Argenta Schokoladenfabrik
or the incredible story a chocolate legend

The "Argenta Schokoladenfabrik AG" Wernigerode as it was initially called was founded on 3rd July 1935. It emerged from the Burgmühlen Schokoladenfabrik Wernigerode, which was owned by Rudolph Karstadt AG and the West German Kaufhof AG.

Like many others in the East, the business was expropriated and initially continued as VEB Süßwaren Wernigerode. Later, the business returns to the old company name Argenta.

According to the strategy of the economic planners, the production of chocolate should be stopped, and the plant should be converted into a tobacco factory. It has already been agreed which company of the chocolate industry should take over which products. Also, workers have been trained in a band tobacco factory for some time and the necessary machines worth 5 million Mark are already standing on the factory grounds as courageous employees travel to the competent minister in Berlin and prevent the change at the last minute.

Despite many economic problems, the chocolate makers at Argenta manage to bring new products of outstanding quality onto the market again and again. The products are very popular, although they are not always easy to get. Who does not know the legendary "Brockensplitter" or the "Harzer Tröpfchen", the "Puffreisschokolade" or the "Blätterkrokant", the "Mokkabohnen" or the "Chokis”. By the way, the “Brockensplitter” was established long before "Argenta". Only then it was called "Harzer Sahne Granit Splitter” and was produced by the company Maul`s Kakao- und Schokoladenfabrik Wernigerode.

After the German re-unification "Argenta" was shut down. Wholesalers do not accept the ordered goods, although the shops keep requesting the products. Rescue comes with "Friedel Süßwaren" and "Argenta Schokoladenfabrik” becomes "Friedel Süßwaren”, the production is completely changed over to the assortment of "Friedel Süßwaren”. But in spring 2002 also "Friedel Süßwaren" was not able to keep the business running any more.

The traditional brand “Argenta” comes successfully to the market again with nougat cones and “Brockensplitter”. Since 2004, production has started at the new production facilities in Weißenfels in Saxony-Anhalt.