The Sowa Company is a family-run patisserie firm created in 1946, in Bydgoszcz, Poland. In May 2022, the enterprise had 160 shops and selling points in Poland, Germany (Berlin) and England (London).[1]
At the time, the political regime was far from being propitious to such a venture. Not only all enterprises with more than 50 employees were nationalized,[4] but also the post-war communist economic system hindered private initiatives. In addition, raw materials were scarce and the workforce limited.
The post-war period and the growing communist rule turned out to be very unfavorable for taking up self-employment business. Stanisława Sowa remembered in an interview: Supply standards were then so low that we had to buy precious flour or sugar in a store, and because such purchases were subject to numerous restrictions, we combined all kinds of ways. Everyone helped: family, friends, and sometimes even complete strangers, kind people. [...] that was something![1] Like other bakers in the city, the success stemmed from their selling fresh bread which was not available everywhere, just after the war.[3]
The bakery operated so efficiently that Feliks and Stanisława hired in 1952 their first employees: one at the production plant, the other at the selling point. Soon, however, it appeared they were short in workforce, regarding the fast growing load of daily duties: students were hired together with the first apprentice.[2]
In the early 1960s, Feliks Sowa graduated with a degree as "Confectionery Master". Then, based on traditional family recipes, he created his first, unique cake: a sponge cake filled with fruit jam and covered with thick, milk chocolate. It soon proved to be a best seller as it singled out from the then industrial company cakes stuffed with a lot of very sweet cream.[1]
As recalled Stanisława Sowa (1921–2021),[5]We were very lucky. We had a relatively little activity. The state allowed it, because strategic hopes were placed in us, small but resilient producers. As a result, we were a bit protected since at that time most of private initiatives were either closed immediately or taken over by the authorities. Their thinking was simple: if, in the event of a nationwide armed threat, a large centralized plant was destroyed, the damage would have been considerable and far-reaching, whereas small bakeries scattered around the country provided a much greater security. Such tensions stemmed from the post-tensions lasted for a very long time.
The activity was kept at low level. In 1973, for instance, Sowa's offer was very limited with only 5 types of cakes and a scarce variety of bread. The main rationale was the necessity to get permits from the authorities for every operations. Furthermore, the PRL's economic market and its narrow offer made it almost impossible to buy the appropriate flavors required for a vast range of recipes.
In 1982, Adam Sowa, Feliks and Stanisława's younger son, left his studies in construction and joined the family business. A year later, he got his Master of Confectionery's diploma, following his father's footsteps.[2]
The success of the products in conjunction with the word of mouth in the city prompted the opening in 1988 of the first store, detached from the factory. This new selling point was located downtown, near the Zbożowy Rynek (Grain Market).[6]
Cukiernia i Piekarnia Adam Sowa (from 1989)
Adam Sowa and his wife Małgorzata set up in 1989 a new company.[7] The firm, named Cukiernia i Piekarnia Adam Sowa (Adam Sowa Confectionery and Bakery), had a distinctive logo in the shape of an owl. The nature of the latter is based on the family name, Sowa, which means owl in Polish. In 2006, this symbol was re-branded with a warm chocolate-brown colour.
In parallel with the economic transition of Poland, the company grew and employed more and more personnel while expanding the panel of its products. Hence in 1991, the first Adam Sowa Café was unveiled on Dworcowa Street.[8]
Sowa restaurant, 4 Mostowa, by night
At the end of 1997, to cope with the accrued success, it was decided to plan for the construction of a larger production plant. A plot in the south east area of Bydgoszcz, on Józef Schulz street, was then purchased. The modern factory was opened a year later: today it houses also the company's headquarters.[2]
The new production capacities allow for the launch of additional sale points and cafés, not only located in Bydgoszcz, but also in Toruń and inside shopping centers, all exhibiting characteristic company visual marketings.
