Milka - The Purple Legend

Milka brand story is one company's foray into family history and Suchard Company.

In 1887, Carl Russ Suchard, Philippe Suchard son-in-law founded the first chocolate factory in the Austro-Hungarian Empire at that time. During that time, chocolate (except liquid chocolate) had not been added to milk, so it was a dark colored and bitter delicacy. Only in 1890 was presented to the market the Suchard milk chocolate. Eleven years later, in 1901 "Legend Purple" was borne, when the brand name "Milka" is registered. Since its appearance, the packaging for Milka tablet is purple on which is printed a cow and a panoramic view of the Alps. The name "Milka" is actually the joining of the first syllables of the words milk (Milch) and cocoa (Kakao) in German.

Unfortunately, the pioneer Philippe Suchard, could not live the important moment, because he died in 1884. But what he left behind, to his four children was a first class chocolate factory, which produces up today delicious chocolate products.

In 1797, on October 9 was born in Boudry, Switzerland, Philippe Suchard. In September 1814, he starts his confectionery apprenticeship in the chocolate in Bern, of his brother Frederic. In May 1824 he fulfills his great dream: Philippe Suchard goes on a long journey to the great America.

Watches and Swiss embroidery, what he had in his hand luggage, had to turn him into a successful businessman. But as often happens in life, things happen differently, and he cannot sell the merchandise with success. “Bad luck of one person, good luck to others”. Who knows, if Philippe Suchard would be back in Europe, if he had became a successful businessman. Thus, though he tries his chance for the second time in his homeland, which would bring his luck, and to all chocolate fans.

On November 17, Philippe Suchard in Neuenburg opens his own chocolate factory. In an announcement published, he advertised for a new fresh dessert, “au chocolat fin de sa fabrique “which in English means” house of fine chocolate. Unfortunately, we do not know exactly how he was producing the chocolate. Perhaps it was all produced by hand, at that time did not exist in Neuenburg even a water mill. Already after one year from opening the chocolate factory, Philippe Suchard put into application the second project of his. To not have to produce everything by hand, decided to expand its business. Thus, in 1826 he manages to rent very cheaply a abandoned mill, in the nearby village, Serriéres. Further, he rebuilt the mill, giving it a wheel that will serve as the kneading machine, namely the rotor with two huge millstones. With this equipment, Suchard could produce 25-30 kilograms of chocolate per day, which in the first phase was sold as a form of tablets or wafers.

Suchard was an independent company for many years. In 1970, it merged with Tobler to become Interfood. A merger with the Jacobs coffee company in 1982 created Jacobs Suchard. Kraft acquired the majority of Jacobs Suchard, including Milka, in 1990.

Nowadays Milka is a prestigious brand of Kraft Foods International, ranged premium segment of the chocolate market in Romania, over 25% of consumers being part of this segment who prefer Milka chocolate.

Internationl Kraft Foods is the second largest food company and sells in over 150 countries internationally renowned brands.

In 1994, Kraft Foods Inc. opened a branch in Romania by buying the 82% stake in “SC Poiana Produse Zaharoase SA Brasov”, for $ 4.4 million USD and become market leader in Romania chocolate. Thus, famous recipe improved over a century and a half reached Romania too.

Product quality, its reputation and distinctive visual identity (homonym cow, the only example of mascot) Milka succeeded in making a premium brand on the Romanian market.

Today, the chocolate is produced at a number of locations, including Lörrach (Germany), Bludenz (Austria), Belgrade (Serbia), Svoge (Bulgaria), Bratislava (Slovakia), Braşov (Romania), Costa Rica, Paraná (Brazil), Jankowice (Poland) and Trostyanets (Ukraine), and most recently the United Kingdom.