Following a long tradition...

...our family business has been specialising in the manufacture of candles. As early as 1703, the name ‘ Hongler ’ appears in the accounts of the Berneck parish. The company’s history has much to tell: of the move to the ‘Bleichehof’ in Altstätten, of delivering crates of candles by handcart, of several fires – and of both good and bad times. Today, specialist retailers, restaurants and private customers alike can find a wide range of candle-related products. We work as a dedicated team of 30 staff members. We are driven by a love of candlelight and creativity. The high quality of our products is very important to us. Our customers appreciate the personalised advice over the phone and our fast delivery service. In our spacious candle shop in Altstätten, SG, with 400 m2 of display space, many products are also available from stock. We hope you’ll find our range appealing and look forward to being on hand to assist you with any queries regarding candles in the future.

From the photo album

Black-and-white photograph: Three men near an outdoor tap/sink. In the foreground, one is bending over and washing his hands at the tap. Behind him stands one wearing an apron, with the third further back. Leaves and buildings.

Black-and-white photograph of four young men. Two wear braces and shirts, one a suit and tie, and one a shirt and belt. They stand in front of wooden boxes holding a light-coloured substance. Background blurred.

A black-and-white photograph shows two wooden vats filled with a dark liquid. Above the vats is a water pipe with two taps. The room is plain and old-fashioned; the window above the vats is small and dim.

Black-and-white photograph of a man in an apron unwinding a thick, white cable from a large wooden reel. The man is standing sideways to the camera, facing the reel. A window can be seen in the background.

Close-up of an old, yellowed document featuring Gothic script. The focus is on the word ‘Faktura.’, followed by ‘April 15.’. Further handwritten notes and printed text are visible. The paper appears thin and of historical value.

Historical, handwritten invoice from J. Hongler ’s wax goods factory, dated 1897, featuring an illustration of factory buildings, people and carts. Detailed with various items and prices. Designed in sepia tones.

A black-and-white photograph shows a man in a suit leaning against an old VW Beetle, smiling. In the background, brick buildings, street lamps and other cars can be seen. The cobbled street is clearly visible. The sky is cloudy.

A man in work clothes is working on a rotating device with long, straight candles. The candles hang in neat rows on a round frame. In the background, a window with small panes and a hook on a chain. Black and white.

A group of people are planting a tree. Three men with spades are digging in the ground, whilst a woman stands nearby. The tree is supported by wooden stakes. In the background, other people are standing and watching the planting, and a house can be seen.

Around 15 people, including adults and a child, are standing on a muddy construction site in front of a large yellow Komatsu excavator. A man and a child are sitting in the cab. In the background are houses, trees and piles of wood.

17 people stand in front of a bright, two-storey building with large windows. A small tree is visible in the background. They wear varied clothes, look at the camera, and the scene feels bright and friendly.

A single, bright yellow sunflower with large green leaves in the foreground. In the background, an old wooden house, a new building with scaffolding and a hilly landscape beneath a cloudy sky. The ground is muddy.

Joh. Hongler's secret pop-up bar

As part of the "Lichtblicke" weekend 2017, Astrid Dörig and her team from Bar Breite took us back in time. Joh. Hongler personally welcomed the guests who had travelled here by horse-drawn carriage. Those who were able to solve the riddle of the secret password were transported to their "secret hideaway" in the old goods lift. There, Jane and the Sailors and DJane Lindyhopp entertained the guests musically by candlelight.