Carambar & Co is a French confectionery group formed in 2016 when a consortium led by Eurazeo reorganized several established brands into a single company. The group brings together well-known names such as Carambar, Kréma, La Pie Qui Chante, Vichy Pastilles, Chocolat Poulain, Chocolat Suchard, and Terry’s, and operates across five French factories to consolidate production in France.
Key points about Carambar & Co:
- Brands and portfolio: Carambar (the eponymous caramel bar), Kréma (fruit bonbons and gum), La Pie qui Chante (Michoko caramels), Vichy Pastilles, Chocolat Poulain, Chocolat Suchard (origin of Milka), and Terry’s (famous for Terry’s Chocolate Orange) are part of the group. This mix gives Carambar & Co a broad confectionery footprint in both traditional French sweets and iconic international references.
- French manufacturing shift: Since 2018, all Carambar & Co products have been manufactured in France, consolidating production across its five sites in Blois, Strasbourg, Vichy, Marcq-en-Barœul, and Saint-Genest-d’Ambière. This move represented a significant reshaping of the company’s supply chain from prior European-focused production.
- Global and market position: The merged entity is described as a heavyweight in the French confectionery market, with tens of millions in annual turnover and a substantial workforce. Stakeholder profiles include Katjes International, which holds a notable minority stake.
- Corporate history: The lineage traces back to Carambar, originally a French caramel candy brand created in the 1950s, which became part of a broader corporate story under Eurazeo and Mondelēz (Cadbury ownership era). The 2016 consolidation under Carambar & Co marked a new phase focusing on French brands and local manufacturing.
If you’re looking for specifics such as current product lines, factory locations, or ownership details, I can pull the latest snapshots and summarize them. Additionally, I can compare Carambar & Co to other confectionery groups in Europe or map the brands to their product categories.
