Karl Fazer
Karl Fazer, actually Karl Otto Fazer ( born August 16, 1866 in Helsinki, † October 9, 1932 in Jokioinen ) was a Finnish bakers, pastry chef, chocolatier and entrepreneur for chocolate and confectionery. He is a founding father of the current Oy Karl Fazer Ab and brand Fazer.
Fazer's father Eduard Peter Fazer (actually Fatzer ) was a Swiss furriers and emigrated to Finland.
The young Fazer learned the Bakery and Confectionery Trades in Berlin, Paris and St. Petersburg. At the age of 25, he opened in the city center of Helsinki a " Russian- French café and pastry shop ". But his real interest lay in the factory-like production of chocolate, confectionery and chocolates. In 1884 he started with the manual production of sweets in the back rooms of cafes, three years later, he opened the first factory in another building. In 1898, he was with his company move into a larger factory building.
In the following years, the company expanded in 1908, the brand Fazer registered trademark was the same time he moved into prestigious office space for the sale of its products. At that time, Finland was still an autonomous Grand Duchy in the Russian Empire. After the liberation in 1917 Fazer benefited from the rapid economic growth of the country. Inter alia erworb Fazer 1927, located in the town of Hanko Finnish - English Kexfabrik and built by the biscuit factory made . Except in production and sales Fazer invested in upscale restaurants: 1930 was opened a sleek modern café with patisserie and restaurant in Helsinki in a new building; Fazer cafes are available in Finland today.
Karl Fazer was not only a businessman, but also a great nature lover. He was particularly interested in ornithology. Inter alia he founded a nature reserve for birds in the Åland Islands and led the pheasant in the Finnish nature. Karl Fazer was an enthusiastic hunter and fisherman. 1932 died Karl Fazer in Jokioinen, where he had a hunting lodge. Today the company Fazer is an international group in the industries confectionery, bakery and food services.