Malaco

Malaco is a Swedish confectionery brand owned by Cloetta. Its origins date to 1934, when the Danish company Lagerman established a confectionery business in Malmö under the name Malmö Lakrits Compani. The brand name Malaco was formed from the initial letters of that original name. Although the business began with a Nordic focus, it developed a substantial export business to the United States from the 1950s and later expanded its distribution across additional European and international markets. Malaco has traditionally been associated with licorice, fruit-flavoured pastilles, hard candies, jelly sweets, and mixed confectionery. Its portfolio includes products such as Brio, Fruxo, Pim Pim, Swedish Fish, Djungelvrål, Gott & Blandat, and Malaco Crazy Face. Some of these products are particularly connected with Swedish and Scandinavian candy culture, while Swedish Fish became an internationally recognized product through distribution in the United States and other markets. The brand's range spans both strongly regional products, including salty licorice, and more broadly accessible fruit and gummy formats. The company originally operated from Lundavägen in Malmö. In 1948, production moved to a newly built facility on Norbergsgatan in the Sofielund industrial district. Malaco later added a factory in Slagelse, Denmark, in 1968. That Danish site closed in 2011. The Malmö factory ceased production in April 2001, after which the location was used for storage rather than manufacturing. Consequently, Malaco's historical identity is closely linked to Malmö even though production has since taken place elsewhere. Malaco's ownership changed several times as the Nordic confectionery industry consolidated. In 1988, the business was acquired by the Marabou Group. Marabou became part of Freia Marabou A/S in 1990, and that organization was purchased by Kraft General Foods in 1993. Malaco was sold to the Dutch food group CSM in 1997. Following CSM's acquisition of the Finnish confectionery business Leaf, the businesses were combined as MalacoLeaf AB. After another ownership change in March 2005, MalacoLeaf was renamed Leaf. Cloetta acquired Leaf in 2011, bringing Malaco into the Cloetta group. Today, Malaco functions as a confectionery brand within Cloetta rather than as an independent publicly listed company. Its market identity combines Swedish heritage, recognizable Scandinavian candy formats, and distribution beyond the Nordic region. The brand remains especially associated with licorice and fruit confectionery, while its wider product family supports everyday impulse purchases, pick-and-mix traditions, and packaged candy consumption.

Malaco was established in Malmö in 1934 by the Danish company Lagerman. Its original name was Malmö Lakrits Compani, a name that reflected the company's location and its early emphasis on licorice. Malaco was derived from the initial letters of that name. The enterprise initially served the Nordic market, building its identity around confectionery products suited to Scandinavian tastes, including licorice, fruit sweets, pastilles, and other candy formats. The business first operated from Lundavägen 17 in Malmö. In 1948, it moved to a purpose-built factory on Norbergsgatan in the Sofielund industrial district. This relocation provided a larger manufacturing base as the company developed its product range and distribution. Although sales began primarily in the Nordic countries, Malaco also established substantial exports to the United States from the 1950s. That international connection became especially important for products associated with Swedish candy traditions, including the product later known internationally as Swedish Fish. Malaco expanded its physical production footprint in 1968 by opening a factory in Slagelse, Denmark. The Danish facility formed part of the company's broader Nordic manufacturing network and remained associated with Malaco until its closure in 2011. Production in Malmö ended earlier, in April 2001. After that point, the Malmö site no longer manufactured candy and was used only for storage, marking the end of Malaco's historical production in its founding city. The brand became part of a series of larger food and confectionery groups during a period of consolidation. In 1988, Malaco was acquired by the Marabou Group. Marabou became part of Freia Marabou A/S in 1990, and Freia Marabou was purchased by Kraft General Foods in 1993. Malaco changed hands again in 1997, when it was sold to the Dutch food group CSM. CSM subsequently acquired the Finnish confectionery business Leaf, which had origins in businesses including Ahlgrens. The two operations were combined under the name MalacoLeaf AB. Following a change in ownership in March 2005, MalacoLeaf was renamed Leaf. The Leaf business was acquired by Cloetta in 2011, transferring Malaco into Cloetta's confectionery portfolio. Within Cloetta, Malaco continued as a brand rather than an independent corporate entity. Its assortment includes Brio, Fruxo, Pim Pim, Swedish Fish, Djungelvrål, Gott & Blandat, and Malaco Crazy Face, alongside other licorice, fruit, gummy, jelly, and hard-candy products. The brand's present identity therefore combines a Malmö-origin story with manufacturing and commercial operations managed within a larger international confectionery group. It remains sold in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, the United States, Israel, the Netherlands, and other markets.

• 2011

  Cloetta acquires Leaf

  [1]Malacoen.wikipedia.org

  Cloetta acquires Leaf, bringing Malaco into the Cloetta brand portfolio. The Slagelse factory also closes during 2011.

