Győr, Korányi Frigyes Square 1.

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Street view:

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Koestlin Lajos and Partners Co. Ltd. began operating in this location in 1900, and 13 years later it employed a thousand people.

The August 25, 1900 issue of the Győri Hírlap reported on the opening of the factory, which began operating immediately after obtaining the industrial license:

"The biscuit factory, which has not been operating for years, has been taken over by the famous Koestlin company and has been in operation for days now. The huge machines arrived in six wagons, with which they make the tastiest of cakes. The factory is preparing hard for the September exhibition, where they will show the public that they deserve their patronage."

Koestlin Lajos

The workers' quarters of the Koestlin factory built in 1911

Did you know that...

The novel-like details of settling in Győr and founding a company

The Back factory in Győr was recommended to Koestlin by the traveling salesman Diamant Emánuel. The factory site, which was already out of operation at the time but had excellent potential, changed hands after negotiations lasting more than two years (1898–99). Since the purchase price received for the Bregenz factory proved insufficient to purchase it, Koestlin was forced to enter into a partnership.

Accepting the offer of his accountant, one of his co-capitalists became the Viennese industrial tycoon, Gusztáv Heller and his wife. The third member of the company, which was transformed from a family business into a public limited company, was Emanuel Diamant, who had found the premises necessary for the relocation. With his “lottery” jackpot, the new company already had enough money to properly equip the starting plant.

The Albert story

Albert biscuits are undoubtedly the oldest Hungarian confectionery product still in existence today, and have been produced by Győri Keksz Kft. and its legal predecessors since 1912. At that time, Koestlin purchased the most modern biscuit production equipment of its time from England, and with it the recipes and manufacturing rights for several products (Albert, Sire-Sire, etc.).

Did you know that...

Where did the Albert biscuit get its name?

The Albert biscuit was named after Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert.

Among the factory history relics, the oldest recipe books date back to the time of the Monarchy and were written in German.

Of interest are the English and Zsigmond Heller versions of Albert pasta from 1912. The raw materials used are fundamentally different from today's, despite the fact that the composition is nearly identical.

In recent decades, several changes can be traced in recipes, which are basically the result of technical and technological developments.

During the four years of World War I , the factory, as the leading factory in Hungary, achieved unprecedented turnover to meet the needs of the military and the general public. During this period, the main products produced were biscuits, waffles, cvibak, military biscuits, and later saccharin.

The graphics of Koestlin packaging were largely adapted to wartime conditions.

Following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy on March 21, 1919, Koestlin – like all factories employing more than 20 workers – became the property of the workers' councils. The nationalization did not cause any significant changes in the factory's production.

Koestlin products were known throughout Europe

Due to the company's serious financial situation, the board of directors of Koestlin Lajos és Társai Rt. leased the company to a syndicate jointly established by the Pesti Magyar Kereskedelmi Bank Rt. and the Leipziger Vilmos Szesz és Cukorgyár Rt. in 1945. The company's name was changed to Koestlin Bérlő Rt.

Koestlin Bérlő Rt. was nationalized in 1947 .

The Győr Biscuit and Wafer Factory was founded.

A significant milestone in the history of the outstandingly performing Koestlin factory is the founding charter issued by the Minister of Light Industry on May 23, 1950, in which the company was registered under the name “Győri Keksz- és Ostyagyár Nemzeti Vállalat” instead of the previous form of a joint-stock company. István Fürst held the position of director of the new company.

Biscuit packaging in the 1950s

On January 1, 1963, the Economic Committee's resolution merged the six confectionery companies and two factories operating at the time into one large corporation, as well as establishing a trust for dozens of companies operating in the same profile.

The Győr Biscuit and Wafer Factory became the 4th factory of the Hungarian Confectionery Industry.

The Balaton slice has been produced by the Győr Biscuit and Waffle Factory since the 1970s.

With the dissolution of the Hungarian Confectionery Company in 1981, a new chapter began in the history of the Győr Biscuit and Waffle Factory, which regained its independence.

The chocolate Teddy Bear bar was one of the successful products of the 1980s

Special privatization

In the 1980s, Hungary moved towards a liberalized market economy. The Győr Biscuit and Cookie Factory, as the Hungarian company with the best development and economic results in the sector, managed its privatization itself, and the winning company was the English United Biscuits.

The new company was registered by the County Court of Companies on April 12, 1991 under the name Győri Keksz Kft.