers in Germany and among the top companies globally.
Contents
History of Storck
How Storck Started (1903–1950)
The Storck company began way back in 1903. It was founded by August Storck, who later changed his name to August Oberwelland. He opened a small candy factory in a town called Werther. At first, he only had three employees, and they sold candy to shops nearby.
In 1921, August's youngest son, Hugo Oberwelland, took over the company. A few years later, in 1934, Storck launched its "1 Pfennig Riesen" candy. This was special because it was one of the first candies in Germany to be sold as a "brand." By 1937, the company had grown to 71 employees and was selling its products across the country.
Growing Bigger and New Candies (1950–1990)
After a big war, Storck built a new factory in a nearby town called Halle. This factory was designed to be a modern "industrial plant in the countryside." They even planted trees around it to help the environment. The factory also got its own train connection to help transport ingredients and finished candies.
In 1949, they released the "Storck 2 Pfennig Riesen." As Germany's economy grew, Storck also grew a lot. They started exporting their candies to other countries in 1953 and began making chocolate in 1954.
In 1971, Klaus Oberwelland, from the next generation of the family, became the head of the company. During this time, Storck created many of its most famous brands that we still enjoy today:
- nimm2 (1962)
- Merci (1965)
- Campino (1966)
- Werther's Original (1969)
- Toffifee (1973)
Later, Storck also added Dickmann (1981) and created the Knoppers brand (1983).
Recent Times (1990–Present)
In 1993, Storck opened another factory in Ohrdruf, Germany. They also launched more new products like merci Crocant (1994) and nimm2 Lachgummi (1996). In 1998, the company changed its structure and moved its main management office to Berlin.
In 2003, Axel Oberwelland, from the third generation of the family, became the chairman of Storck. He helped the company grow even more. For its 100th birthday, Storck created a new company logo and a slogan: "Part of Your World." Since then, the name "Storck" has been printed on all their candy packages.
In 2023, Storck built a new logistics center and factory entrance to make it easier for trucks to deliver and pick up goods.
As of 2025, Storck continues to operate its business in Russia. This decision has led to discussions, as many companies have stopped their operations there due to the conflict in Ukraine. Storck's choice to continue selling its products in Russia has raised questions about a company's responsibilities during difficult global events.
Storck Brands and Products
Here are some of the well-known candies and chocolates made by Storck, along with the year they were first launched:
- Bendicks
- Campino (1966)
- Château chocolate (made for Aldi stores)
- Chocolat Pavot (2003)
- Euka Menthol
- ICE fresh
- Kaufrüchtchen (meaning "Chewy Little Fruits")
- Knoppers (1983)
- Lachgummi
- Mamba
- Merci (1965)
- Merci Crocant (1994)
- Merci Petits
- Milkfuls
- Minis zuckerfrei (meaning "Sugar-free Minis")
- Moser-Roth chocolate (1902, brought back in 2007 for Aldi)
- Nimm2 (meaning "Take2") (1962)
- Nimm2 Lachgummi (1996)
- Nimm2 soft (2005)
- Riesen (meaning "Giants") (1930s)
- Toffifee (1973)
- Werther's Original (1969)
- Dickmann's
Fun Facts About Storck
- In the 1970s, a purple cartoon bear named Schleck was used in advertisements for Mamba, Bazooka, and other Storck products.
- Since 2021, famous soccer player Thomas Müller has been a brand ambassador for Knoppers. Another soccer player, Mats Hummels, joined him in 2022.
- In 2024, August Storck KG gave a large donation to a political party in Germany called the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
- Storck has its own company fire brigade, which was started in 1954 and has 28 members.
See also
In Spanish: August Storck para niños
