Nidar

Nidar is a Norwegian confectionery company and brand based in Trondheim. It produces and distributes a broad range of chocolate, sugar confectionery, pastilles, marzipan and other sweets, while also distributing Wrigley chewing gum and confectionery products in the Norwegian market. The company is part of the Orkla Group and is one of the most established names in Norwegian sweets. The business was established in 1912 and developed through a combination of its own manufacturing history and the integration of older Norwegian confectionery traditions. During the consolidation of the Norwegian sweets industry in the 1970s, Nidar absorbed or combined operations associated with Kiellands Fabrikker A/S of Oslo, founded in 1891; Lorentz Erbe & Søn A/S of Trondheim, founded in 1899; and Bergene A/S of Oslo, founded in 1906. These links helped Nidar carry forward products, recipes and consumer traditions from several earlier confectionery businesses. Nidar's manufacturing base remains in Trondheim. Its portfolio spans everyday chocolate bars, count-line and sharing confectionery, liquorice products, seasonal marzipan, pastilles and snack products. Recognised brands and products include Stratos, Laban, Troika, Crispo, NERO, Smash!, Doc' Halslinser, New Energy, Bocca, Bamsemums, Smørbukk, Mokka Trøffel, Mokka Bønner, Nidar Julemarsipan, Krembanan and Kremtopper. Some products are positioned around distinctive textures or flavour combinations: Smash! pairs salted maize cones with milk chocolate, Troika combines raspberry jelly, truffle and marzipan under dark chocolate, and NERO combines liquorice-flavoured jelly with dark chocolate. The company also has a notable record of retaining traditional product formats. Krembanan, a chocolate-covered bar shaped like a banana, was first made in 1957 and continues to use the same basic visual form. Its filling combines gel and banana cream, and the product is packaged using an original machine that has remained in operation since its introduction. This continuity illustrates Nidar's combination of industrial production with heritage confectionery products. Nidar has historically been an important participant in the Norwegian sweets market. Reference material records sales exceeding NOK 1 billion in 2003, when the company had approximately 600 employees, and a reported Norwegian market share of 31.4 percent in January 2005. These figures are historical rather than current performance indicators. The company's wider history also includes ownership of the Joker Is ice-cream brand during the 1980s. Today, Nidar's role is principally that of an Orkla-owned Norwegian confectionery manufacturer and distributor, with its strongest presence in Norway and selected availability for products such as Smash! in other Nordic countries.

Nidar was established in 1912 in Norway and has remained associated with Trondheim, where its confectionery factory is located. Its history is connected to the broader development and consolidation of the Norwegian sweets industry. In the 1970s, the company went through acquisitions and mergers that brought together traditions and product histories from several earlier confectionery manufacturers. Among the predecessor businesses associated with Nidar were Kiellands Fabrikker A/S in Oslo, established in 1891; Lorentz Erbe & Søn A/S in Trondheim, established in 1899; and Bergene A/S in Oslo, established in 1906. The combination allowed Nidar to preserve and commercialise a wide range of Norwegian confectionery traditions while developing a larger manufacturing and distribution operation. Nidar's product history includes both chocolate and sugar confectionery. Krembanan was introduced in 1957 as a chocolate-covered, banana-shaped bar with gel and banana-cream layers. Its distinctive form has remained substantially unchanged, and the original packaging machine is reported to still be in use. Troika originated in 1939 under the name Geletrøffel and later became known as Troika, reflecting its three principal layers: raspberry jelly, truffle and marzipan beneath a dark-chocolate coating. The company expanded its market role beyond manufacturing. It distributed Wrigley chewing gum and other sweets in Norway and, during the 1980s, owned the Joker Is ice-cream brand. By 2003, reference material described Nidar as generating more than NOK 1 billion in sweets sales and employing approximately 600 people. A January 2005 reference reported a 31.4 percent market share in Norway. These historical figures indicate the scale Nidar had achieved in its domestic market, but they should not be treated as current financial or market data. Nidar is now part of the Orkla Group. Its continuing identity is built around a broad portfolio of Norwegian confectionery brands, manufacturing in Trondheim and distribution primarily in Norway, with selected products also sold in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. The company combines established products such as Stratos, Laban, Troika, NERO, Smash!, Krembanan and seasonal marzipan with the distribution of additional sweets and chewing gum products.

