Confectionery Factory "Kopernik"

TheConfectionery Factory "Kopernik"is a firm producinggingerbreadand other sweets, based inToruń, Poland. Its headquarters is located at 34Stanisława Żółkiewskiego streetin Toruń.Still operating today, it is the oldest confectionery company inPoland,established in 1763.
The gingerbread factory was founded in 1763 by Johann Weese (1731–1775). He was the son of Christina née Glaser and Gottfried Weese, a shopkeeper who settled in Toruń fromGdańskin 1728.
From April 1747 Johann learnt the trade of gingerbread baking from Melchior Friebe.After Friebe's death around 1760, Johann Weese married his widow Elżbieta née Lorentz. As a result of the marriage, he became the owner of Melchior's gingerbread factory. Elżbieta died around 1762 and bequeathed the estate to her husband and her daughter Dorota Elżbieta Mędzikowska (from her first marriage). On February 14, 1763, Johann Weese married Dorotha Schreiber, the widow of Johann Samuel Schreiber the younger, another gingerbread master, .
In 1763 Johann founded his own gingerbread workshop, located today at 5/9 Małe Garbary street in Toruń.
Johann Weese died on March 9, 1775, ofdropsy. His wife Dorotha ran the plant until her demise in 1796. At this time, the factory fell into the hands of her younger son, Andreas Michael Weese.
In the middle of the 19th century the Weese family owned several production plots in Toruń: at 9/11 Sadlarska street (currently 20 Królowej Jadwigi street), 3 Strumykowa and 5/9 Małe Garbary street.
In 1885 a thorough reconstruction of the factory at 4 Strumykowa street was launched.
The aging gingerbread workshops were transformed into a larger, modern factory by Johann's grandson, Gustav. In 1908-1913 he decided to build  a modern factory at Fritz-Reutersstrasse (currently Żółkiewskiego Street), where the entire production was eventually moved in 1914.Under Gustav's management, the plant increased its exports to countries like Turkey, China, Japan and Australia.
In 1908 the company was employing 105 workers.
In theinterwar periodover 200 employees worked in Weese's plant. In 1939, the company was purchased by the Polish CooperativeSpołem(Polish:Krajowy Związek Rewizyjny Spółdzielni Spożywców „Społem").The same year, gingerbread baked in old wooden molds from the Weese factory was presented at theNew York World's Fair.
DuringWorld War IIthe factory was destroyed and most of the equipment was stolen by the German occupying forces.
Rebuilt at the end of the conflict, the gingerbread plant was taken over by theConfectionery Industry Associationbased in Warsaw. In 1951, the factory was renamedGingerbread and Confectionery Factory "Kopernik"(Polish:Fabryka Pierników i Wyrobów Cukierniczych "Kopernik"), gathering all the employees who were working in Toruń in the different plants before WWII (Weese, Thomas Hermann, Jan Ruchniewocz...).
Throughout the entire PRL period "Kopernik" was the only producer of Toruń gingerbread in the country.
In 1991 the business was privatized and changed into ajoint-stock company,Fabryka Cukiernicza "Kopernik" SA. At that time, it was the first confectionery company in Poland to be privatized in the form of employee shareholding.
Since 2003 "Kopernik" Confectionery Factory has been the main sponsor of a campaign honoring famous Toruń residents, located on theGingerbread Alley of Stars in Toruń(Polish:Piernikowa Aleja Gwiazd w Toruniu) at theDwór Artus.Nowadays, "Kopernik" has around 250 personnel.
Toruńskie Gingerbread now reaches Great Britain thanks to a cooperation withTescoas well asMoroccoandTaiwanthroughAuchanselling network.
Since 2015, the 1885 former factory at 4 Strumykowa street, designed by Reinhard Uebrick, has been housing theToruń Gingerbread Museum, as a branch of theDistrict Museum in Toruń.
The Toruń-based professional basketball team is namedTwarde Pierniki Toruń(Hard Gingerbread Toruń).
Source:
The gingerbread recipe did not change since the 16th century.
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