History



Before 1753

The Basler Läckerli originated in the 17th century. At first the Läckerli were produced by private households. The Basel familes earned a small additonal salary by selling their fine Läckerli to other inhabitants, commercial travelers and the rare tourists, much to the displeasure of the bakery guild. The bakery guild wanted to regulate the trade and tried unsuccessfully to transfer the responsibility of Läckerli production to the bakers in town. In 1716, the City Council declared Leckerly production to be a free profession and, from 1720, allowed anyone to manufactur Leckerli.

As a result, the first Läckerli manufactories emerged in Basel.

1753

The first documentary evidence of the company dates back to the 17th century, when a coffee house with a Leckerly production was operated by Daniel Mitz (1648 - 1705) and his heirs at Schneidergasse 20.

In its present form, the company was founded in 1753 and operated under the name "Steiger'sches Kaffeehaus" as from 1783.

1753 Das süsse Basel
1783 Protokolle_Kleiner_Rat_ 156

1783

The mayor and council of Basel confirm the permission of the loyal citizen JJ Steiger-Bruckner (1736 - 1813) to run a coffee house at Schneidergasse 20. After that our company develops into a chocolatier and Leckerli manufacturer.

1803

More than 200 years ago, our company was already advertising Basler Leckerli, which were still called Lebküchlein back then. The oldest advertisement known today dates back to 1799. The advertisement on this pictures was published in 1803. As a result, the first Leckerli manufactories emerged in Basel.

1803 Zeitung Kopie
1826 Adressbuch

1826

The former address book named 5 Leckerli manufacturers in Basel, one of them being Jakob's Basler Leckerly - then known as Steiger'sches Kaffeehaus. By 1921, that number had risen to 15 manufacturers. Today Jakob's Basler Leckerly is the only historical Leckerly manufactory still in existence.

1844

Middle of the 19th century the wanderlust makes a splash. The Basler Leckerly were shipped worldwide and were a real export hit. At that time, Jakob's Basler Leckerly was the most important Leckerly manufacturer in Basel. Already in the first edition of 1844, the Swiss travel guide Baedecker higly recommended Steiger's Basler Leckerly (as our company was then called) as a souvenir from Basel.

1844-baedeker-schweiz-1844-kopie@2x

1877

Steiger's Basler Leckerly wins the Basler Ehrenpreis for its exceptional product quality.

1895

Wittwe Lydia Braun Schuhmacher, an heiress of the Steiger family, sells the company to Wilhelm Jakob-Kemmler (1852-1909), which is renamed J.J. Steiger sel. Heirs, W. Jakob-Kemmler.

1909 Karl Jakob v2

1909

After the early death of Wilhelm Jakob, Karl Jakob (1877-1941) takes over the company. He grew up in St. Johanns-Vorstadt, completed an apprenticeship as a baker in his father's store and took it over after his father's death. Through diligence and business acumen, Karl Jakob brought the business to its best. Karl Jakob was the president of the E. Zunft zu Brotbecken from 1937 until his death and was a well-known and popular personality, especially in Basel and Swiss singing circles. The new name is now Karl Jakob Nachf. by JJ Steiger sel. Heirs.

1938

Foundation of the Limited stock company Karl Jakob Nachf. by JJ Steiger sel. Erben AG. From now on, the name Jakob's Basler Leckerly is used in everyday business.

1938 Aktien 2
Heinrich Spielmann I

1942

After the death of Karl Jakob, Heinrich Spillmann (1911-1979) continued to run the company until 1973. Heinrich Spillmann built the present production facility at St. Johanns-Vorstadt 47 after World War II.

1973

Spillmann is succeeded by longtime baker Hans Strobel (1932-2005) and his partner Inge Kiefer.

Strobel Familien Wappen
2016 Basel Landschftliche Zeitung 2016 v2

2016

In a blind study by the Basellandschaftliche Zeitung voted Jakob's Basler Leckerly as the best Leckerli in town.

2017

The Basel family Andreas & Charlotte Kuster takes over the company and continues it as a traditional family business.

The motto is to rely on the tried and tested and give the company a breath of fresh air. The goal is to regain the company's original level of recognition.

Andreas Kuster, Charlotte Kuster von der Jakobs Basler Läckerli Manufaktur in Basel 19.07.2017 Foto Florian Bärtschiger
718

2018

Jakob's Basler Leckerly wins the CHF 10,000 Young Entrepreneur Award of Northwestern Switzerland. An award to the Andreas & Charlotte Kuster, who have successfully continued the traditional family business dating back to the 18th century since 2017 and have made it flourish again.

The company prevailed against around 30 competitors.

2020

The Lällekönig tin box won the 2020 Audience Award by the Swiss Packaging Institute SVI. The can was also a finalist for the best packages in the Marketing and Design category. Jakob's Basler Leckerly developed this tin box together with the tin box manufacturer Andreas Kopp AG.

In addition, a new city store will open at Spalenberg 26 in Basel.

351_4
neue Abpackerei

2022

Expansion and enlargement of the manufactory with new shipping and packing department.