Marianne (candy) facts for kids
Marianne is a Finnish candy. It has a hard, peppermint-flavored shell. Inside, you'll find a tasty chocolate filling. This candy was first created in 1949 by a company called Chymos. Today, it is made by Fazer.
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History of Marianne Candy
Production of Marianne candy began in 1949. It started at the Chymos factory in Toijala, Finland. A skilled candymaker named Aimo Martikainen helped create it. After World War II, people in Finland really wanted candy. They especially liked the mix of chocolate and peppermint.
In 1956, the new boss of Chymos, Jouko Keränen, saw how popular Marianne was. He thought the simple paper wrapper was too plain. He asked Aimo Vuorinen, the company's artist, to make the packaging more exciting.
How Candy Packaging Changed
Before the 1930s, Finnish candies had very simple names. They were often just descriptions, like "Fazer mint chocolate." These names were written on the candy wrappers. In the 1950s, after the war, supermarkets became common in Finland. Customers could now pick their own items from shelves. This meant products needed to look appealing to sell themselves. A strong brand image was very important.
The packaging played a big role in this. The diagonal red-and-white stripes on Marianne's wrapper were an old European sign for peppermint flavor. Even before the candy was named Marianne, it had these stripes. The candy was simply called "Chymos peppermint chocolate."
Choosing the Name Marianne
Aimo Vuorinen, the artist, felt that peppermint and chocolate had a French feel. He looked for a French symbol for the candy. He thought of Marianne, who is a symbol of France. He drew sketches with the name Marianne and a picture of a young maiden. However, people did not like these designs.
So, Chymos went back to the original red-and-white striped wrapper. But this time, they added the name "Marianne." This candy quickly became Finland's best-selling candy for many years.
New Marianne Flavors and Products
In the 1970s, new Marianne candies were made. One was called Marimint, which had a toffee filling. It is now known as Marianne Toffee. Another was AnneMari, which had an orange flavor. This one was later renamed Marianne Appelsiini. Today, the orange flavor is mostly found in the Marianne Mix bag. This special mix is made for Christmas and for people traveling.
In 1993, Fazer bought Chymos. Marianne then became one of Fazer's main products. Fazer really wanted Marianne because it was popular in Finland and other parts of Europe. Fazer says that Marianne combines "the Russian candy tradition and the French taste." About 1.4 million kilograms of original Marianne candy are made each year in Lappeenranta, Finland.
More Marianne Treats
Over the years, many new Marianne products have been created:
- In 2000, Marianne Light was introduced. It uses xylitol instead of sugar. Marianne drops also came out in different sized packages.
- In 2003, a baking product called Marianne Crush was made. It's great for adding Marianne flavor to desserts.
- In 2006, the Marianne Snacks chocolate bar and loose candies were launched.
- A Marianne liquorice bar came out in 2009.
- The Marianne Mix box is available during Christmas and for travelers. It has original, toffee, and orange-flavored Marianne candies.
Fazer has also added Marianne flavor to other products. You can find Fazer's Kismet chocolate bars with Marianne filling. In 2013, Marianne Café candies (coffee-flavored) and Marianne biscuits were introduced. Fazer also makes Marianne cake rolls and Marianne muffins. Even Nestlé makes Marianne ice cream!
In 2013, the Marianne park opened in Lappeenranta. It is near the old Chymos factory. The city of Lappeenranta and Fazer help take care of the park.
