Estonia confectionery business sold to Finnish company

Bill Lumley

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Confectionery supplier Kalev has been tipped for a future in duty-free after acquisition by Finnish food manufacturer

Finnish food manufacturer Felix Abba has acquired outright Estonian confectioner Kalev Chocolate Factory. Kalev was one of the few remaining businesses in Estonian ownership.

According to a source it has not made it into the duty-free channel so far because its manufacturing processes were “too erratic to supply international customers”. But it is predicted that the new owner will push for a presence in the duty-free market on ferry routes in the region.

Felix Abba is a subsidiary of Norweigan group Orkla. Orkla Foods Fenno-Baltic managing director Clas Göran Hagström said: “This acquisition is an important step in the expansion of our confectionery business, as it gives us good growth and value creation possibilities in the Estonian market and provides a platform for expanding confectionery in Finland and the Baltic region.”