In 2003, the first Sowa Restaurant was unveiled, at the heart of Bydgoszcz, on Mostowa Street. Still operative today, it displays the "Sowa design" and comprises a wine bar. The original menu proposes international cuisine with a home-made Polish accent.[8]
In addition to Polish openings, the first international restaurant was inaugurated in 2005, in London on High Street. Four years later, a dine-in patisserie was unveiled in Berlin on Westfälische Strasse. At the same time, the first point in Warsaw opened: in 2022, the company had 22 selling points in the Polish capital.[9]
Cukiernia i Piekarnia Adam Sowa celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its initial foundation in 2006. A year later, the firm took up an impressive challenge: to re-construct an entire block at the corner of Mostowa and Grodzka streets, with its pre-war features.[10] The project was completed in 2009 and comprised a restaurant, a bistro, a cafe and a fashionable night club. [11]
Adam Sowa unveiled in 2007 a plaque with its signature in "Bydgoszcz's Autograph Avenue", Długa street.[7]
Adam Sowa's signature plaque on Długa street
In 2008, Adam Sowa issued its own brand of chocolate, which original recipe was created in Paris. A year later, Sowa launched its coffee, "Sowa Coffè", made from 100% selected blend of the finest Arabica from the regions of South and Central America.
As soon as 2010, Adam's children joined the company, reinforcing its family tradition: Aleksandra, a Confectionery Master, on the creative side and Michał in sales and marketing.[2]
On 19 January 2014, Sowa won third place at the "Coppa del Mondo della Gelateria" (World Ice-cream Championships) in Rimini, Italy. Furthermore, the team consisting of Aleksandra Sowa, Paweł Małecki, Michał Doroszkiewicz, Maciej Pięta and Mariusz Buritta was honored with a special award in the best ice-cream sculpture category.
On 20 June 2018, the company opened its 160th point of sale in Radom, Poland.
In 2019, Sowa have signed an agreement to set up a confectionery class at the "Branżowa Szkoła I Stopnia Rzemiosła i Przedsiębiorczości w Bydgoszczy" (Vocational School No1 of Craft and Entrepreneurship in Bydgoszcz), teaching students how to bake delicacies using proven family recipes.
Jownia Woszczyńska, who works with Paweł Małecki at the Sowa confectionery, won in 2019 the first prize at the World Confectioners' Championship in Italy, organized by "Federazione Italiana di Pasticceria, Gelateria e Cioccolateria".
In 2022, more than 160 Sowa selling points are open in more than 60 cities in Poland and in Europe. Its main plant in Bydgoszcz employ over a thousand personnel.[8]
Restaurants, flats and hotel
"Rezydencja Sowa" in Bydgoszcz
In 2022, three "Sowa Restauracja" have been operating: two in Bydgoszcz and one in Toruń.[12]
The company has been offering apartments for renting:
in Toruń, at 4 Staromiejska street. The building is a historic tenement house, which used to be site of the Royal Pharmacy since 1389;[13]
in historic downtown Gdańsk, at 13–15 Długa street;[14]
In Bydgoszcz, "Rezydencja Sowa", a hotel, opened at 12 Grodzka street in 2022. The premises along the Brda river, dating from 1549, are located in the former city baths. They have been thoroughly restored in 2020–2022.[16]
Commemorations and Social actions
In 2018, the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, as part of the 100th anniversary of Polish Independence (Sto Firm na stulecie – 100 firms for 100 years), included the "Cukiernia Sowa" in a list of 100 Polish companies, iconic of the nation together with other entreprises like E. Wedel, Inglot Cosmetics, Wawel, Platige Image or Comarch.[17]
In 2021, Sowa company was rated as the "most-recommended brand in Poland" by the firm YouGov, ahead of other famous brands such as Allegro or 4F.[8]
The same year, on 14 December, Stanisława Sowa died, aged 100.[18][19]
Furthermore, it helps the Polish branch of Sue Ryder Association and every year, the company prepares Christmas packages for children and sponsors concerts for children.[7]
Tenement Freedom Square 1 is an historic house of Bydgoszcz. It is often displayed on postcards as one of the turn of the century iconic building in Bydgoszcz. The architect, Józef Święcicki, is also the builder of the "Pod Orłem" hotel, the oldest hotel in downtown Bydgoszcz. The building is located on the east side of Gdańska Street, on the corner of Plac Wolności.
