Toblerone
Template:Short description Template:About Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox brand Toblerone (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}) is a Swiss chocolate brand<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> owned by Mondelez International (originally Kraft Foods). It was produced exclusively in Bern, Switzerland, until summer 2022,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the home and heart of Toblerone’s production still today. Since 2022 a smaller, limited part of the portfolio is produced also in Bratislava, Slovakia. <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Toblerone is known for its distinctive shape as a series of joined triangular prisms and lettering engraved in the chocolate. “Toblerone” is a play on words from the names ‘Tobler’ and ‘Torrone’, the Italian name for honey-almond nougat. <ref>THE UNKNOWN HISTORY OF TOBLERONE at The History Oasis website</ref>
The company was independent from 1899 until 1970, then merged with Suchard, then with Jacobs as Jacobs Suchard, then acquired by Kraft Foods, which has been renamed to Mondelez International in 2012.<ref>Cadbury Moves to Fend Off a Hostile Bid by Kraft Foods at The New York Times, 14 December 2009</ref>
HistoryEdit
The Tobler chocolate factory was founded in 1899 by Emil Baumann (1880–1960) & Theodor Tobler (1876–1941) in Bern.<ref>Template:Cite dictionary</ref> At the time, the Swiss chocolate industry was expanding dramatically as recently invented milk chocolate became widespread. In 1908, Emil Baumann, the cousin of Theodor Tobler, created the unique recipe consisting of milk chocolate including white nougat, almonds, and honey. Theodor Tobler came up with the distinctive triangular shape and packaging. The product's name is a combination of Tobler's name and the Italian word torrone (a type of nougat).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The triangular shape of the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps/Italian Alps is commonly believed to have given Theodor Tobler his inspiration for the shape of Toblerone. However, according to Theodor's sons, the triangular shape originates from a pyramid shape that dancers at the Folies Bergère created as the finale of a show that Theodor saw.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Another source of inspiration could have been the similar triangular packaging of the Delta Peter brand.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Nevertheless, a silhouette of the Matterhorn appears on the modern Toblerone packaging, as seen in the photo above right. An outline of a bear, the symbol of Bern, is also depicted on the mountain on the packaging.
Theodor Tobler applied for a patent for the Toblerone manufacturing process in Bern in 1909.<ref name=":0" /> The Toblerone brand was trademarked the same year, at the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property in Bern.<ref name="Tob1909">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Albert Einstein, who was working at the institute as a clerk, might have been involved in the patenting. Toblerone was thus the first patented milk chocolate bar.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It is probably also one of the oldest candy bars using milk chocolate, although not the first one; the Branche, another iconic product of the Swiss chocolate industry, had been launched a few years earlier.<ref name=Meo>Template:Cite book</ref>
A Toblerone version made of dark chocolate was launched in 1969. A white version was launched in 1973.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Some early advertisements for Tobler chocolate appeared in the international languages Esperanto<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:User-generated inline and Ido.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Tobler company was independent for many years. In 1970, it merged with Suchard, the makers of Milka, to become Interfood. After the Tobler & Suchard merger it was decided to create a new and single source for marketing & exporting the various products manufactured by both companies worldwide, Multifood. Max E. Baumann, the son of Emil Baumann, was made director of this new division. Tobler & Suchard companies merged with the Jacobs coffee company in 1982 to create Jacobs Tobler & Suchard. Kraft Foods Inc acquired the majority of Jacobs Suchard, including Toblerone, in 1990; in 2012, it was spun off (alongside several other brands) to Mondelēz.
Sizes and variantsEdit
Bar sizes range from ten centimetres to nearly one metre, all similarly proportioned. According to Schott's Food & Drink Miscellany the sizes and number of peaks for Toblerones are as follows:
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| Size(g) | Tiny | Mini | 35 g | 50 g | 75 g | 100 g | 150 g | 200 g | 360 g | 750 g | 4.5 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size (oz) | 1.2 oz | 1.7 oz | 2.6 oz | 3.5 oz | 5.3 oz | 7.0 oz | 12.7 oz | 26.5 oz | 159 oz | ||
| Peaks | 3 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 12 |
For the yearly Toblerone Schoggifest, a special oversized bar is created to celebrate the bar's anniversary. The bar's weight represents the years of Toblerone, with the first bar in 2008 weighing 100 kg.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Since the 1970s, other variants of Toblerone have been produced. These include:
- Plain chocolate
- In a yellow triangular box (1969)
- Dark chocolate
- In a black triangular box
- White chocolate
- In a white triangular box (1973)
- Milk chocolate Mint Crisp
- In a white/green triangular box (1985)
- Snowtop
- Editions with white chocolate peaks, also in a white/silver triangular box
- Filled editions
- Milk chocolate with a white chocolate centre (blue triangular box)
- OneByOne
- Individually wrapped triangular chunks
- Toblerone Pralines
- Released in 1997, a single peaked version in the distinctive beige packaging
- Fruit & Nut
- In 2007 with a half purple triangular cardboard box
- Honeycomb crisp
- With a half white box with honeycomb pieces pictured on it (2009)
- Crunchy Salted Almond
- With honey and almond nougat and salted caramelised almonds
- Berner Bär
- 500g milk chocolate bar, with a relief portrait of the Bernese Bear and the Coat of arms of Bern on its face. The only non-triangular Toblerone.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Toblerone Tobelle
- Toblerone thins in a beige triangular box:
- Crispy Coconut
- With honey and almond nougat and coconut
- Golden Caramel
- Caramel with honey and almond nougat
- Tobler Truffles
- Limited edition, with personalizable box (2022)
