Aroma's star Rose-Marie Björkman, supervisor and
production manager at the chocolate factory in Torshälla. Rose-Marie, also called Rosa, has worked in the factory for over 40 years and is more than a loyal employee, she also comes up with new flavors in Aroma's lab.
Tell us a little about yourself and how long you worked at Aroma?
I have worked 40 years in the factory but with different owners. It started with Vicks Halstabletter, which I worked with for 14 years, when the business was moved to Germany, the factory was completely empty for 1 year. In the meantime, I started Eskilstuna's first Dog Kindergarten, which was something completely different, but it was fun! After the daycare, I started at the factory again, but then it was called Göteborgs Food, then it was Sten's chocolate for a couple of years. In 2004 Aroma bought the factory and since then I have been there.
Pink
What is the best thing about working in a chocolate factory?
Working in a chocolate factory is wonderful in every way and you learn something new all the time. Chocolate gives energy, you know! Out on a trip never sad!
Are you a sweet tooth?
Candy rat?! Yes, I'm never sorry! Eating quite a lot actually because I check once an hour, so you'll understand. But I think that's just lovely 🙂
We have understood that you yourself are very innovative and have come up with a new type of candy at Aroma. What kind of candy is that?
Yes exactly. I have a lab that I cook and prepare samples in. Where I have produced a lot of candies of various kinds. The latest (and tastiest!) I've made is the coconut school. It is a better version of Bounty, I think.
But now we wonder who came up with the recipe for the peanut squares?
It was actually an old colleague who first made the Peanut Box here in the factory, then we have refined it so it should be the best on the market.
Tell us a little about today's process of creating the peanut squares in the factory in Torshälla. What are the different steps you go through?
The process is like this: First the batter has to be made and when it is ready it goes on to the mixer where peanuts are added. The finished batter is then pressed out and cut into pieces of a precise size. Then they are cooled down before the panes go to the so-called "chocolate coating" or as we sometimes say the chocolate shower. There it is important that the chocolate is at the right temperature, otherwise the chocolate will turn gray and we don't want that. Even though the gray is just as good as the brown, it doesn't look as fun. When all the pieces are ready, 2 kg are packed in each jar. Put on with lids and labels and then out to the warehouse.
Ready to be delivered!
How many squares are created per day in the factory?
On a good day, 229,000 peanut squares are produced.
