Bergene
Bergene was a Norwegian chocolate and confectionery producer founded in Oslo in 1906.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Bergene, formally associated with A. Bergene Chokoladefabrik, was a Norwegian producer of chocolate, confectionery and related food products. Anders Bergene established the factory in Oslo in 1906 after taking over premises in Københavngata that had previously been used by Olaf Larsens Chokoladefabrik, later known as ASOLA. The business initially employed about 40 people and faced technical difficulties with steam-powered machinery. Because chocolate manufacture was particularly vulnerable to equipment breakdowns, the company relied heavily on sweets and other confectionery products during its early period. Bergene recruited specialist expertise from Germany, bringing professionals connected with Berlin's Sarotti chocolate factory into the Norwegian operation. The company also opened a retail shop at Karl Johans gate 18. Anders Bergene was skeptical of advertising and placed greater emphasis on product quality and word-of-mouth reputation. Over time, the company developed a broad portfolio that reportedly reached more than 500 products. Its long-running slogan, “Altid no' godt fra Bergene,” presented the company as a dependable source of appealing everyday treats. Several products became associated with the Bergene name. Gullbrød was introduced in 1915 and used bitter almond to create a marzipan-like flavor. Mokkabønner followed in 1917, Vaniljepraliner in 1920, and Kremtopper in 1961. The company also produced the caramel Smørbukk, whose recipe was acquired by Alf Bergene during a 1925 trip to Germany and placed into production in 1935. In addition to sweets and chocolate, Bergene made products such as block-form spinach and pea soup, reflecting the wider food-manufacturing role that confectionery factories could assume during periods of scarcity. Anders Bergene transferred control to his son Alf in 1919. Under Alf, horse-drawn distribution was replaced by electric vans, while former stables and carriage sheds were adapted for production. The company experienced major supply disruptions during both World War I and World War II. During the First World War, the loss of a cacao shipment after a vessel from England was torpedoed contributed to a halt in chocolate production and layoffs. During the Second World War, shortages led Bergene to work with farmers in Vestfold to grow sugar beet for emergency confectionery. The company also made the alginate-based dessert jelly Aroma, which had to be consumed shortly after production because it could liquefy. The factory's wartime output was also affected by political conditions: according to the available historical account, Bergene's chocolate production was allocated to the Frontkjemper office. The company's labor history included severe working conditions, including long shifts, low wages, mandatory overtime and limited workplace benefits. Workers were subject to end-of-day checks intended to prevent theft, and factory-floor employees were treated as socially subordinate to office staff. These details form an important part of the company's industrial history, although the available reference does not provide a full labor-relations chronology. In 1955, the third generation, brothers Anders and Gunnar Bergene, assumed control. They pursued a large redevelopment of the Oslo site and successfully pressured the municipality to permit a high-rise factory building despite planning concerns related to a proposed green corridor. The building was completed in 1967 and became a prominent physical symbol of the company. Bergene later expanded into Sweden under the Bergene Dragé name. The company joined with Nidar of Trondheim in 1980 and operated for a period as Nidar-Bergene. In 1987, Nora Industrier, a company within the Orkla group, acquired the business. Nidar became the continuing company name, and in 1990 all production was transferred from Oslo to Trondheim. Bergene therefore ceased to operate as an independent production brand, leaving the former Oslo factory nameplate as one of the principal physical reminders of its existence.
History
Bergene began in Oslo in 1906 when colonial trader Anders Bergene took over factory premises in Københavngata after Olaf Larsens Chokoladefabrik had moved away. The new operation started with approximately 40 employees. Early chocolate production was hampered by unreliable steam engines and frequent machinery repairs, so sweets became an important commercial support. Anders recruited two specialists from Berlin's Sarotti factory, while Norwegian confectionery expertise was also represented in the workforce. A shop on Karl Johans gate gave the company a direct retail presence. The founder favored product quality and personal recommendation over extensive advertising. Bergene subsequently developed a large assortment, eventually producing more than 500 different products. Its slogan, “Altid no' godt fra Bergene,” reinforced an image of reliable, varied and accessible food products. The portfolio included chocolate, filled sweets, pralines, caramels, dragées and some non-confectionery products. Gullbrød appeared in 1915, Mokkabønner in 1917 and Vaniljepraliner in 1920. In 1919, Anders transferred the company to his son Alf. Alf modernized distribution by replacing horses and carts with electric vans and converted stables and carriage sheds into manufacturing space. He acquired the recipe for the caramel Smørbukk during a 1925 trip to Germany; after adaptation for the business, it entered production in 1935. The company continued to face supply problems during wartime. In World War I, the loss of a cacao shipment after a ship was torpedoed caused chocolate production to stop and workers to be laid off. During World War II, shortages of imported raw materials encouraged the company to develop emergency products using domestic resources. Farmers in Vestfold grew sugar beet for confectionery, while the alginate dessert jelly Aroma was made in a form that deteriorated quickly after production. The available account also states that Bergene's chocolate production went to the Frontkjemper office. The firm's labor conditions were harsh by modern standards. Reported practices included very long working days, low pay, compulsory overtime, an absence of ordinary holidays and lunch breaks, and a strict separation between office and factory workers. Employees were also subject to searches for suspected theft. These conditions illustrate the industrial environment in which Bergene operated, but the supplied historical source does not establish a separate corporate scandal or legal proceeding. Brothers Anders and Gunnar Bergene took over in 1955. They sought permission to construct a high-rise between Københavngata and Fagerheimgata. The proposal conflicted with Oslo's planned green corridor, but the brothers threatened to move production to Trondheim if approval was withheld. The municipality ultimately accepted the project, partly to preserve employment, and the new building was completed in 1967. Bergene expanded into Sweden during the 1970s as Bergene Dragé. In 1980, it combined with Nidar and for several years used the Nidar-Bergene name. Nora Industrier acquired the business in 1987. Nidar then became the principal company identity, and in 1990 manufacturing moved entirely to Trondheim. Bergene ceased to exist as an independent producer, while its Oslo factory building and nameplate remained as material traces of the former company.
