The Fazer Love Story, A Story where Chocolate, Art and Entrepreneurship Come True...
Karl Fazer was born on September 17, 1891—or so the story goes. In reality, he was born in 1866, but in this tale, a person is truly "born" when their dreams come to life. At the age of 25, Karl opened his first French-Russian café on Kluuvikatu Street in Helsinki.
Like many great success stories, his journey was improbable. His father, Eduard Fazer, a Swiss-born furrier, hoped his son would pursue a secure, bourgeois profession. But Karl had other plans. At 18, defying his father’s wishes, he left for St. Petersburg, Paris, and Berlin to train as a confectioner. He saw sweetness where others saw salt, light where there was darkness.
Returning to Helsinki, Karl was brimming with enthusiasm but unsure if the city's residents would embrace the continental delicacies he adored. He might have thought, “You may not think you need this baby pastry, but once you’ve tasted it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.”
What is courage? A word. What is a pioneer? Another word. But in the mind of Karl Fazer, these words transformed into bold, tangible actions. His imagination teemed with possibilities—new products, eye-catching advertisements, and the delighted faces of customers savoring his latest confections. Karl was a visionary, a lone entrepreneur navigating the uncharted wilderness of Helsinki, determined to bring sweetness to a land still steeped in salty traditions.
Yet even trailblazers need companions. One day, love found its way into the café in the form of Berta Blomqvist, who came in for a hot chocolate. What followed was more than a romantic connection—it was a partnership that reshaped Karl's business and life. Together, Karl and Berta built not only a family, raising four children, but also an empire of ideas.
Berta, a business school graduate, proved to be a masterful strategist. She turned the café's display window into an attraction in its own right, enticing passersby with artful arrangements of chocolates and pastries. The entire family got involved, brainstorming product names and refining recipes. Their synergy was unparalleled—Karl brought the creative spark, and Berta grounded their dreams in solid business acumen. They combined numbers, sugar, yeast, and flour to create something truly extraordinary.
“A rose is beautiful, but it’s not chocolate,” one might muse. “Chocolate tastes good, but it’s not a rose.” Yet Karl and Berta found a way to blend sweetness and beauty, crafting a legacy that resonated far beyond their cozy café. Together, they didn’t just build a business; they created a movement, one that celebrated the art of confectionery and the power of family collaboration.
Inspired by the breathtaking beauty of Finnish nature, Karl and Berta Fazer invited some of Finland’s most renowned artists to design intricate wrappers and boxes for their confections. These creations not only protected the treats inside but turned them into works of art, embodying a harmony between taste and aesthetics.
As legends often do, Fazer’s iconic milk chocolate, known as Fazer Blue, came into existence through a chance encounter. Karl and Berta’s son, Sven, built a key business relationship with an English associate, Mr. Schaller. When Mr. Schaller’s son-in-law faced a serious eye disease, Sven arranged for treatment, leading to a life-changing cure. As a gesture of gratitude, Mr. Schaller gifted Sven a secret Swiss milk chocolate recipe. This recipe became the foundation of Fazer’s milk chocolate, a product that quickly captured the hearts of the nation.
Fazer Blue didn’t just taste exceptional—it became a symbol of Finnish identity, with its distinct color and melody etched into the national consciousness. The original recipe remains a well-guarded secret, locked safely away, preserving its unique legacy.
The Fazer journey embraced the balance of opposites: sweetness and salt, indulgence and necessity. From the earliest days at the Kluuvikatu café, Fazer baked not only exquisite confections but also hearty bread, laying the foundation for a business that nourished both body and soul. Over time, their bakeries spread across the Baltic Sea region, providing for communities far and wide. The combination of bread and confectionery reflected a fundamental truth: every sweet success carries a hint of challenge, and every challenge can be overcome with a touch of sweetness.
Later, Fazer expanded its offerings to include nutritious plant-based meals, snacks, smoothies, and porridges, achieving a perfect balance between sweet and salty. The company’s journey became a testament to innovation and creativity. What is innovation? A word. What is creativity? Another word. But when someone replaces rice with local grains or extracts silica from oat hulls, these words transform into meaningful actions.
Fazer has always been a trailblazer. It was the first to advertise on trams, introduce the concept of in-store baked bread for ultimate freshness, and personalize its iconic milk chocolate tablets with custom messages from consumers and businesses alike. Today, Fazer continues to invite the world to witness how sensations are crafted, blending tradition with cutting-edge technology.
A company is defined by its deeds, and Fazer’s success is not just the story of Karl, Berta, Sven, and Peter. It’s the collective effort of thousands of dedicated employees across eight countries. While luck may spark a success story, no company thrives for over a century on luck alone.
History may repeat itself, but businesses cannot afford to live in the past—especially those in the food industry. Taste cannot be bought, but it can be challenged. While matters of taste cannot be argued, they can be shaped and refined, tempting even the most discerning palates. Fazer’s journey is a celebration of this constant evolution, proving that the perfect blend of tradition and innovation is a recipe for lasting success.
