On August 9, 1922, Tampereen Rohdoskauppa made the decision to separate its production and laboratory operations from its wholesale and retail business. From this decision emerged a new pharmaceutical company – Oy Star Ab. The name was inspired by the five-pointed star that adorned the labels of the laboratory’s products.
The company’s first managing director, Fredrik Borg, was so passionate about the new pharmaceutical venture that he spent his evenings writing a recipe book, detailing the preparation methods for medicines and technical-chemical products.
The factory, located on Pinninkatu in Tampere, offered an impressively wide range of products. The very first catalogue included 171 galenic preparations alongside more unexpected items like rat poison, tooth drops, ski wax, Hungarian beard wax, and even a coffee clarifier.
Among these, one product stood out: Lacro, a cough candy that became a household favorite and dominated sales until the mid-1930s. But in 1928, a new star product emerged – Hota. This powder became a staple in Finnish homes, a product every Finn knew by name. Within just a few years, it surpassed Lacro in popularity and held its place at the top of the sales charts well into the 1950s.
Tamro is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year. Throughout the year, we will share stories from Tamro’s rich history and introduce the dedicated teams who work with determination, expertise, and heart.