Grodzka Street is a historical street in Old Town of Bydgoszcz, Poland. The street is located in the northern part of the Old Town: it stretches along Brda River waterfront, following an east-west axis. The street starts at the intersection with Bernardyńska street and ends at Tadeusz Malczewski street's crossing. Its length is approximately 430 m. The Grodzka Street was laid out in mid-14th century, when Bydgoszcz became a charter city. Grodzka Street buildings vary greatly one from the other, beginning with the three historic granaries from late 18th century, to the all-glass similar-shape modern mBank in Bydgoszcz, which became an icon of Polish architecture.
Podwale street is a historic path of Bydgoszcz old town.
Długa Street is the longest street of Old Town district in Bydgoszcz and the most important historically. It stands next to Gdańska Street and Dworcowa Street as one of the most important avenues of downtown Bydgoszcz.
Pomorska Street is an important street in downtown Bydgoszcz.
The Gasworks building in Bydgoszcz, Poland, is a historical edifice built between 1859 and 1860. It has also been known as the Bydgoszcz District Gas Plant and as Pomeranian Gas Company, Branch Gas Plant of Bydgoszcz. In 2003, it became part of the Polska Spółka Gazownictwa, as a branch called Gas Plant in Bydgoszcz.
Jezuicka Street is a street located in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Many of its buildings are either registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, or part of Bydgoszcz local history.
Staszica and Paderewskiego streets are located in downtown district, in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Many of the buildings along this axis are either registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, or part of a historical ensemble of Eclectic and Art Nouveau architecture in Bydgoszcz.
Bydgoszcz Old Market square is an oblong place, situated in the old town district of the city of Bydgoszcz. The City Hall flanks one of its side, and nearby is located St. Martin and St. Nicholas Cathedral.
Andrzej Jan Szwalbe (1923-2002) was a Polish lawyer, social and cultural activist and manager of the musical life in Bydgoszcz. He was the originator and creator of numerous artistic projects outside the region. In 1993, he has been designated as "Honorary Citizen of Bydgoszcz". He was awarded the highest state orders for his contribution to Polish culture.
Doktora Emila Warmińskiego street is an old street of the Bydgoszcz centre. Many buildings along this path carry historical interest in the framework of the development of the city.
Witold Stanisław Kazimierz Bełza was a Polish librarian, writer, publicist and cultural activist. He was the director of the Provincial and Municipal Public Library of Bydgoszcz from 1920 to 1939 and from 1945 to 1952.
Emil Warmiński was a Polish physician, social and national activist and founder of the Polish House in Bydgoszcz.
The Pomeranian Leather Factory "Kobra" is a former shoe producing company based in Bydgoszcz. The firm was one of the largest in Poland in its domain. It went bankrupt in 1992. Starting with felt shoes, the company then manufactured leather footwear, mainly for men and for uniformed services; it provided as well production and repair services for the leather industry.
Jan Biziel (1858-1934) was a German and Polish physician, social activist, city councilor of Bydgoszcz. He was designated "Honorary Citizen of Bydgoszcz" in 1930.
Ryszard Markwart, or Richard Marquardt (1868-1906) was a German-Polish catholic priest and Polish national activist who served in Magdeburg, Berlin and Bydgoszcz.
Located in the Babia Wieś District, the Babia Wieś Street is a half-kilometre-long alley extending along the Brda River, close to downtown Bydgoszcz in Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Poland. The street runs between Toruńska Street and the Brda River, running parallel to the East-West direction. It has a curved shape, and crosses Toruńska Street at both tips.
Żegluga Bydgoska is an inland navigation company based in Bydgoszcz. Its first existence dates back to 1869, when a shipping firm was established in then Bromberg. Since August 12, 2009, it has been integrated into Wrocław's group "OT Logistics S.A.".
Józef Makowski (1914–1997), was a Polish sculptor and painter whose works are associated with Bydgoszcz.
Jutrzenka is a food industry enterprise, set up in 1951 in Bydgoszcz from the aggregation of nationalized companies dating from the pre-war period. It has been listed from May 16, 1995, on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. In 2008, the remaining production plant was transformed into a corporate group, Jutrzenka Holding S.A.. The latter has been incorporated in 2014 into the Colian Holding, seated in Opatówek in the Greater Poland Voivodeship.
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