Schwermer Dietrich Stiel GmbH

Schwermer is a German confectionery brand with roots dating back to 1894, when confectioner Henry Schwermer founded a café in Königsberg, East Prussia. The café quickly gained fame for its confectionery, particularly Königsberger Marzipan, pralines, and Baumkuchen (tree cake). Henry Schwermer received a gold medal at the 1900 Paris World Exposition for his Baumkuchen creations. After his death in 1918, his daughter Charlotte Stiel took over the business. Following World War II, the family relocated to Bad Wörishofen in Bavaria, where they re-established the café and later, in 1968, a separate production facility for confectionery under the leadership of Dietrich Stiel. The company, known as Schwermer Dietrich Stiel GmbH, was run by the fourth generation, Peter Stiel, until his death in 2019. In 2017, ownership of the café and the confectionery production was separated. The confectionery production was acquired by Heidi Chocolat Suisse, part of the Austrian Meinl Group via the Romanian holding KEX Confectionery AG. A relaunch of the Schwermer brand followed in 2018, with new products and investments in the Bad Wörishofen production site. At its peak around 2019, the company employed about 100 people and exported to 37 countries. However, the new owner could not sustain the business, and production in Bad Wörishofen ceased at the end of 2020. The buildings were demolished and replaced by a residential area. The brand rights were sold to United Chocolate GmbH in Weißenfels, which continues the brand through Schwermer Confiserie GmbH. The café in Bad Wörishofen, operated by Café Schwermer GmbH & Co. KG, was permanently closed on October 17, 2024. Today, Schwermer products are still available, maintaining the tradition of quality confectionery.

The history of Schwermer begins in 1894, when confectioner Henry Schwermer, who had trained at Café Kranzler in Berlin, founded a café in Königsberg, East Prussia. The café soon specialized in confectionery, producing Königsberger Marzipan, pralines, and Baumkuchen. Henry Schwermer's Baumkuchen creations earned him a gold medal at the 1900 Paris World Exposition. After his death in 1918, his daughter Charlotte Stiel took over the business. Following World War II, the family had to leave Königsberg and relocated to Bad Wörishofen in Bavaria, where they re-established the café. In 1968, under the leadership of Charlotte's son Dietrich Stiel (born 1925), a separate production facility for confectionery was built in the Gartenstadt district of Bad Wörishofen. This facility was expanded multiple times, reaching about 15,000 m² before its demolition in 2022. The fourth generation, Peter Stiel (1949–2019), took over the management of the family business, which was then named Schwermer Dietrich Stiel GmbH. In early 2017, the ownership of the café and the confectionery production was separated. The confectionery production was acquired by Heidi Chocolat Suisse, a Swiss company belonging to the Austrian Meinl Group through the Romanian holding KEX Confectionery AG. In 2018, the Schwermer brand was relaunched with new products and investments in the Bad Wörishofen production site. By 2019, the company employed around 100 people and exported to 37 countries. However, the new owner failed to achieve lasting success. As no investor was found for the Bad Wörishofen site, production ceased at the end of 2020. The buildings were demolished and a residential area was built. The brand rights were sold to United Chocolate GmbH in Weißenfels, which continues the brand through Schwermer Confiserie GmbH. The café in Bad Wörishofen, operated by Café Schwermer GmbH & Co. KG, was permanently closed on October 17, 2024. Notably, Schwermer pralines were delivered to the Mir space station and were aboard the Space Shuttle.

• Henry Schwermer founded the company in Königsberg, East Prussia.

• Henry Schwermer received a gold medal at the Paris World Exposition for his Baumkuchen.

• After the founder's death, his daughter Charlotte Stiel took over the business.

• The family relocated to Bad Wörishofen after World War II.

• A separate production facility for confectionery was established in Bad Wörishofen under Dietrich Stiel.

• Ownership of café and confectionery production separated; production acquired by Heidi Chocolat Suisse.

• Relaunch of the Schwermer brand with new products and investment.

• About 100 employees; export to 37 countries.

• Production in Bad Wörishofen ceased at the end of the year.

• Production buildings in Bad Wörishofen demolished.

• Café Schwermer in Bad Wörishofen permanently closed.

Traditional German confectionery brand with a heritage of premium quality and craftsmanship.

• Königsberger Marzipan

  A traditional marzipan specialty from Königsberg.

• Baumkuchen

  A layered cake, for which Henry Schwermer won a gold medal in 1900.

• Pralines

  Assorted chocolate pralines, including those delivered to space missions.

1. 1Schwermer (Konfiserie) - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Schwermer Dietrich Stiel - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Argentaargenta-schoko.de
4. 4Geschichte – Argentaargenta-schoko.de