Over a hundred years of history

31,729 kronor - that was how high the profit was in the first year of operation, and the members received a 15 percent bonus. The success of the Confectioners' Purchasing Association was a fact! The following year, the first office was opened at Drottninggatan 88 in Stockholm, and in 1920, the first truck was purchased.

Thankfully, there were enthusiasts like Carl G. Pettersson, the initiator of the association, and Fred von Sydow, who was appointed CEO. Among other things, these gentlemen managed to get hold of 6,000 sacks of Danish sugar, which were imported and distributed among the Swedish confectioners. This corresponded to their entire annual consumption.

In 1926, the association was bought by the newly formed limited company Kobia. The list of goods for this year includes, among other things, caramel scoops made of cast aluminum, tulles of all kinds, waffle irons for French waffles, salmiak bonbons, agar agar, genuine kirschwasser, confectionery fat in 25-kilo cans, Czechoslovakian sugar and last but certainly not least; the IDEAL fondant machine – “Indispensable in any pastry shop”.

Ten years later, the business expanded from just purchasing to also include its own manufacturing. At the end of 1936, the first genuine Swedish almond paste left Kobia's newly opened factory at Årsta Strand 9 in Stockholm.

Between 1965 and 1980, the shareholding in Kobia was steadily increased by the brothers and entrepreneurs Leif and Rolf Abdon, and in 1986 the Abdon family owned 100% of the shares in Kobia. The Abdon family had long been involved in milling operations in Sweden and the USA and were able to provide Kobia with solid knowledge and a full range of cereals.

In the 1980s, when Kobia had just finished moving its headquarters and manufacturing to Tyresö, offices, warehouses and test bakeries were also established in Västra Frölunda and Hässleholm.

In 2007, marzipan was first produced in our current factory, and today we have a state-of-the-art production facility for almond paste, marzipan and coffee bread fillings.

In the 1980s, when Kobia had just finished moving its headquarters and manufacturing to Tyresö, offices, warehouses and test bakeries were also established in Västra Frölunda and Hässleholm.

In 2007, marzipan was first produced in our current factory, and today we have a state-of-the-art production facility for almond paste, marzipan and coffee bread fillings.