2016 size changesEdit
In 2016, the 400g and 170g bars in the United Kingdom were modified to have two peaks removed and larger gaps between the peaks, which reduced the cost of making the bars by cutting the weight by about 10%, to 360g and 150g, while retaining the same package size and retail price. Other sizes were unaffected. The change was not well received,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with one MSP calling for "government action" by the Scottish Parliament over the change.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2018 the bar reverted to its original shape, and the 170g/150g bar was replaced by a 200g bar.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ManufacturingEdit
In the past it was manufactured in other locations including Bedford in England, and Dundee in Scotland from the 1930s up to 1969.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Producer Mondelez planned to start additional limited production from the end of 2023 in a Slovak factory<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> (known formerly as Figaro) in Bratislava. Swiss rules introduced in 2017 mandate that indicators of Swiss provenance such as packaging stating "Swiss" and showing images typical of Switzerland may not be used, so the bars will be labelled "created in Switzerland", and the image of the Swiss Matterhorn will be replaced by a "modernised and streamlined mountain logo that aligns with the geometric and triangular aesthetic".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In April 2025, Mondelez International announced an investment of approximately 65 million Swiss francs (CHF) in its Toblerone manufacturing facility in Bern, Switzerland.<ref>April 15th, Food Manufacturing Article: A state-of-the-art production line is scheduled to begin operations later this year</ref> The place serves as Toblerone's global center of excellence, where the heritage brand was founded in 1908 and where approximately 90 percent of Toblerone products sold worldwide are manufactured today. As a visual symbol of its proud Swiss heritage, Toblerone packaging for chocolates manufactured in Bern will now showcase the iconic Swiss flag. This emphasizes the product's authentic origin. <ref>April 10th, Business Wire: "Mondelēz International invests ~65 million Swiss Francs (CHF) in its Toblerone manufacturing facility in Switzerland"</ref>
Ingredients in a traditional Toblerone bar include sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, honey (3%), milk fat, almonds (1.6%), emulsifier (Soya Lecithin), egg white, flavouring, cocoa solids (28%) and milk solids (14%).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Similar productsEdit
By 1920, the Toblerone recipe already faced competition from other manufacturers, for instance from another Swiss manufacturer, Cailler, who launched the Chocmel tablet that year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Another comparable chocolate made in Switzerland (in this case both for the ingredients and shape) is Mahony, produced by Frey.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In July 2017, in response to Toblerone's 2016 reduction in size, UK variety store chain Poundland launched its own version of Toblerone called "Twin Peaks", which is larger than the modified Toblerone bar.<ref>Selwood, Daniel. "Poundland unveils Twin Peaks, a Toblerone-style chocolate bar," The Grocer, 19 June 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.</ref>
Cultural impactEdit
The distinct pyramidal shape of the bar lent its name to the Toblerone line, a series of anti-tank emplacements from World War II era, prevalent in Switzerland's border areas.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The interior of the Tobler factory in Switzerland was the location where the title sequence of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was filmed. However, the majority of the film was produced in West Germany.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
UK comedy character Alan Partridge battled a longstanding addiction to Toblerones, which became a running gag of his TV series.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 1995, it was revealed that the Swedish politician Mona Sahlin had misused her government-issued credit card for unauthorised purchases. Because she had bought, among many other more expensive items, two bars of Toblerone, pro-Sahlin journalists attempted to downplay her abuse of parliamentary financial privileges as the "Toblerone affair", but Sahlin was nevertheless forced to step down as a Prime Ministerial candidate. She returned to politics in 1998.<ref name=expressen>Template:Cite news</ref>
A triangular set of residences for students of the University of Manchester on the Oxford Road, Manchester, England, built in about 1975 are known as the Toblerones.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The largest-sized Toblerone in production<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is used as a running gag in the 2017 Netflix series Neo Yokio.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Association with air travelEdit
Toblerone has long been associated with air travel and duty-free retail. Food writer and cookbook author Irvin Lin wrote:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite podcast</ref>
It was something I associated with being a child, and that exclusivity of only getting it at the airport. Purchasing a Toblerone was very special for me. My friends’ families would go on vacation and they brought back this chic, European, long triangle-shaped chocolate. I never saw [Toblerones] at a grocery store. I thought you could only get it at the airport or when you were traveling and part of the jet set.
Mondelez has leaned into this perception with a number of marketing campaigns to further associate the brand with travel.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This includes the "Sense of Place" campaign in 2015, which involved limited edition travel destination-themed packaging<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the #TravelisBack campaign in 2022, targeting younger travelers with social media influencer collaborations.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2024 Toblerone’s ‘Win a Diamond’ concept tied perfectly with the iconic Toblerone shape, and slogans like “Diamonds are forever-ish” brought humor and style to the travelers’ experience.<ref>[1]</ref>
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
BibliographyEdit
- Schott, Ben (2003). Schott's Food & Drink Miscellany. London: Bloomsbury Template:ISBN
External linksEdit
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