Career
Wedel was a German candy maker who came to Warsaw at the beginning of 1845 and began to work with Karol Grohnert, who was an owner of a confectionery store at 12 Piwna Street. Soon afterwards, around 1851, Wedel became financially independent and opened his own store at 12 Miodowa Street, and next door, a steam-powered factory making chocolates. His company, East.Wedel would grow to become a leading confectionery company in Poland.
A year later, he introduced his widely popular "karmelki smietankowe" ("cream caramels").
The caramels" success was aided by a successful advertising campaign in "Kurier Warszawski" newspaper. Another product made popular by Wedel was hot chocolate.
The store was selling over fifty cups a day. As the years passed, more products, such as the chocolates "Brilliant" and "Dessert", were introduced.
Wedel married Karolina Wisnowska (1819-1893), daughter of another famous Warsaw candy and sweets maker.
In 1864, Wedel"s son, Emil Albert Fredryk Wedel (1841-1919) returned from an apprenticeship tour of confectioneries in Germany, Switzerland, England, and France, and received a Doctor of Philosophy in chemistry (in particular food chemistry). He immediately started helping run the family business.