Karol Wedel
Encyclopedia
Karol Ernest Wedel was a candy maker of German ancestry member of the Wedel
family, who settled in (then partitioned
) Poland
.
He was faithful of the Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Poland
.
Karol Wedel was a German
candy maker who came to Warsaw
in the beginning of 1845 and began to cooperate with Karol Grohnert who was an owner of a confectionery
store at 12 Piwna Street. The cooperation between two men lead to success and to a large faithful group of consumers.
Soon after, around 1851, Karol Wedel became financially independent and opened his own store at 12 Miodowa Street, and next to it, a steam-powered factory making chocolates. His company, E.Wedel
, would grow to become a leading confectionery company of Poland. One year later, he introduced his great hit "karmelki smietankowe" ("butter caramels"); the "karamelki smietankowe" success was aided by a successful commercial campaign in "Kurier Warszawski
" newspaper.
"Totally new and distinct "confectioner’s" composition, and over all a substance that cures and alleviates all chest pains, extremely effective for the aliments of the spring months, and even for those not suffering and those who favour great delicate flavour -- very pleasant product."
Another product made popular by Wedel was hot chocolate
. The store was selling over fifty cups a day of the hot chocolate. As the years passed, more products were introduced. By 1862, the "C.E. Wedel" company placed ads in Warsaw's newspapers for chocolates such as "Brilliant" and "Dessert". These were described as "Chocolat praline a'la crem aux nougat, aux pistaches, napolitan, de demes, de brilliant a'la vanille royal, a'la sultan" -- in different shapes and flavours, candy made of almonds, royal marcepan, caramels, and prepared fruit -- "prunelles glaces -- reingloud glaces et fruits cristallises."
Wedel married Karolina Wisnowska (1819-1893), daughter of another famous Warsaw candy and sweets maker. In 1864, Wedel's son, Emil Albert Fredryk Wedel (1841-1919) returned from an apprenticeship tour of confectioneries in Germany, Switzerland, England, and France, and received a Ph.D. in Chemistry (Food Chemistry). Immediately, he started helping in the running of the family business. In 1876, his father gave him the company as a wedding gift on the very day of his marriage to Karolina.
Wedel
Wedel is a town in the district of Pinneberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Elbe, approximately south of Elmshorn, and mile, west of Hamburg.-Foundation and Middle Ages:...
family, who settled in (then partitioned
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
) Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
He was faithful of the Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Poland
Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Poland
The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland , the largest Protestant body in Poland, is rooted in the Reformation. The first Lutheran sermons were held in 1518, and in 1523 the first Lutheran dean, Johann Heß, was called to the city of Breslau, whence Lutheranism was spread into the...
.
Karol Wedel was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
candy maker who came to Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
in the beginning of 1845 and began to cooperate with Karol Grohnert who was an owner of a confectionery
Confectionery
Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
store at 12 Piwna Street. The cooperation between two men lead to success and to a large faithful group of consumers.
Soon after, around 1851, Karol Wedel became financially independent and opened his own store at 12 Miodowa Street, and next to it, a steam-powered factory making chocolates. His company, E.Wedel
E.Wedel
E. Wedel is a famous Polish confectionery company, producing many varieties of high-quality chocolates, cakes, and snacks...
, would grow to become a leading confectionery company of Poland. One year later, he introduced his great hit "karmelki smietankowe" ("butter caramels"); the "karamelki smietankowe" success was aided by a successful commercial campaign in "Kurier Warszawski
Kurier Warszawski
The Kurier Warszawski was a daily newspaper printed in Warsaw, Poland from 1821 to 1939, with two editions daily from 1873. It was selling 4,000 copies in 1868, and over 20,000 copies after 1883....
" newspaper.
"Totally new and distinct "confectioner’s" composition, and over all a substance that cures and alleviates all chest pains, extremely effective for the aliments of the spring months, and even for those not suffering and those who favour great delicate flavour -- very pleasant product."
Another product made popular by Wedel was hot chocolate
Hot chocolate
Hot chocolate is a heated beverage typically consisting of shaved chocolate, melted chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and sugar...
. The store was selling over fifty cups a day of the hot chocolate. As the years passed, more products were introduced. By 1862, the "C.E. Wedel" company placed ads in Warsaw's newspapers for chocolates such as "Brilliant" and "Dessert". These were described as "Chocolat praline a'la crem aux nougat, aux pistaches, napolitan, de demes, de brilliant a'la vanille royal, a'la sultan" -- in different shapes and flavours, candy made of almonds, royal marcepan, caramels, and prepared fruit -- "prunelles glaces -- reingloud glaces et fruits cristallises."
Wedel married Karolina Wisnowska (1819-1893), daughter of another famous Warsaw candy and sweets maker. In 1864, Wedel's son, Emil Albert Fredryk Wedel (1841-1919) returned from an apprenticeship tour of confectioneries in Germany, Switzerland, England, and France, and received a Ph.D. in Chemistry (Food Chemistry). Immediately, he started helping in the running of the family business. In 1876, his father gave him the company as a wedding gift on the very day of his marriage to Karolina.