- 1990
Production transferred to Trondheim
[1]All production left Oslo and moved to Trondheim, ending Bergene's independent manufacturing presence.
- 1987
Acquisition by Nora Industrier
[1]Nora Industrier, part of Orkla, acquired Bergene.
- 1980
Combination with Nidar
[1]Bergene joined with Nidar in Trondheim and operated for several years as Nidar-Bergene.
- 1970
Swedish expansion
[1]During the 1970s, the company established itself in Sweden under the Bergene Dragé name.
- 1967
New Oslo high-rise factory completed
[1]A new high-rise factory building was completed at the Oslo site after a dispute with municipal planning authorities.
- 1961
Kremtopper introduced
[1]Bergene added Kremtopper to its established confectionery portfolio.
- 1955
Third generation assumes control
[1]Brothers Anders and Gunnar Bergene took over the company.
- 1935
Smørbukk enters production
[1]After acquiring the recipe in Germany in 1925, Bergene began producing the Smørbukk caramel.
- 1920
Vaniljepraliner introduced
[1]Bergene launched Vaniljepraliner as part of its growing chocolate and confectionery assortment.
- 1919
Alf Bergene takes over
[1]Founder Anders Bergene handed control of the business to his son Alf.
Products and positioning
A broad Norwegian confectionery and food producer associated with traditional chocolate, sweets and long-established household products. Bergene combined mass-market confectionery with seasonal and functional food products, and built recognition through product variety, retail presence and a quality-oriented, word-of-mouth reputation.
Chocolate and marzipan confectionery · 1915
Gullbrød
Introduced in 1915, Gullbrød was distinguished by the use of bitter almond, which gave the product its characteristic marzipan-like flavor. It became one of the historically notable products associated with the Bergene assortment.
Chocolate confectionery · 1917
Mokkabønner
Mokkabønner was introduced in 1917 as part of Bergene's expanding range of chocolate and sweet products. It was among the products that helped establish the company's long-term portfolio during the early twentieth century.
Pralines · 1920
Vaniljepraliner
Launched in 1920, Vaniljepraliner represented Bergene's filled and flavored confectionery work. The product formed part of an assortment that eventually included hundreds of different chocolate and sweet offerings.
Caramel · 1935
Smørbukk
Smørbukk was a caramel whose recipe Alf Bergene obtained during a 1925 trip to Germany. Bergene brought the product into production in 1935, making it one of the company's important traditional caramel lines.
Chocolate confectionery · 1961
Kremtopper
Introduced in 1961, Kremtopper was part of Bergene's later twentieth-century confectionery range. The available reference identifies its launch but does not provide detailed information about its formulation or packaging.
Dessert jelly
Aroma
Aroma was an alginate-based dessert jelly developed during wartime material shortages. Because of its formulation, it had to be eaten soon after production or it would lose its structure and melt into a liquid.
Food products
Emergency confectionery
During the Second World War, Bergene produced emergency confectionery using sugar beet grown by farmers in Vestfold. The line reflected the company's adaptation to shortages of imported cacao and other raw materials.
Brand decisions
1990
Transfer all production to TrondheimStrategyBackground
Following the Nidar combination and Nora Industrier acquisition, the business was reorganized around the Trondheim operation.
Action taken
All manufacturing was moved from the historic Oslo factory to Trondheim.
Aftermath
Bergene ceased to function as an independent producer, while the Oslo building's nameplate remained as a physical trace of the company.
1987
Acquisition by Nora IndustrierM&ABackground
After its combination with Nidar, Bergene became part of a larger Norwegian industrial structure.
Action taken
Nora Industrier, part of Orkla, acquired the company.
Aftermath
Nidar became the continuing company name, and Bergene's separate corporate identity was progressively absorbed.
1980
Combine with NidarM&ABackground
Bergene and Nidar were brought together as part of a consolidation of Norwegian confectionery production.
Action taken
The combined operation used the Nidar-Bergene name for several years.
Aftermath
The combination preceded the later acquisition by Nora Industrier and the eventual discontinuation of Bergene as the operating company name.
1967
Build a high-rise factory in OsloStrategyBackground
The third-generation owners wanted to construct a large building between Københavngata and Fagerheimgata. The proposal conflicted with Oslo planning for a green corridor.
Action taken
Anders and Gunnar Bergene pressed the municipality to approve the project, warning that production could be moved to Trondheim if permission was refused. The high-rise was completed in 1967.
Aftermath
The building preserved the Oslo manufacturing site and became a prominent reminder of Bergene's industrial presence.
Recent events
- 1990
Production moves from Oslo to Trondheim[1]
Other
All Bergene production was transferred to Trondheim, ending manufacturing at the company's historic Oslo site.
- 1987
Nora Industrier acquires Bergene[1]
M&A
Nora Industrier, associated with the Orkla group, acquired Bergene. Nidar subsequently became the continuing company name.
- 1980
Bergene joins with Nidar[1]
M&A
Bergene combined with Nidar in Trondheim and operated for a period under the Nidar-Bergene name.
Sources1 sources
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