Chocolat Frey facts for kids
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Frey Headquarters in Buchs, Aargau
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Food |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Headquarters | , |
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Key people
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Hans-Ruedi Christen (CEO) |
| Revenue | CHF 396 million (2015) |
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Number of employees
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1017 (2015) |
| Parent | Migros |
Chocolat Frey AG, often just called Frey, is a famous Swiss company. It makes delicious chocolate and chewing gum. Frey is the top chocolate maker in Switzerland. You can find their products in Switzerland and many other countries.
The company started way back in 1887. Since 1950, it has been part of the Migros Group, a big Swiss retail company. Frey is known for its own unique chocolates and also for making popular versions of other well-known treats, like the Branche bar.
Most Frey products were sold in Migros stores. They also supplied restaurants and other businesses. A big part of their sales came from exports to other countries. In 2021, Chocolat Frey joined with other Migros food companies to form a new company called Delica AG. Now, "Chocolat Frey" is a brand name under Delica AG.
How Frey Began
Starting the Company
Frey was founded in 1887 by two brothers, Robert and Max Frey. They already knew a lot about making chocolate. Robert had learned about chocolate machines in Paris, France. Max had worked for a chocolate company in Zurich, Switzerland.
On December 17, 1887, they started their own business, R. & M. Frey, in Aarau, Switzerland. Their first factory was in their parents' house. By 1900, they moved to a larger building that used to be a cotton factory.
The brothers used new technology to make their chocolate. They used a special machine called a conche, which makes chocolate extra smooth. Their factory also used electric machines from the very beginning. Around that time, milk chocolate was invented, which allowed them to use more local ingredients like milk. This made chocolate more affordable.
Early Years (1900s - 1940s)
In 1900, Frey started making chocolate in the Telli area of Aarau. In 1906, the company became a public company. They made chocolate bars and chocolate powder. For a short time, they also made soups and tonics, but they later decided to focus only on chocolate.
During World War I, Switzerland was neutral. This helped Frey export chocolate to countries like Germany, France, and England. Even though it was hard to get ingredients like cocoa, their sales almost doubled!
After the war, exports dropped a lot. Germany and France were rebuilding. This meant Frey had to focus more on selling chocolate in Switzerland. The company faced tough times in the early 1920s and during the Great Depression.
Robert Frey junior slowly took over the company from his father. This helped the company stay in the family. World War II also made things difficult. It was hard to trade with other countries, and many employees joined the military service.
Joining Migros (Mid-1900s)
After World War II, the economy improved. In 1946, Frey started looking for partners. Four years later, in 1950, the big Swiss company Migros took over Frey. This was a very important decision for Frey. Even though Migros set new rules, Robert Frey junior still managed the company. Being part of Migros helped Frey grow a lot.
Frey's Growth
Modernizing and Expanding
In 1963, Frey built its current main factory in Buchs. All of Migros' chocolate and candy making was moved to this one location. This helped Frey become a modern and successful company.
Since 1974, Frey has also been making chewing gum. They are the only Swiss company to do this. Today, chewing gum makes up about 10% of Frey's total sales.
In the 1980s, Frey's sales grew a lot. In 1985, their sales went over 200 million Swiss francs for the first time. Soon, they became the leader in the Swiss chocolate market. This success allowed them to invest in new improvements. They also started focusing on environmental protection.
For example, since 1984, Frey has used district heating from a nearby waste incineration plant. This means they hardly use any heating oil. They also improved their factory with a new train connection for supplies.
Going International
The 1980s were also important for international trade. For the first time since World War II, Frey started exporting chocolate again. Countries like the United Kingdom, the USA, Denmark, Austria, and Japan imported Frey chocolate.
In the 1990s, Frey expanded its international business even more. They started a project called 'Chocolat Frey goes international'. Their goal was for exports to help the company make more money in the long run.
After 2000, Frey continued to grow its international sales. The Netherlands, Scandinavia, Canada, and Germany became new markets. Selling to other countries became the most important way for the company to grow.
Since 2007, the Frey brand has also been sold internationally in places like duty-free shops at airports. In 2008, Frey and another Migros food company, Delica, started working more closely together. This helped them become stronger in the international market.
By 2020, more than a third of Frey's total sales came from outside Switzerland. Their products are sold in over 50 countries around the world. Each year, they produce more than 42,000 tons of chocolate, candies, and chewing gum. In Switzerland, Frey is the number one chocolate maker, with about 35% of the market.
In 2012, Frey celebrated its 125th anniversary!
In 2014, Frey opened a visitor center in Buchs, but it closed in 2020. Also in 2014, Frey bought a North American candy company called SweetWorks Confections. Since 2015, Frey has also supplied chocolate to Swiss (the Swiss airline).
About the Company
Headquarters and Production
In 1966, Frey moved its main factory from Aarau to Buchs. Today, Buchs is still the only place where Frey makes its chocolate and chewing gum. The factory area has grown over time and now covers about 70,000 square meters. It has buildings for storing and processing cocoa, and for making chocolate and chewing gum. The company also has its own train connection to the Swiss Railways to bring in raw materials and send out finished products.
What Frey Makes
Every day, more than 500,000 chocolate bars leave the factory in Buchs! Each year, they make over 41,000 tons of products, including about 2,400 different items. Besides chocolate bars and pralines (small filled chocolates), Frey also makes ingredients like chocolate and cocoa powders for other food companies. They also produce chewing gum under their own brands like Skai and Candida, as well as for other companies.
Frey is the leading chocolate maker in Switzerland. The company has over 1,000 employees. In 2015, their total sales were 396 million Swiss francs.
Quality and Safety
Frey has several important certifications that show their products are made with high quality and safety standards. These include:
- ISO 9001 (for quality management)
- ISO 14001 (for environmental management)
- FSSC 22000 (for food safety)
- IFS (International Food Standard)
Frey's Logo
The Frey company logo has a unicorn's head. This comes from the family crest of the Frey brothers. The family name "Frey" is also part of the logo. Below the name, it says "CHOCOLAT SUISSE DEPUIS 1887" (which means "SWISS CHOCOLATE SINCE 1887"). This shows that the company has a long history of making traditional Swiss chocolate.
Caring for the Planet and People
Sustainability Efforts
Frey believes in "sustainable development." This means they try to be good for the economy, for people, and for the environment. They look at all parts of their business, from where they get their ingredients to how they make their products.
Since 2011, Frey has bought cocoa beans through the UTZ Certified program. This program helps make sure cocoa farmers get fair wages and work in good conditions.
Frey also works hard to protect the environment. By using district heating instead of oil and making other changes, they have cut their energy use by almost a quarter. This has greatly reduced their CO2 emissions. Because of these efforts, Frey was given a special award for being a "CO2-reduced company." In 2008, they also received environmental certification (ISO 14001).
Helping Children
Frey supports the SOS Children's Village in Ghana. This organization helps children who have lost their parents or don't have a safe home. In 2007, Frey helped pay for one of the family houses in the SOS Children's Village Asiakwa, Ghana. Since 2008, they have also covered the yearly costs to run this house. It provides a family home for 10 children with a caregiver they call a "mother."
See also
In Spanish: Chocolat Frey AG para niños
