Kägi Söhne
Kägi Söhne is a Swiss confectionery producer best known for its chocolate-covered Kägi fret wafer bars.
Last updated August 27, 2026
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Overview
Kägi Söhne AG is a Swiss confectionery and chocolate producer headquartered in Lichtensteig in the Toggenburg region of the canton of St. Gallen. The company is best known for Kägi fret, a layered wafer specialty covered in milk chocolate and sold in several flavours and formats. Its products are associated with eastern Switzerland and are manufactured at the company’s Lichtensteig site. The business began in 1934 when Otto Kägi Sr. established a bakery in the Zum Hecht inn and pastry shop in Lichtensteig. Initially, he supplied pastries to restaurants and sold them directly to local customers, delivering products by bicycle. Kägi expanded into waffle production during the 1940s. This created the basis for a gradual move from manual production to mechanised manufacturing and broadened the company beyond its original bakery activities. A larger factory was acquired in 1950, when the business had approximately ten employees. In 1951, the company became an open trading company led by Otto Kägi Jr., Eugen Kägi and Alfred Kägi, the founder’s three sons. Chocolate-coated wafers were introduced in 1952, and production moved to a new building at the present Lichtensteig location in 1954. The company began exporting in 1956, initially sending products to the United States. The launch of Kägi fret in its modern form followed in 1958, after which exports became an increasingly important part of the business. Kägi began producing chocolate from raw cocoa beans in 1960. The company’s chocolate-making process uses large longitudinal conches to refine the chocolate. Kägi fret developed from an earlier wide wafer into the twin wafer bar format associated with the product today. Its structure consists of four wafer sheets joined by three layers of cream filling and enclosed in a chocolate coating. A specialised air-jet process gives the coating its characteristic rippled appearance. The recipe is described as having changed little over the product’s history. Kägi Söhne remained family-owned until 1996, when it was sold to Valora, a Swiss consumer-goods group and kiosk operator. The company underwent further ownership changes: it was transferred to the investment company Argos Soditic in 2008 and sold in 2010 to Swiss investment company WM15 Holding, which belongs to Burger Söhne Holding. The available reference material identifies Kägi Söhne as an active private company. In 2021, it was reported to employ about 140 people and to offer approximately 300 product variations. Kägi’s product portfolio extends beyond the flagship wafer bar. Variants of Kägi fret include dark chocolate, hazelnut, orange and coconut flavours, as well as different sizes, gift formats and a praline version. Kägi Toggenburger butter biscuits form another important specialty. In German-speaking markets, the flagship product continues to use the Kägi fret name. For part of its international history it was marketed as Toggi, before the Kägi name was adopted internationally from 2013. Exports have grown substantially over time. Germany and Austria became important neighbouring markets, while the Middle East, China and Japan also developed as export regions. Around 2018, foreign markets accounted for approximately half of company revenue, and by early 2022 products were being supplied to more than 30 countries. Kägi’s visual identity draws on the Toggenburg landscape, including the Churfirsten mountain range. Kägi fret also benefits from Swiss-origin positioning: the product meets the requirements of Swissness regulation and may display the Swiss cross on its packaging.
History
Kägi Söhne traces its origins to 1934, when Otto Kägi Sr. opened a bakery and pastry operation in the Zum Hecht inn and pastry shop in Lichtensteig, in Switzerland’s Toggenburg region. The early business supplied restaurants and sold pastries directly to local customers. Kägi personally delivered goods by bicycle, combining distribution with local promotion. The company entered waffle production in 1942. This became a decisive step in its development, as demand encouraged expansion and a transition from manual work to machine-supported production. A larger factory was acquired in 1950. At that point the company employed about ten people. In 1951, Otto Kägi Sr.’s sons Otto Jr., Eugen and Alfred assumed leadership after the business was reorganised as an open trading company. Chocolate coating was added to the wafers in 1952. Production moved to a new facility in Lichtensteig in 1954, at the site associated with the company today. The first overseas exports followed in 1956, beginning with a shipment to the United States. Kägi fret was introduced in its current general form in 1958. Its growing popularity helped exports become a significant contributor to the company’s business. In 1960, Kägi began making chocolate from raw cocoa beans rather than relying exclusively on purchased chocolate. The company used large longitudinal conches for refinement. The flagship product evolved from a single wide chocolate-coated wafer into the twin-bar format wrapped in aluminium foil. Its construction combines four wafer sheets with three cream layers and a chocolate coating whose rippled surface is produced through a specialised air-jet process. Otto Kägi Sr. died in 1965, after which his sons continued operating the company. Employment increased