Maestrani facts for kids
 |
|
| Industry | Food |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1852 |
| Founder | Aquilino Maestrani |
| Headquarters | Flawil,
St. Gallen
,
Switzerland
|
Maestrani is a famous Swiss company that makes delicious chocolate. It is located in a town called Flawil in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The company started way back in 1852. It was founded by a chocolatier named Aquilino Maestrani.
Maestrani also owns two other popular chocolate brands: Minor and Munz. These brands make different kinds of yummy chocolate treats.
Contents
How Maestrani Started
Aquilino Maestrani learned how to make chocolate from his father. He traveled around Italy and Germany to learn even more. In 1852, he opened his very first chocolate shop in Lucerne.
In 1859, Maestrani moved his business to St. Gallen. He even built a special "marble house" to show off his chocolates. This helped his business grow a lot.
By 1875, Maestrani was making so much chocolate that he needed a bigger factory. So, a new factory was built outside the city. Aquilino Maestrani passed away in 1880. His three sons, Ludovico, Roberto, and Savino, took over the company.
In 1884, the company moved its production to an even larger building in St. Gallen. This place became the main headquarters for many years. The company even had a branch in Bregenz for a while.
Around 1912-1913, the Maestrani family lost control of the company due to financial challenges. However, the company was successfully reorganized in 1923.
Maestrani became very well-known. The Italian king, Umberto I, even chose Maestrani as a special supplier for his royal court. In 1912, the company officially became "Maestrani Schweizer Schokoladen AG." The company faced tough times during the world wars because it was hard to get ingredients.
Today, Maestrani makes many different 100-gram chocolate bars. They also produce the popular Minor bars, which are rectangular chocolate sticks. The Munz brand makes various filled chocolate bars, like the "Munz Banana" with its banana-flavored filling.
Maestrani is part of a group called IG Bio, which supports organic products. As of 2020, about 165 people work at the factory in Flawil. They produce around 3,500 tons of chocolate every year!
The chocolate factory in Flawil has a special visitor center and museum. It's called Maestrani's Chocolarium. It opened in 2017, and people can visit to learn how chocolate is made and even try some.
Maestrani's Chocolate Brands
Maestrani sells chocolate under its own name. The "Minor" brand was created in 1936. Later, Maestrani took over the "Munz" brand. For a while, all three brands—Maestrani, Minor, and Munz—were produced.
In 2021, the Munz chocolate bars were renamed Maestrani. Now, the company mainly focuses on two brands: Maestrani and Minor. Since 2008, Maestrani chocolates have been sold outside Switzerland only under the Maestrani name. This is because names like "Minor" (which means "unimportant" in English) or "Munz" can be tricky to market in other countries.
What Maestrani Makes
Maestrani makes many different kinds of chocolate treats. Here are some of them:
- Square (Minor) and round (Munz) chocolate sticks
- Fair trade organic chocolate bars (now called Maestrani, used to be Munz)
- Kosher chocolate (made according to special dietary rules)
- Chocolate bananas (Munz)
- Chocolate ladybugs and chocolate mice (Munz)
- Munzli (small chocolates with a chocolate coating)
- Caramel candies (Munz)
- Jelly candies (Munz)
Fun Facts About Maestrani
- When tourists arrive at the St. Gallen railway station by train, one of the first things they often see is a big neon sign with the Maestrani name.
- In 2016, a special machine was set up in Davos that gave out "Minor-Prügeli" (chocolate sticks) to encourage people to use ATMs.
- In 2021, the company's area received an award for its "Nature-Oriented Environmental Design." This means they designed their factory area to be good for nature.
- Maestrani has been given the "climate neutral" label by the Myclimate foundation. This means they balance out the carbon emissions from their production by supporting projects that help protect the climate.
Fun Facts About Maestrani
- If you arrive in St. Gallen by train, one of the first things you might see is a big neon sign with the Maestrani name! It hangs over the train station.
- In 2016, a special machine was set up in Davos that gave out "Minor-Prügeli" (chocolate sticks) to encourage people to use ATMs.
- The company's factory area was recognized in 2021 for its nature-friendly design.
- Maestrani has been given the "climate neutral" label. This means they help protect the environment by supporting projects that reduce carbon emissions.
See also
 | Misty Copeland |
 | Raven Wilkinson |
 | Debra Austin |
 | Aesha Ash |
