History

Franck d.d. company was set up in 1892 in Zagreb as part of the German multinational »Heinrich Franck Söhne«. The name Franck has been kept until today. Until World War II, the principal activity was coffee supplements production, after that business concentrated on the production of coffee, tea, snack products, spices, powder products, bakery products, and other food additives. In more than 117 years of its existence, Franck successfully preserved its good image and position in the regional food industry.


In his personal notes, Johann Heinrich Franck wrote by hand: “1827: Erster Versuch der Fabrikation von Cichorie”, (1827: first efforts to industrially produce chicory). The first steps of the then 35-year-old Johann H. Franck to industrially process chicory into a coffee supplement are described in a simple and short manner.

His own signature (surname) has been used as the distinctive mark of Franck, which is a company with a well-known international business tradition. Johann H. Franck was a great visionary and his successors follow his path.

Upon his return from France, Johann H. Franck brought back a lot of interesting notes, observations, deliberations and knowledge. He kept notes of how French peasants roasted chicory roots when preparing a warm, aromatic and strong drink. Johann was very bright and he soon discovered that chicory could become an important strategic raw material. Johann H. Franck started this great business success story in Bavaria and then turned it from a family business into Franck’s global revolution.

Suburban areas of the growing town of Vaihingen were his point of departure for a journey which soon made him the most prominent person in Vaihingen. His fast transition from first shy steps to a worldwide success was a result of his obsession: he thought that if ordinary people were unable to afford a simple cup of coffee on a daily basis, then he, Johann H. Franck, would be the one who would enable them to do so. He transformed chicory into “a coffee for ordinary people”. Since the very beginning Johann knew he should not be satisfied with just any chicory, but only with noble chicory, botanically known as Cichorium intybus.

When Franck started to sell his products in Bavaria, it soon became apparent that buyers had long waited for such a product, since they were all fed up with the morning soup (Brennsuppe) or porridge. People started to indulge in a morning coffee and a gastronomical European revolution was born. Franck’s product was known among people as »Franck-Kaffee«. The competition was quick to copy Franck and his chicory coffee supplement, but the market clearly distinguished between »real Franck« and the competition.

The secret of chicory’s success is the substance known as inulin. Roasting frees inulin of sugar and a series of bitter aromas. After adding milk, Franck’s coffee became very similar to white coffee and was much less expensive than black coffee.

Johann H. Franck strived for continuous technological progress and invested heavily in technology. In 1853, he formally handed over his company to his oldest son Wihelm. It was a great joy for him to watch his sons transform the factory into a large business. Johann H. Franck died in 1867, leaving 14 children from 2 marriages.

Johann H. Franck’s sons inherited a good business and first and foremost the family name – Franck. This was both a great gift and responsibility.

Not before long, Vaihingen became too small for them and the family business moved to Ludwigsburg. In 1868 in Ludwigsburg, the Francks installed a steam engine, which produced energy for the factory. The sons strived for development and the use of contemporary technology. They wanted to cover a larger area, so in 1892 they build a factory in Zagreb, which was then an important development factor for the family. Three years later production in the US started. The biggest capital of the family was the very name – Franck.

Their business vision took Franck’s factory even through the toughest of times, such as world and civil wars. Until 1957, Franck did not produce anything else than coffee supplements. The middle class’s purchasing power soon increased and therefore Franck started to produce coffee. Today the name Franck stands for top-quality espresso and a wide variety of excellent coffees for households.

The main factory’s headquarters are in Zagreb and the company has preserved both the name Franck and its recognizable trademark – the coffee grinder.
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