Manufacturer of biscuits and long-life baked goods, including organic and Fairtrade pastries, in Lutherstadt Wittenberg since 1906
Wikana Keks und Nahrungsmittel GmbH
Lutherstadt Wittenberg (Dessauer Str. 8)New on Amplifa
About Wikana
Wikana Keks und Nahrungsmittel GmbH produces biscuits and long-life baked goods in Lutherstadt Wittenberg. Founded in 1906 as Kant Chokoladenfabrik AG, the company today mainly produces crisp biscuits, sandwich biscuits, Speculaas and seasonal pastries, including classics such as the Othello biscuit and the round butter biscuit embossed with the Luther rose. Since 2001, biscuits made from certified organic ingredients have also been produced; in 2013, half of revenue came from the organic segment. Since 2008, Wikana has also offered Fairtrade pastries. Biscuit production reached a capacity of 5,000 tonnes per year in 2013 with 120 varieties (as of 2014). The products are supplied to German retail and exported to 14 countries, including Denmark, France, Croatia, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and Bulgaria. The Dessauer Straße 8 site houses production, administration and, since 2018, the Wikana Kekswelt with factory outlet store and café.
- Site
- Lutherstadt Wittenberg
- Processes
- Product development (3–4 new products per year), Organic biscuit production, Fairtrade pastries, Factory outlet store, Café, Online shop
- Materials
- Organic biscuits from certified organic farming, Fairtrade pastries, RSPO-certified palm oil
- Certificates
- Organic labelling DE-ÖKO-001, DE-ÖKO-001 (organic labelling)
- Founded
- 1906
- Employees
- 120 (as of 2014)
- Industries
- Confectionery, Long-life baked goods, Organic food
Ingredients & Raw Materials
Organic biscuits from certified organic farming
Since 2001, biscuits made from organically grown ingredients have been produced, labelled in accordance with DE-ÖKO-001.
Fairtrade pastries
Since 2008, Wikana has produced Fairtrade pastries whose raw materials improve the working and living conditions of producer families.
RSPO-certified palm oil
RSPO-certified palm oil is used in several products such as Othello Keks and Wikinger sandwich biscuits.
Site
Lutherstadt Wittenberg
DEAdministration, production, factory outlet store and café (Wikana Kekswelt)
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Additional services
Quality & Certification
Organic products are labelled in accordance with DE-ÖKO-001 (EU/non-EU agriculture). Vegetal products such as the Othello biscuit are vegan and use RSPO-certified palm oil.
| Evidence | Lutherstadt Wittenberg |
|---|---|
| DE-ÖKO-001 (organic labelling) |
History
- 1906
Foundation of Kant Chokoladenfabrik AG in Wittenberg (chocolate and cocoa products).
- 1939–1945
Production halted because the main raw material, cocoa, could no longer be transported from Hamburg to Wittenberg via the Elbe.
- 1945
Start of food production under the company name Kant (artificial honey, rolled oats, coffee substitute, pasta).
- 1950
Takeover of the product range of the company Nadena-Auerbach; start of long-life baked goods production.
- 1953
Nationalisation as VEB Süßwarenfabrik Nadena Kant.
- 1954
Origin of the name WIKANA (WIttenberg-KAnt-NAdena).
- 1970
Reorientation towards pure long-life baked goods production.
- 1990
Renamed Wikana Süß- und Dauerbackwaren GmbH.
- 1992
Liquidation by the Treuhandanstalt; privatisation as Wikana Keksfabrik with 20 employees and €0.5 million revenue.
- 1997
Renamed Wikana Keks und Nahrungsmittel GmbH; biscuit production 3,500 t/year.
- 2001
Start of organic biscuit production.
- 2006
100th anniversary; revenue €8 million.
- 2008
Introduction of Fairtrade pastries.
- 2011
Awarded Company of the Year Saxony-Anhalt (East German Savings Banks Association).
- 2013
Biscuit production increased to 5,000 t/year; half of revenue in the organic segment.
- 2014
Revenue €16.6 million, 120 employees, 120 varieties.
- 2018
Bio Regional Prize for two products; opening of the Wikana Kekswelt (factory outlet store & café).
- 2021
Introduction of the new Unterwegskeks product line.
- 2026
120th anniversary.