When Karle XVI Kustaa celebrates his 50-year reign, chocolate confections specially created for the anniversary are served in the castle. Konvenhdit was made by one of about 130 court contractors.
STOCKHOLM The small chocolate shop Östermalm in Stockholm has an intoxicating aroma.
Owner and CEO of Ejes Choklad Linda Ardeback reveals that the scent comes from dark chocolate, which is currently being made into candies in the rooms at the back of the store. No outsiders are allowed there.
But you can enter the world of candies by tasting the delicacies in the showcases. Some are still made using the same recipes as a hundred years ago.
Right now is the most topical King Karle XVI Gustav A new confection created for the celebrations of the 50-year reign. The party will be celebrated tomorrow, Friday.
From the previous royal party creation ie Crown Princess Victoria the princess praline made for a wedding became an enduring favourite. Both are like chocolate heaven.
The family business led by Ardebäck is a royal court supplier. So it has a special relationship with Swedish royalty. Hovi makes purchases, but does not only commit to being a customer of its hovi purveyors. There can be several court suppliers from the same field.
Linda Ardebäck says that over the years the company has developed an understanding of the taste preferences of the royal family. The king’s new name card didn’t have to be developed for a long time, but the first version got the king’s approval. It has raspberry foam and salty licorice inside.
– First we did experiments ourselves here behind the scenes, then we ended up together and sent it to the court so that the king could have a taste. It was a complete hit at once! So this is what happens when you arrive from your king’s room, Ardebäck says with a laugh.
Ardebäck does not reveal how financially significant a customer Hovi is for the company.
In practice, purchases are made so that an order is called from the court, which is then picked up. Sometimes the court has special requests, but often Ardebäck and the staff get to put together a suitable mixture themselves. According to Ardebäck, the pretzels are generally the same that anyone can buy in the company’s only store.
According to Ardebäck, you can also run into members of the royal family in a chocolate shop, although nowadays less often than before.
The reputation is spreading around the country
A diploma signed by the king can be seen on the wall of the store as a sign of courtship. Right now, the store also has a letter of thanks sent by the king, in which he wishes good luck to the company that is celebrating its hundredth anniversary. In the letter, the king regrets not being able to attend the celebrations, which are a week after his own celebrations. A letter of thanks sent by the former ambassador of Japan is also on display.
Ardebäck admits that the relationship with the court makes it easier to make the company known.
– Hovihankkijuus is like a guarantee of quality for our products. We can put a small court procurement stamp on them, and the goods will sell almost by themselves. We are careful not to brag about being a court procurer. People apply to be customers because they are curious and want chocolate.
The king decides on court suppliers
Ardebäck’s company has been a court supplier since 1990. Standard are public. For example, one of the members of the royal family has had to buy products or services for years.
The company must be Swedish, its finances must be in order and the manager must live in Sweden. Hovi collects an annual administrative fee from companies for the title.
When the conditions are met, the company manager must fill out an application to become a court procurer. The decision is made by the king himself. He can also revoke the courtier title without giving reasons.
The appointment is personal, and Linda Ardebäck was nervous about how it would go when the company was transferred from her parents to her. It went well and a festive board was replaced on the wall of the store, which now has Linda Ardebäck’s name.
Court procurers is now about 130. They are mostly small or medium-sized Swedish companies. The list includes makers of design classics, but also manufacturers of everyday products.
Dagens Nyheterin according to the list, as a result of changes in ownership, there are even a couple of companies that were previously Swedish, and whose current parent companies still have connections to Russia despite the sanctions. According to Hov, the situation is complicated.
The topic can be discussed until Friday, September 15 at 11 pm.