History of chocolate in Poland

== 1910s ==
== 1920s ==
It is difficult to provide an exhaustive list of chocolate brands in Poland in the 1920s, as many companies were small and local, and historical records may be incomplete. However, here are a few examples of chocolate brands that were active in Poland during this time:
# E. Wedel - founded in Warsaw in 1851, Wedel is one of the oldest and most famous Polish chocolate brands, known for its high-quality chocolate bars and pralines.
# Goplana - founded in Poznań in 1923, Goplana was one of the first Polish companies to produce chocolate bars and pralines on an industrial scale.
# Słodki Sklepik - a small, artisanal chocolate maker based in Kraków that was known for its handcrafted chocolate bars and pralines.
# Krakowska Manufaktura Czekolady - another Kraków-based chocolate maker that was active in the 1920s, known for its high-quality chocolate bars and pralines.
# Chocolaterie Lui - a boutique chocolate maker based in Warsaw that specialized in creating custom chocolate gifts for special occasions.
# Chocolaterie Ch. Belle - another boutique chocolate maker based in Warsaw that was known for its premium chocolate bars and truffles.
# Chocolaterie de Cusance - a French chocolate maker that established a presence in Poland in the early 1920s, known for its high-quality chocolate bars and pralines.
== 1930s ==
Chocolate production in Poland in the 1930s was not very widespread and the choice of brands was relatively limited compared to today. However, some of the chocolate brands that were available in Poland in the 1930s include:
# E. Wedel - This is a Polish brand of chocolate that was founded in 1851 by Karol Ernest Wedel. The brand is known for producing high-quality chocolate and is still popular in Poland today.
# Goplana - This is another Polish brand of chocolate that was founded in 1923. The brand is known for producing a variety of chocolates, including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and pralines.
# Cailler - This is a Swiss brand of chocolate that was introduced to Poland in the 1930s. The brand is known for producing high-quality chocolate with a rich and creamy taste.
# Suchard - This is another Swiss brand of chocolate that was available in Poland in the 1930s. The brand is known for producing a variety of chocolates, including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and pralines.
# Lindt - This is a Swiss brand of chocolate that was introduced to Poland in the 1930s. The brand is known for producing high-quality chocolate with a smooth and creamy texture.
It's worth noting that chocolate was considered a luxury item in Poland in the 1930s and was not widely consumed by the general population.
== 1940s ==
== 1950s ==
In the 1950s, Poland was under communist rule and the economy was centrally planned. As a result, the availability of goods, including chocolate, was limited and the variety of brands was much smaller than what we see today. Nevertheless, some of the chocolate brands that were available in Poland in the 1950s included:
# Wedel - one of the oldest and most popular chocolate brands in Poland, founded in 1851 by Karol Wedel.
# Goplana - a chocolate brand founded in 1923, known for its pralines and chocolate bars.
# Czekolada - a chocolate brand that was popular in the 1950s and 1960s, known for its solid chocolate bars and pralines.
# E. Wedel - a subsidiary of the Wedel brand, which produced various types of chocolate, including bars, pralines, and chocolate-covered fruits.
# Goplavita - a brand that produced chocolate bars, wafers, and pralines.
# Pergal - a brand that produced chocolate bars and pralines.
# Odra - a brand that produced chocolate bars, wafers, and pralines.
== 1960s ==
In the 1960s, some popular chocolate brands in Poland were:
# E. Wedel - a chocolate company founded in 1851, which is still one of the most well-known chocolate brands in Poland.
# Goplana - a chocolate company founded in 1923, which produced a variety of chocolates and confectionery.
# Solidarność - a chocolate bar introduced in the 1960s that was made with a higher cocoa content and was advertised as a healthy alternative to other chocolate bars.
# Michałki - a popular Polish candy made with a peanut filling and chocolate coating.
# Pawełek - a chocolate wafer bar that was produced in a few different flavors, including chocolate and vanilla.
== 1970s ==
Some popular chocolate brands in Poland in the 1970s included:
# Wedel
# E. Wedel
# Goplana
# Solidarność
# Jutrzenka
# Delicje
# Amorini
# Michałki
# Prince Polo
# Wawel.
== 1980s ==
Some popular chocolate brands in Poland in the 1980s include:
# E. Wedel - Founded in 1851, it is one of the oldest chocolate brands in Poland and was very popular in the 1980s.
# Wawel - A brand founded in 1898, known for its high-quality chocolate products.
# Milka - A Swiss brand that gained popularity in Poland in the 1980s.
# Mars - A popular international chocolate brand that was also available in Poland in the 1980s.
# Prince Polo - A Polish brand of chocolate wafer bars that was first introduced in 1955 and remained popular in the 1980s.
