Wikana: 100th anniversary

Wikana Keks und Nahrungsmittel GmbH, Wittenberg, presented an impressive set of figures on the occasion of their 100th anniversary. In 1906 the chocolate and cocoa manufacturing company „Kant Chocoladenfabrik AG“ was founded. In 1953 the company was appropriated by the state - the GDR - and renamed „VEB Süsswarenfabrik Nadena Kant“.
Production nowadays focuses on dry baked goods. In 1992 Wolfgang Fischer acquired the company, although the Treuhand organisation - tasked with overseeing the privatisation of property of the former GDR - had written it off as bankrupt. The new owner started out with a great deal of enthusiasm, but little else. Nevertheless within 14 years Wikana has achieved growth of 1,500 % and current annual production totals 4,000 tonnes.
Wikana meanwhile ranks as one of the top five biscuit manufacturers in eastern Germany, and second for creme filled sandwich biscuits, right behind the market leader. Organic products have been performing particularly well.
For over ten years Wikana has also been famous for manufacturing traditional east German brands which enjoy something of a cult status like „Othello“, „HAnsa“ or others.Wittenberg is closely associated with Martin Luther and Wikana make „Original Wittenberger Lutherbrodt“ - similar to gingerbread - according to an original recipe from the city archives. Lutherbrodt has won several awards and is popular with tourists from all over the world. Rounding off the product range are attractive seasonal articles such as Happy Halloween, Spekulatius spiced biscuits and