The 1970’s, the decade of sweets

A well-known Finnish singer, the avant-garde A.M. Numminen, sang in the 1970’s something like: “Eat sweets only on Saturday Sweet Day, never on any other day”.

The Finnish people were crazy about sweets and consumption increased to almost seven kilos per year and per person.

The 1970’s was the so called “Kekkonen period” (Urho Kekkonen being President of the Republic). Economical tower blocks of concrete were built in the cities. The majority of the Finnish people now lived in apartments which, at long last, had running water, toilet and bathroom. The homes were furnished and decorated with wall-to-wall carpets, velvet couches and bold patterns.

The population of the post-war period wore shirts by Marimekko, wide trouser legs, bushy sideburns and flowery scarves.

The 70’s was a period of prosperity for Brunberg. Production increased and profitability was good, in spite of the state’s campaigning against the consumption of sugar.

The state’s campaigning was, however, successful, and the sweets consumption fell from 7 kilos in the beginning of the 70’s to 5 kilos.

The increase in excise duty was a new challenge; it lessened the demand for sweets and increased the unit costs of the factory.

However, the successful years and the growth meant that the business had outgrown the premises from the 60’s and in 1977-1978 Brunberg built a new production hall on the adjacent plot, Mestaritie 17.