Panda (Finnish company)

Panda Oy is a Finnish confectionery company based in Vaajakoski, Jyväskylä. The company was founded in 1920 by SOK (Suomen Osuuskauppojen Keskuskunta).[2] Panda is known for its liquorice and chocolate products.

Panda Oy
Company typeOsakeyhtiö
IndustryConfectionery processing
Founded1920 (1920)
Headquarters,
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsConfectionery
Revenue51.345 million (2012)[1]
OwnerOrkla Group
Number of employees
272 (2012)[1]
ParentFelix Abba
Websitepandalicorice.com

In 2005, the company was sold to Felix Abba, which is part of the Norwegian Orkla Group.[3]

History edit

The beginning stages edit

SOK founded Panda in 1920. The name then was simply SOK's confectionery factory. In 1929, it moved to an extension built next to the margarine factory. In the early years, the product selection consisted only of hard candies and marmalade. The production of chocolate began in the new building, and licorice began to be produced in the following decade. During the war years, the product selection was reduced, and at the end of 1942, only carrot marmalade was available, but during the shortage, even this went like hot stones. After the war, regulation made confectionery production difficult, but in the 1950s, even this became easier and the industry began to grow rapidly.[4][5]

 
Panda's factory site in Vaajakoski.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Panda Ab Oy". Taloussanomat (in Finnish). Sanoma News. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  2. ^ "Panda teki maailman pisimmän lakun". yle.fi (in Finnish). Yle. November 9, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  3. ^ Vehmanen, Jukka (May 27, 2005). "Felix Abba haukkasi nopeasti kasvaneen Pandan omistukseensa". ts.fi (in Finnish). TS-Yhtymä. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  4. ^ "Panda Suklaatehdas SOK Vaajakoski". VAKKA-arkistotietokanta. Arkistolaitos. Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2013-02-22.
  5. ^ "Historia". Panda Oy. Retrieved 2013-02-22.

External links edit

  Media related to Panda (company) at Wikimedia Commons