Milka facts for kids
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| Type | Chocolate |
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| Owner | Mondelez International (2012–present) |
| Introduced | 1901 |
| Related brands | List of Mondelez International brands |
| Previous owners |
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Milka is a super popular European brand of delicious chocolate! It's famous for its creamy taste and its special purple packaging. Milka first started in Switzerland in 1901. Since then, it has been made in places like Lörrach, Germany, for a very long time.
Today, Milka is owned by a big company called Mondelez International, which took over the brand in 2012. You can find Milka in classic chocolate bars and fun shapes for holidays like Easter and Christmas. The brand also makes yummy chocolate-covered cookies and biscuits.
The name "Milka" is a clever mix of two German words: "Milch" (which means milk) and "Kakao" (which means cocoa). These were the original main ingredients that made Milka so special!
Contents
The Sweet History of Milka
How Milka Began
The story of Milka chocolate began in 1825 with a Swiss chocolatier named Philippe Suchard. He opened a pastry shop in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where he sold his handmade chocolate desserts. The very next year, Suchard started his own chocolate company, Chocolat Suchard. He moved his production to a nearby village and began making chocolate in a former water mill.
In the 1890s, Suchard's company started adding milk to its chocolate. This was a new and exciting idea at the time! Then, in 1901, Carl Russ-Suchard, who was Philippe Suchard's son-in-law, created the Milka brand. The first Milka chocolate bars came in the unique lilac-colored packaging that we still recognize today.
Growing Bigger and Brighter
Milka quickly became popular. In the 1910s, the chocolates were introduced in Austria, helping the brand spread even further. By 1913, the company was making much more chocolate than when it first started! In the 1920s, Milka began making special limited-edition chocolates for holidays. These included fun shapes like Santa Claus, Christmas ornaments, and Easter bunnies.
By the 1960s, the Milka logo and its famous lilac packaging were officially protected as trademarks. Milka quickly became the number one chocolate brand in Germany. Over the next few decades, Milka continued to grow, offering bigger chocolate bars and more delicious products.
In 1970, Suchard joined with another chocolate company, Tobler, to form Interfood. Later, in 1982, Interfood merged with the Jacobs coffee company, creating Jacobs Suchard. A big food company called Kraft Foods then bought Jacobs Suchard, including Milka, in 1990. Milka also became a sponsor for alpine skiing events in 1995, supporting many famous athletes. In October 2012, Kraft Foods separated its snack food business, which was renamed Mondelez International. Mondelez International has owned Milka ever since. In 2016, Milka chocolates also started to be sold in China, reaching even more people around the world.
Meet Lila: The Milka Cow
The most famous symbol of the Milka brand is its adorable lilac-colored Simmental cow. This friendly cow, often shown in a beautiful Alpine meadow with a bell around her neck, was first imagined by an advertising agent in 1971.
Since the 1960s, Milka has focused its advertising on the idea of "tenderness." In 1972, the Milka cow was given a name: Lila. "Lila" is actually the German word for lilac or purple! Lila the cow became the main face of Milka's advertising campaigns and has been a beloved mascot ever since.
Milka has also been a proud sponsor of many alpine skiing stars since 1995. In 2015, Milka even sent a lilac-colored boat with Lila the mascot on it to tour the rivers of Germany and Austria during the summer! This fun boat was called the "Muhboot," which is a clever play on words, sounding like "Moo-boat" and also like the German word for submarine ("U-Boot").
Milka's Delicious Chocolates
Milka offers a wide variety of chocolates and treats in different packages and flavors. Here are some of the popular ones you might find:
Popular Milka Bars
- Alpine Milk – This is the classic, creamy milk chocolate bar.
- Broken Nuts – A milk chocolate bar with crunchy hazelnut pieces inside.
- Milka and Oreo – A delicious combination of milk chocolate with a creamy Oreo cookie filling.
- Strawberry Yogurt – Milk chocolate with a sweet and tangy strawberry filling.
- Caramel – A smooth milk chocolate bar filled with gooey caramel.
- Whole Hazelnuts – Milk chocolate packed with whole, crunchy hazelnuts.
- White Chocolate – For those who love the sweet taste of white chocolate.
- Cow Spots or Happy Cow – A fun milk chocolate bar with white chocolate spots, just like Lila the cow!
Other Yummy Milka Treats
Milka also makes other tasty products beyond just chocolate bars:
- Philadelphia Milka Cheese – A creamy cheese spread with a hint of Milka chocolate flavor.
- Hazelnut Cocoa Spread – A delicious spread perfect for toast or snacks, combining hazelnut and cocoa.
See also
In Spanish: Milka para niños