substantially: the company had approximately 120 employees in 1960, excluding seasonal workers. Kägi remained under family ownership until 1996, when it was sold to Valora, a Swiss consumer-goods group and kiosk operator. Further ownership changes followed. In 2008, Kägi was transferred to Argos Soditic, and in 2010 it was sold to WM15 Holding, a Swiss investment company belonging to Burger Söhne Holding. The company’s portfolio expanded around its wafer expertise. Kägi fret became available in classic and flavoured versions, including dark chocolate, hazelnut, orange and coconut, alongside different package sizes, snack formats, gift assortments and a praline variant. Kägi Toggenburger butter biscuits became another recognised specialty. The company also continued to manufacture chocolate and other confectionery products. International naming evolved over time. The Kägi fret name remained established in German-speaking markets, while the product was marketed internationally for a period as Toggi. From 2013, Kägi was used as the international product name. Export markets developed in Germany and Austria as well as in the Middle East, China and Japan. Around 2018, foreign markets represented about half of revenue, and by early 2022 products were supplied to more than 30 countries. Kägi’s identity remains strongly connected to its Swiss and Toggenburg origins. The company’s logo incorporates the Churfirsten mountain range, and its products qualify under Swissness requirements, allowing the Swiss cross to appear on packaging. In 2021, the company was described as employing around 140 people and offering roughly 300 product variations. The available material also records strong consumer recognition for Kägi fret, including a high position in a 2020 Swiss-brand trust survey and a 2014 distinction for the popularity of its Facebook page.
- 2013
International name changed to Kägi
[1]The product’s international marketing name shifted from Toggi to Kägi.
- 2010
Acquired by WM15 Holding
[1]WM15 Holding acquired the company; the holding company is associated with Burger Söhne Holding.
- 2008
Transferred to Argos Soditic
[1]Kägi was transferred to the investment company Argos Soditic.
- 1996
Family ownership ends
[1]The company was sold to Valora after remaining family-owned for most of its history.
- 1960
Chocolate production from cocoa beans begins
[1]Kägi began producing chocolate from raw cocoa beans and used longitudinal conches for refinement.
- 1958
Kägi fret launched
[1]The company introduced the product that became its signature chocolate-covered wafer bar.
- 1956
First overseas exports
[1]The company began exporting, initially sending products to the United States.
- 1954
Current Lichtensteig production site established
[1]Production moved to a new building at the company’s present location.
- 1952
Chocolate-coated wafers introduced
[1]Kägi began marketing its wafers with a chocolate coating.
- 1950
Larger factory acquired
[1]A larger factory building was acquired to support rising demand.
Products and positioning
A Swiss-origin confectionery brand centred on chocolate-covered wafers, regional identity, traditional recipes and export-oriented premium snacking.
Chocolate-covered wafer bar · 1958
Kägi fret
Kägi Söhne’s signature product is a layered wafer bar made from four wafer sheets joined by three layers of cream filling and covered in milk chocolate. Its rippled chocolate surface is created using air jets. The product is sold in classic and flavoured versions, including dark chocolate, hazelnut, orange and coconut, as well as multiple sizes and gift-oriented formats.
Butter biscuit
Kägi Toggenburger
Kägi Toggenburger is a butter-biscuit line and one of the company’s principal specialties alongside Kägi fret. It extends the brand’s offering beyond chocolate-coated wafers while retaining its Swiss and Toggenburg regional association.
Chocolate confectionery
Kägi pralines
The company also offers a praline version within its broader confectionery portfolio. The available reference material identifies pralines as a product format but does not provide further details about its launch or assortment.
Brand decisions
2013
Standardisation of the international product nameStrategyBackground
The flagship wafer was retained as Kägi fret in German-speaking markets but had previously been marketed internationally under the name Toggi.
Action taken
Kägi Söhne adopted Kägi as the international product name from 2013.
Aftermath
The change aligned international naming more closely with the company name and its established Swiss brand identity.
2010
Sale to WM15 HoldingM&ABackground
Following ownership by Valora and a 2008 transfer to Argos Soditic, Kägi entered another ownership transition.
Action taken
The company was sold to Swiss investment company WM15 Holding, associated with Burger Söhne Holding.
Aftermath
Kägi continued operating as a Swiss confectionery producer from Lichtensteig.
Recent events
- 2022
Kägi products expand their international distribution[1]
Other
Reference material states that Kägi products were being delivered to more than 30 countries by early 2022, following the development of export markets in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
- 2013
Kägi adopts the Kägi name for international marketing[1]
Other
After being marketed internationally for a period under the name Toggi, the flagship wafer product began using the Kägi name in international markets from 2013.
Sources1 sources
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