Facts about Wasa
ABOUT WASA FLATBREAD
Wasa is the world's largest producer of flatbread. The Swedes eat more flatbread than any other people in the world, almost 4 kilograms per capita. Wasa's largest markets outside Sweden are the other Scandinavian countries and Germany, closely followed by Poland, the Netherlands, France and the U.S. However, flatbread as a category exists almost everywhere.
THE ORGANIZATION
The head office is in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company has flatbread production facilities in Filipstad in Sweden, Celle in Germany and Hamar in Norway.
ROYAL SHEAF
The name Wasa has its roots in an old Swedish word, "vase," which means sheaf. Since the 14th century, the coat of arms of the first king of Sweden, Gustav Vasa, and his family has featured a stylized sheaf.
Gustav Vasa was sometimes called the "Rye King." No one knows exactly where the name comes from, but it may have its origins in the fact that the king demanded that his people pay their taxes in the form of rye, a valuable commodity at the time.
For many years, Wasa used a picture of the Rye King on its flatbread packaging. This was later replaced by a royal crown above the name. Today, the crown has evolved into a crown-sheaf that represents the origins of Wasa. It also lends a royal air to flatbread, something that is also reflected in the fact that the company has been appointed flatbread purveyor to His Majesty the King of Sweden.
