Kägi Söhne facts for kids
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| Founded | 1942 |
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| Founder | Otto Kägi |
| Headquarters | Toggenburg |
| Products | Confectionery |
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Kägi Söhne AG is a famous Swiss company that makes delicious chocolates and wafers. Their name, "Kägi Söhne," means "Kägi Sons" in German. The company is located in Lichtensteig, a town in the St. Gallen region of Switzerland. They are especially well-known for their "Kägi fret," a tasty chocolate-covered wafer. This special treat comes from the Toggenburg area in eastern Switzerland and is made in many different flavors.
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The Story of Kägi
The Kägi company started a long time ago, in 1934. It was founded by Otto Kägi Sr. He began by running a bakery in an inn called "Zum Hecht" in Lichtensteig. At first, he mostly made pastries for restaurants and sold them directly to people. He even used his bicycle to deliver his yummy treats and tell everyone about his new business!
Growing the Business
In the 1940s, Otto Kägi Sr. started making waffles. This was a big step for the company. They slowly grew bigger and began using machines instead of making everything by hand.
By 1950, the company needed more space because so many people wanted their products. So, Kägi bought a larger factory building. The next year, Otto Kägi's three sons – Otto Jr., Eugen, and Alfred – joined the business. In 1952, they had a brilliant idea: they started covering their wafers with chocolate!
The company moved into a brand-new building in Lichtensteig in 1954, which is still their home today. Just two years later, in 1956, Kägi wafers were sent to other countries for the very first time. Then, in 1958, they launched their most famous product, the "Kägi fret." Since then, selling products to other countries has become a huge part of their business.
In 1960, Kägi even started making their own chocolate from raw cocoa beans. Otto Kägi Sr. passed away in 1965, and his sons took over running the company.
How Kägi Grew Over Time
In 1950, only ten people worked at Kägi. By 1960, that number had grown to 120! The Kägi family owned the company until 1996. After that, it was sold to a larger company called Valora.
Over the years, Kägi has continued to grow and change owners a few times. As of 2021, the company had 140 employees. They make about 300 different kinds of products! The company is still located in the beautiful Toggenburg region. The mountains there, called the Churfirsten, are even used in the Kägi company logo.
Amazing Kägi Products
Otto Kägi Sr. began making and selling waffles in 1942. Then, in 1952, they started selling wafers covered in chocolate. The most famous product from Kägi Söhne is the Kägi fret. The name "fret" comes from the French word "gaufrette," which means wafer.
Kägi has been making its own chocolate since 1960. They use special machines called "longitudinal conches" to mix and refine the chocolate, making it super smooth and delicious. The Kägi fret used to be a single, wide chocolate wafer. Later, it became a twin bar, wrapped in shiny aluminum foil. The Kägi fret you see today has been made in its current form since 1958. It is now one of the most famous chocolate bars from Switzerland!
Another special treat from Kägi is the Kägi Toggenburger. These are fresh butter biscuits that are also very popular.
Sending Treats Around the World
Kägi started sending its products overseas in 1956, with the first shipment going to the United States. For a while, not many products were sold abroad, but that slowly changed. Now, important countries for Kägi exports include Germany, Austria, countries in the Middle East, China, and Japan.
In 2018, about half of all the money Kägi made came from sales in other countries. By early 2022, Kägi products were being sent to more than 30 different countries around the world!
In countries where people speak German, the product is still called "Kägi fret." But for other countries, it was first called "Toggi." Since 2013, it has simply been known as "Kägi" internationally.
What's in a Kägi Fret?
The recipe for the Kägi fret has stayed almost the same since it was first created. These wafer bars have four layers of crispy wafer sheets. Between these sheets are three layers of creamy filling. And the whole thing is covered in delicious milk chocolate!
Kägi uses a special trick with air jets to create the wavy pattern you see on the chocolate coating. It looks really cool!
Different Flavors and Sizes
Besides the classic Kägi fret, you can find other yummy flavors. These include dark chocolate, hazelnut, orange, or coconut. You can also buy Kägi products in different sizes. Some are perfect for a quick snack, while others are great for gifts. They even make a special praline version!
Fun Facts About Kägi
- Kägi fret follows the rules of the Swissness regulation. This means it's truly a Swiss product, and that's why you can see the Swiss cross printed on its packaging!
- In a survey done in 2020 about how much people trust Swiss brands, Kägi fret was ranked 7th! That's pretty high.
- Kägi fret's Facebook page was voted the most popular Swiss Facebook page in 2014.
- There's even a special train called the "Kägi-Fret Bahn." It runs from Alt St. Johann to a place called "Alp Sellamatt," between the Alpstein and Churfirsten mountains.
- Kägi fret has appeared in several books and stories. For example, it's mentioned in "Groschens Grab" by Franzobel, and in "Solothurn trägt Schwarz" and "Solothurn streut Asche" by Christof Gasser. It also appears in "Saubere Wäsche: Johanna di Napolis erster Fall" by Michael Herzig.
- The famous actress Marilyn Monroe was said to be a big fan of Kägi fret!
See also
