Pucko facts for kids

The standard Pucko logo from 2021.

Pucko is a classic Swedish drink. It is made from milk, sugar, and chocolate. Today, it is produced by a company called Cocio in Denmark.

The Story of Pucko

Two glass bottles of Pucko in 2011.

Pucko was first created in 1953. It was made by Mjölkcentralen, a company that later became Arla Foods. The drink was launched in 1954. Its name came from an ice cream called "Choklad-puck" (chocolate puck). Mjölkcentralen also made this ice cream. The word "Puck" was used in many of their products, even a type of cheese.

At a big exhibition in 1955, 19,700 bottles of Pucko were sold in just 16 days! By the mid-1960s, sales had grown ten times bigger.

The first Pucko bottle looked like the Coca-Cola bottle. But this design was soon changed. The next bottle design was used until the year 2000. Then, it was slightly updated to the look you see today.

In 1975, another company called Semper took over making Pucko. Semper was part of Arla at the time. In 1987, the production moved to a town called Laholm. The old factory in Järlåsa then closed down. Arla sold Semper in 2003 but kept the rights to Pucko. So, Pucko continued to be made at Semper in Laholm.

On July 1, 2005, Pucko production moved to Cocio in Esbjerg, Denmark. Some people in Sweden were not happy about the drink being made in another country. About 12 people lost their jobs in Laholm.

On January 1, 2008, Arla bought the rest of Cocio. This made Cocio fully owned by Arla. So, Arla gained full control over Pucko's production again.

Around 2008, during a time when the economy was difficult, sales of Arla's chocolate milks went down.

For a short time, there was even a Pucko ice cream! It was sold by a company called Hemglass starting in July 2009.

After production moved to Cocio, Pucko bottles also showed the Cocio brand. But by 2021, Pucko was branded on its own again, without the Cocio name on the bottle.

What is Pucko Like?

Pucko is a cold chocolate drink. It is usually sold in 20 cl glass bottles with a screw top. You can also find it in slightly bigger bottles. Today, Pucko is also sold in cartons, 1 L bottles, and 25 cl aluminum cans. There are a few different types of Pucko too. These include a diet version, a dark chocolate version, and some with added flavors.

How Pucko is Made

Pucko is made from regular pasteurized milk. The milk is heated to 75°C (167°F). Then, sugar, cocoa, and caramel flavoring are added. The caramel gives Pucko its special mild taste. This mixture is then made smooth and heated again to make it safe. Finally, it is cooled down to room temperature and is ready to drink!

Pucko is often enjoyed with a hot dog.

Pucko is sold in most Swedish shops that have cold drinks. But it is especially famous for being sold at hot dog stands. It's a common idea that people order a hot dog with a Pucko. However, we don't know how many Swedes actually choose this combination.

In the city of Göteborg, people sometimes call Pucko "Stockholmare" (meaning someone from Stockholm) when ordering at a hot dog stand. Pucko, or "Stockholmare," is often ordered with a local dish called "halv special" or "hel special." These dishes are hot dogs served in a bun with mashed potatoes on top. "Halv special" has one hot dog, and "hel special" has two.

Pucko has been called a "national beverage." Some even say it's a "cult drink" and a symbol for Sweden.

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