The company traces its origins back two hundred years, the business that preceded the Maiasmokk café was founded in 1806, and is now owned by Kalev.

The Kalev company is the country's largest producer of sweets and a part of the industrial conglomerate Orkla Group.

[2] Recipes and working methods originating from Stude's confectionery are still held in great esteem in today's Kalev – to this day the marzipan figures are hand-made candies.

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were other pioneers of the confectionery industry in Tallinn that could be considered the predecessors of Kalev.

Perhaps one of the most renowned was Kawe confectionery, founded in 1921 by brothers Karl and Kolla Wellner at Müürivahe Street, 62.

Competing with big factories were a number of smaller enterprises: Riola, Endla, Eelis, Efekt and others.

Kalev's sweets also found recognition outside the borders of the Soviet Union, bringing home prizes from several international fairs and exhibitions.

From 1996 to 2009, the shares of the public limited company AS Kalev were listed on the Tallinn Stock Exchange.

The year 2003 was historically important to Kalev: the company moved from Tallinn to a new factory complex in Harjumaa, Rae rural municipality.