# Goplana - A brand that dates back to 1923, and is still popular in Poland today.
# Kukułka - A brand that originated in Krakow and produces chocolate with a bird design on the wrapper. It has been in production since the 1950s and was also popular in the 1980s.
# Pawełek - A brand that was created in 1960s, and became popular in the 1980s, especially among children, due to its unique packaging and character designs.
It is important to note that the availability and popularity of specific chocolate brands in Poland during the 1980s may have varied based on factors such as location, socioeconomic status, and access to imported goods.
== 1990s ==
In the 1990s, after the fall of communism and the transition to a market economy, Poland saw an influx of foreign chocolate brands, as well as the emergence of several local brands. Some of the popular chocolate brands in Poland in the 1990s include:
# Wedel: Wedel is a well-known Polish chocolate brand, founded in 1851. It offers a wide range of chocolate products, including chocolate bars, pralines, and hot chocolate.
# Milka: Milka is a Swiss chocolate brand that is popular in Poland. Its signature purple packaging and Alpine cow mascot are recognizable to many.
# Cadbury: Cadbury is a British chocolate brand that is also popular in Poland. Its Dairy Milk chocolate bars are particularly well-known.
# Nestle: Nestle is a Swiss food and beverage company that produces a variety of chocolate products, including KitKat and Smarties.
# Lindt: Lindt is a Swiss chocolate brand that is known for its high-quality chocolate bars and truffles.
# Toblerone: Toblerone is a Swiss chocolate brand that is famous for its triangular-shaped chocolate bars, which are made with honey and almond nougat.
# Ferrero Rocher: Ferrero Rocher is an Italian chocolate brand that produces chocolate-covered hazelnut balls, which are often given as gifts.
# Guylian: Guylian is a Belgian chocolate brand that is known for its seashell-shaped chocolate pralines.
# Mars: Mars is an American chocolate brand that is known for its candy bars, including Snickers and Milky Way.
These are just a few of the many chocolate brands that were popular in Poland in the 1990s.
== 2000s ==
In the 2000s, some popular chocolate brands in Poland included:
# Wedel
# Milka
# Lindt
# Toblerone
# Nestle
# Cadbury
# Ferrero Rocher
# Kinder
# Mars
# Snickers
There were also many local Polish chocolate brands, such as Goplana, Wawel, and E. Wedel.
== 2010s ==
In the 2010s, there were many chocolate brands available in Poland, some of the most popular ones were:
# Wedel - a Polish chocolate brand known for its classic milk chocolate bars, as well as a variety of other chocolate products.
# Milka - a Swiss chocolate brand that is very popular in Poland and known for its smooth and creamy chocolate.
# Lindt - a Swiss chocolate brand that produces high-quality chocolate bars and truffles.
# Nestle - a Swiss multinational company that produces a wide variety of chocolate products, including KitKat and Smarties.
# Cadbury - a British chocolate brand that is popular in Poland for its Dairy Milk chocolate bars and other products.
# Ferrero Rocher - an Italian brand known for its hazelnut chocolate balls.
# Toblerone - a Swiss chocolate brand that is known for its unique triangular shape and variety of flavors.
# Ritter Sport - a German chocolate brand known for its square-shaped chocolate bars in a variety of flavors.
# Bounty - a chocolate brand owned by Mars, known for its coconut-filled chocolate bars.
# Snickers - a chocolate bar owned by Mars, known for its combination of peanuts, caramel, and nougat covered in milk chocolate.
== 2020s ==
Some popular chocolate brands in Poland in 2020-2021 include:
# Wedel: This is one of the oldest and most well-known chocolate brands in Poland. It was founded in 1851 by Karol Wedel and is now owned by the Lotte Group.
# Wawel: Wawel is another popular Polish chocolate brand that has been in operation since 1898. They offer a wide range of chocolates and other sweets, including pralines, bars, and truffles.
# Milka: Although Milka is a Swiss brand, it is also very popular in Poland. They are known for their smooth, creamy milk chocolate, as well as their creative and colorful packaging.
# Lindt: Lindt is another Swiss chocolate brand that is popular in Poland. They offer a wide range of chocolates, including truffles, bars, and pralines.
# Nestle: Nestle is a multinational food and beverage company that offers a wide range of chocolate products, including KitKat, Smarties, and Crunch.
# Cadbury: Cadbury is a British chocolate brand that is also popular in Poland. They offer a wide range of chocolates, including Dairy Milk, Flake, and Crunchie.
These are just a few examples, and there are many other chocolate brands available in Poland as well.