Production of the famous Mirabell Mozartkugeln has stopped at its factory in Grödig, near Salzburg, as of Friday. Despite the closure, the iconic sweet will still be made, with US brand owner Mondelez planning to continue production, though the location remains a mystery.

Mozartkugel, a confection made of pistachio marzipan and nougat encased in dark chocolate, has been a favourite for generations. The shutdown comes six months after Salzburg Schokolade, the Austrian manufacturer, announced its decision to close. The move affects 65 workers and has drawn sharp criticism from trade unions over the lack of a social plan.

The factory’s machinery has been sold to around 30 buyers, including customers across Europe and as far as Egypt and Mauritius, Managing Director Friedrich Plail confirmed to ORF. However, the building’s future is uncertain, with talks ongoing with two potential buyers, but no firm offers yet.

“We were very keen to know where the Mozartkugel will be produced in the future, but unfortunately, Mondelez has not disclosed that information, despite our repeated inquiries,” Plail said.

For now, the factory’s shop remains open, selling off its remaining stock of Mozartkugel. “Demand is huge—we’re being stormed daily, which is fantastic. But I expect we’ll run out of goods by the end of next week,” Plail added.

The closure follows Salzburg Schokolade’s bankruptcy in 2021. Money raised from the sale of the property will go towards settling the company’s debts.

While Mirabell’s Mozartkugel is the best-known version of the sweet, it is not the original. The Mozartkugel was first created in 1890 by Salzburg confectioner Paul Fürst. Today, Fürst’s family business, now in its fifth generation, continues to produce the Original Salzburg Mozartkugel in Salzburg.