1. 2005Reported Norwegian market share

   A January 2005 reference reported that Nidar held a 31.4 percent share of the Norwegian confectionery market.

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2. 2003Historical sales milestone

   Reference material records Nidar selling more than NOK 1 billion in sweets during 2003 and employing approximately 600 people.

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3. 1980Joker Is ownership

   Nidar owned the Joker Is ice-cream brand during the 1980s.

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4. 1970Acquisitions and mergers reshape the business

   Nidar went through acquisitions and mergers during the 1970s, bringing together product traditions associated with several older Norwegian confectionery companies.

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5. 1957Krembanan introduced

   Nidar began producing Krembanan, a banana-shaped chocolate confection with gel and banana-cream layers. Its appearance and original packaging equipment have been retained.

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6. 1939Troika introduced as Geletrøffel

   The product later known as Troika was launched under the name Geletrøffel. Its three-layer construction became central to the product's identity.

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7. 1912Nidar established

   Nidar was established as a Norwegian confectionery business and developed its long-term manufacturing base in Trondheim.

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8. 1906Bergene established

   Bergene A/S was established in Oslo and later became another historical confectionery predecessor linked with Nidar.

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9. 1899Lorentz Erbe & Søn established

   Lorentz Erbe & Søn A/S was established in Trondheim and was later associated with the confectionery history incorporated into Nidar.

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10. 1891Kiellands Fabrikker established

    Kiellands Fabrikker A/S was established in Oslo and later became one of the older confectionery businesses whose traditions were carried forward through Nidar's subsequent industry consolidation.

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A long-established Norwegian confectionery house combining locally rooted production in Trondheim, familiar heritage products and a broad mass-market sweets portfolio under the Orkla Group.

• Smash!Chocolate snack

  Smash! consists of salted maize cones coated in milk chocolate. Its appeal comes from the contrast between salty, crisp corn pieces and sweet chocolate. The product is primarily associated with Norway but is also available in Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

• TroikaChocolate confectionery1939

  Troika is a layered confection covered in dark chocolate. It contains a top layer of soft raspberry jelly, a middle truffle layer and a bottom marzipan layer. The three-part construction explains the product name and distinguishes it within Nidar's chocolate portfolio.

• KrembananChocolate bar1957

  Krembanan is a 35-gram chocolate-covered bar shaped like a banana. It contains a layer of gel and a layer of banana cream. The product was introduced in 1957 and is notable for retaining its original banana-like appearance and for continuing to use the original packaging machine.

• NEROLiquorice chocolate confectionery

  NERO combines a liquorice-flavoured jelly with aniseed and fennel oil flavourings, covered by dark chocolate containing 45 percent cacao. It occupies the intersection of liquorice and chocolate within Nidar's confectionery range.

• StratosChocolate confectionery

  Stratos is one of Nidar's named chocolate brands. The available reference identifies it as part of the company's major portfolio but does not provide detailed product specifications or launch history.

• LabanSugar confectionery

  Laban is a Nidar confectionery brand included among the company's established sweets products. The available reference does not specify its full range, formulation or launch date.

• Doc' HalslinserPastilles

  Doc' Halslinser is a Nidar pastille range available with or without a liquid centre. It represents the company's presence in throat sweets and medicated-style confectionery products.

• Nidar JulemarsipanSeasonal marzipan

  Nidar Julemarsipan is a seasonal marzipan offering associated with Christmas consumption in Norway. It forms part of Nidar's marzipan and seasonal confectionery portfolio.

• BamsemumsChocolate confectionery

  Bamsemums is one of Nidar's established confectionery products. The supplied reference lists it among the company's brands but does not provide further formulation or historical detail.

• SmørbukkConfectionery

  Smørbukk is a traditional Nidar confectionery brand included in the company's Norwegian portfolio. Specific product composition and introduction date are not detailed in the available reference.

1. Nidar