• 2005

  MalacoLeaf is renamed Leaf

  [1]Malacoen.wikipedia.org

  After a change of ownership in March, MalacoLeaf AB adopts the name Leaf.

• 2001

  Malmö manufacturing ends

  [1]Malacoen.wikipedia.org

  Production at the Malmö factory stops in April. The site is subsequently used for storage.

• 1997

  Malaco is sold to CSM

  [1]Malacoen.wikipedia.org

  The Dutch food group CSM acquires Malaco from its previous owner.

• 1993

  Freia Marabou is purchased by Kraft General Foods

  [1]Malacoen.wikipedia.org

  Kraft General Foods acquires Freia Marabou A/S, indirectly placing Malaco within the Kraft organization.

• 1990

  Marabou becomes part of Freia Marabou

  [1]Malacoen.wikipedia.org

  The Marabou Group becomes part of Freia Marabou A/S, under which Malaco continues as a confectionery business.

• 1988

  Acquisition by the Marabou Group

  [1]Malacoen.wikipedia.org

  Malaco is acquired by the Marabou Group, beginning a succession of ownership changes within larger food businesses.

• 1968

  Danish factory opens in Slagelse

  [1]Malacoen.wikipedia.org

  Malaco adds a production facility in Slagelse, Denmark.

• 1950

  Exports to the United States expand

  [1]Malacoen.wikipedia.org

  From the 1950s, Malaco develops extensive exports to the United States in addition to its Nordic sales.

• 1948

  Operations move to Sofielund

  [1]Malacoen.wikipedia.org

  Malaco moves from Lundavägen to a newly built factory on Norbergsgatan in Malmö's Sofielund industrial area.

• 1934

  Malaco is established in Malmö

  [1]Malacoen.wikipedia.org

  The Danish company Lagerman establishes Malmö Lakrits Compani in Malmö. The Malaco name is derived from the initial letters of the original company name.

An accessible, heritage-oriented Scandinavian confectionery brand centered on licorice, fruit candy, gummies, and traditional Swedish sweets.

• Fruit and hard confectionery

  Brio

  Brio is one of the named products in Malaco's confectionery portfolio. It represents the brand's traditional packaged-candy offering and sits alongside fruit pastilles, licorice, and other small-format sweets sold through Nordic and international channels.

• Fruit confectionery

  Fruxo

  Fruxo is a Malaco fruit-candy product associated with the brand's long-running range of approachable, fruit-flavoured sweets. It forms part of the portfolio that complements Malaco's more distinctive licorice products.

• Fruit gummy candy

  Pim Pim

  Pim Pim is a fruit-oriented gummy confectionery product in the Malaco range. Its soft candy format broadens the brand beyond hard sweets and licorice, fitting the everyday Scandinavian confectionery market.

• Gummy candy

  Swedish Fish

  Swedish Fish is a fish-shaped gummy candy associated with Swedish confectionery and distributed internationally, particularly in the United States. It is among Malaco's best-known products outside the Nordic region and illustrates the brand's long-standing export reach.

• Salty licorice

  Djungelvrål

  Djungelvrål is a strongly flavored salty-licorice product associated with Swedish candy culture. It represents Malaco's traditional licorice specialization and its appeal to consumers who prefer intense, savory-salty confectionery profiles.

• Assorted confectionery

  Gott & Blandat

  Gott & Blandat is an assorted-candy offering that brings several confectionery textures and flavors together in one product. It reflects Malaco's position in mixed candy and supports the Scandinavian tradition of varied, shareable sweets.

• Gummy and novelty candy

  Malaco Crazy Face

  Malaco Crazy Face is a novelty-oriented confectionery product in the brand's broader candy portfolio. Its playful format complements Malaco's established fruit, gummy, licorice, and mixed-candy lines.

• 2011

  Cloetta acquires LeafM&A

  Background

  Leaf owned and operated the Malaco brand after the earlier MalacoLeaf integration and renaming.

  Action taken

  Cloetta acquired Leaf, including its confectionery brands and Malaco.

  Aftermath

  Malaco became part of Cloetta's brand portfolio and continued under the Cloetta group.

  Source

• 2005

  MalacoLeaf adopts the Leaf nameStrategy

  Background

  Malaco and the Finnish confectionery business Leaf had been combined under the MalacoLeaf AB name following CSM's acquisition of Leaf.

  Action taken

  After a change of ownership in March 2005, MalacoLeaf AB was renamed Leaf.

  Aftermath

  Malaco continued as a consumer-facing brand within the renamed Leaf business.

  Source

• 2001

  End of manufacturing in MalmöStrategy

  Background

  Malaco had historical manufacturing roots in Malmö, but the Malmö factory was no longer used for production after April 2001.

  Action taken

  Production was stopped at the Malmö facility, which was retained for storage.

  Aftermath

  Malaco's founding city remained important to its heritage and identity, but no further manufacturing took place there.

  Source

1. 1Malacoen.wikipedia.org