Adventure fuels innovation, just as it did for Karl Fazer when he introduced Helsinki to delicacies unlike anything they’d ever tasted. The spirit of exploration drives us to ask, What’s next? For the ever-curious, it’s about discovering new plant-based sensations, embracing more sustainable indulgence, and even creating protein from thin air.
In a world craving extraordinary experiences, Fazer continues to listen, adapt, and innovate. Like Karl in his time, we tread uncharted paths, sprinkling life with fresh delights that inspire and redefine the everyday.
Fazer is reborn every time a dream comes true. Each innovation, each step forward, breathes new life into the company’s legacy. Whether it’s introducing bold flavors, pioneering sustainable practices, or crafting unforgettable experiences, Fazer thrives on the power of imagination and progress. Just as Karl Fazer once dared to dream, today’s Fazer carries that same adventurous spirit, proving that every new chapter begins with the courage to dream big.
Our Favorite Fazer Treats
If you’ve ever tried a Fazer treat, you know they’re more than just sweets—they’re a slice of Nordic culture, wrapped in quality and crafted with care. Fazer’s lineup includes chocolates, licorices, and candies that have been bringing joy (and a bit of boldness) to people across generations. Here’s a taste of some of Fazer’s most beloved products and our personal favourites, each with its own story and unique flavor.
Fazer Blue: Finland’s Chocolate Treasure
When it comes to chocolate, Fazer Blue is as close to a national treasure as it gets. Since its debut in 1922, this milk chocolate bar has become a household staple in Finland, where it’s loved for its smooth, creamy texture and distinct flavor. What makes Fazer Blue special? It’s made with fresh Finnish milk, giving it a rich, velvety taste that’s unique to the region. In fact, Fazer Blue is so iconic that it’s protected by EU geographical indication—meaning it’s recognized as a product with special regional qualities. For Finns, unwrapping a Fazer Blue bar is like opening a little piece of home, a sweet reminder of quality and heritage that’s been cherished for nearly a century.
Salmiakki: A Bold Taste of Nordic Tradition
For those with adventurous taste buds, Fazer’s salmiakki is a must-try. This salty licorice candy is wildly popular across Finland and Sweden, where locals adore its intense, bracing flavor. Made from a unique combination of licorice and a hint of salt, salmiakki has a flavor profile that surprises newcomers and delights fans. While it might be an acquired taste for some, salmiakki has earned its status as a Nordic staple—one that every candy lover should try at least once. With salmiakki, Fazer captures a true taste of Nordic tradition, bringing the bold and unapologetic flavors of Scandinavia to candy aisles worldwide.
Dumle and Geisha: Sweet Memories in Every Bite
For a taste of nostalgia, nothing beats Dumle and Geisha, two classic treats that bring back memories for Finns and visitors alike. Dumle toffees are soft, chewy bites covered in milk chocolate, a simple yet irresistible combination that has been a favorite for generations. There’s something comforting about the sweet, buttery toffee that just feels like a hug in candy form. Meanwhile, Geisha chocolates offer a delicate, nutty twist with their hazelnut cream filling, wrapped in smooth milk chocolate for a treat that’s as elegant as it is delicious. Both Dumle and Geisha have become go-to sweets for cozy evenings, family gatherings, and any time when a little sweetness is needed.
Together, these iconic Fazer treats offer more than just a sugar fix—they provide a genuine taste of Finnish culture and the Nordic way of enjoying life. These might be our favourites, but from so many delights to choose from, its a bit difficult to decide... so feel free to tell us if your personal favourite is not mentioned!
The Fazer Moomin Collection
Fazer’s collaboration with the Moomins is a meeting of two cherished worlds, each holding a special place in Finnish hearts. The Moomins, Tove Jansson’s whimsical creations, have enchanted generations with their gentle adventures and timeless values. Now, they lend their magic to Fazer’s confections, transforming candies, chocolates, and biscuits into portals to Moominvalley.
These treats go beyond mere indulgence—they serve as bridges to cherished memories. Adults, who once flipped through Moomin books or watched the whimsical cartoons, find themselves transported back to childhood. For children, the Moomins bring the same sense of wonder, now accompanied by the irresistible allure of Fazer’s confections. Every product is a delightful marriage of storytelling and taste, offering a sensory experience rooted in Nordic traditions.
From gummy candies shaped like Moomin characters to rich chocolate bars adorned with vibrant Moomin illustrations, each item invites consumers to take a moment and savor not just the flavors but the values these characters embody: simplicity, curiosity, a love for nature, and the importance of family and community. Even the flavors reflect a uniquely Finnish palette, enhancing the authenticity of the experience.
Through this partnership, Fazer has created a product line that does more than satisfy a sweet tooth—it celebrates the joy of connection and the power of stories. These Moomin-themed delights bring people together, allowing them to share in a bit of magic, whether reminiscing about beloved tales or creating new memories. By blending two iconic Finnish brands, Fazer continues its mission to spread not only Finnish flavors but a piece of its cultural soul, proving that sometimes, the simplest pleasures—a sweet treat, a beloved character, and a touch of nostalgia—can make life extraordinary.