Ahlgrens

Ahlgrens was a Swedish confectionery company. It was started by Fredrik Ahlgren in the town of Gävle in 1885 as a store that sold paint and wallpaper. They later introduced various chemicals, perfumes and other products, which they made and sold. In 1908, a brand of mouthwash called Läkerol was introduced. The next year, pastilles started to be sold with the same name, and are still sold in multiple countries in several variants. 

In 1993, the Finnish company Huhtamäki bought Ahlgrens. Every Ahlgrens product was rebranded to Leaf except for Ahlgrens bilar.

Ahlgrens bilar (Swedish for "Ahlgren's Cars") is the best known Ahlgrens product. They are small car-shaped marshmallows, and have been sold since 1953. They are marketed as 'Sveriges mest köpta bil' (Swedish for "Sweden's most bought car"), which could be correct by number of cars. Ahlgrens bilar are so popular in Sweden that some stores catering for Swedish tourists and residents in other countries sell them.

Other vehicle and road-related products are sold under the Ahlgrens bilar brand, including liquorice car tyres, travel trailers and sour road signs. Of the sour road signs, German tourists are known to specifically enjoy the elk warning signs.

Other websites
Ahlgrens bilar  (in Swedish, Danish and Norwegian)

Category:1880s establishments in Sweden
Category:1885 establishments in Europe
Category:1990s disestablishments in Sweden
Category:1993 disestablishments
Category:Food companies of Europe
Category:Companies of Sweden
Category:Candy