Manner: The Story Behind Vienna’s Pink Wafers

Few packages are as instantly cheerful as Manner pink. Behind that unmistakable color is a Viennese family business, a hazelnut wafer created in the nineteenth century and a simple idea: good chocolate and confectionery should be accessible to everyone.

Today, Manner wafers travel far beyond Austria, but the brand’s story still begins in the heart of Vienna.

Josef Manner’s idea: “Chocolate for everyone”

Josef Manner opened a small shop near St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna in 1889. Dissatisfied with the quality supplied to him, he decided to make chocolate himself. In 1890, at age 25, he acquired a small chocolate factory and began building the company that would carry his name.

The cathedral remains part of the Manner trademark—a visual connection to the brand’s Viennese beginnings.

The birth of the Neapolitan wafer

In 1898, Manner introduced the wafer now known as the Original Neapolitan Wafer. It appeared in the company catalogue as “Neapolitaner Schnitte No. 239.” The name referred to hazelnuts associated with the Naples region, while the product itself paired crisp wafer layers with hazelnut-cocoa cream.

The combination was practical, portable and memorable. More than a century later, the wafer’s slim rectangular shape and pink wrapper still make it immediately recognizable.

Why Manner pink became an Austrian icon

Manner pink does more than stand out on a shelf. It turns a small everyday snack into something optimistic and unmistakably Viennese. The brand remains largely family-owned, and its Original Neapolitan Wafers continue to be produced in Vienna.

Manner also notes that its classic wafers have been vegan since their 1898 debut and that its branded products use certified sustainable cocoa.

How to enjoy Manner wafers

Serve them with coffee for a simple Viennese-style break, add them to a European cookie tray, or tuck a pack into a gift basket. Their crisp texture also makes them useful for layered desserts and ice-cream toppings.

Shop Manner at European Deli, including classic hazelnut wafers, minis and newer wafer varieties.

A pink piece of Vienna

Manner’s lasting appeal comes from continuity: the Vienna connection, the recognizable package and the contrast of crisp wafers with smooth hazelnut filling. It is not simply a nostalgic Austrian sweet; it is a small, shareable piece of the city’s confectionery story.

For the company’s own historical timeline, visit Manner’s official history.