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{{Short description|Belgian chocolate maker}} |
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{{otheruses2|Leonidas}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}{{Multiple issues|{{advert|date=February 2016}} |
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{{Cleanup|date=March 2008}} |
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{{Primary sources|date=September 2019}}}} |
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{{Infobox Brand |
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{{Infobox company |
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|logo= |
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|name=Leonidas |
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| name = Confiserie Leonidas S.A. |
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|image= |
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| logo = |
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| trade_name = Leonidas |
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|type=] |
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| type = ] (]) |
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|currentowner=] |
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| industry = ] manufacturing |
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|origin=] |
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| founded = 1913 |
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|introduced=1910 |
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| founder = Leonidas Kestekides |
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|discontinued= |
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| hq_location = Boulevard Jules Graindor 41–43 |
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|related= |
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| hq_location_city = 1070 ] |
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|markets= |
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| num_employees = 347 (2018)<ref name="D&B Hoovers"/> |
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|previousowners= |
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| website = https://www.leonidas.com/ |
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|trademarkregistrations= |
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| hq_location_country = ] |
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|website=http://www.leonidas.com}} |
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| num_locations = 1,030 points of sale (2019) |
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| key_people = P. de Selliers de Moranville (CEO) |
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| revenue = {{ubl|{{increase}}US$107 million (2018)<ref name="D&B Hoovers">{{cite web | title=Company Search - Company Information - Hoovers Company Profiles - D&B Hoovers | website=D&B Hoovers | url=http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.confiserie_leonidas_sa.42d6028a4b1f59af.html | access-date=2019-10-13|url-access=subscription}}</ref>|US$66 million (2009)<ref name="Gelinas Dull 2009 p. 510">{{cite book | last1=Gelinas | first1=U. | last2=Dull | first2=R. | title=Accounting Information Systems | publisher=Cengage Learning | year=2009 | isbn=978-0-324-66380-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_AnCDf-9ZfgC&pg=PA510 | access-date=2019-10-13 | page=510}}</ref>}} |
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| net_income = US$6.08 million (2018)<ref name="D&B Hoovers"/> |
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}} |
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]]] |
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'''Leonidas''' is a registered ] of the ] company '''Confiserie Leonidas''' ]. The ] company was founded in 1913 by ]. The company is ] and ] certified. {{As of|2019}}, the brand has more than 1,030 ] (including 450 stores in ] and ], and 290 in ]) in 32 countries, the majority of which are ] and around 40 are ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discover the rich history of Leonidas {{!}} Leonidas official site |url=https://www.leonidas.com/gb_en/discover-rich-history-leonidas |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=www.leonidas.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=July 2024|certain=y}} |
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==History== |
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'''Leonidas''' Confisserie SA is a ] producer with an international presence, based in ]. The company's focus is ] (chocolate shells with soft fillings, called ''Belgian Chocolate'' in English-speaking countries); it also sells ], solid chocolates, and other ]. The company is named after its ] founder, ], a ] who moved from ] to the ] in the late 1800s. The logo used on Leonidas chocolates shows an ] of the Greek warrior ]. |
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{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2024}} |
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Born in 1882 in Nigdi, ], ], Leonidas Georges Kestekides of Greek heritage made a living by selling 'granitas', a kind of ], and other sweets alongside his brother, Avraam. In 1900, he decided to move to the ]. In 1910, Leonidas met Joanna Emelia Teerlinck. Together, they moved to ], where the ] was held in 1913. There, he won the gold medal and opened his first ] at 34 Veldstraat. |
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In 1935, after being accused by the police of ], he was ordered to sell his products in a store. As a result, he rented a room in a building at 58 ]. In 1937, he officially registered his brand with the City of Brussels. The brand's font and logo were chosen by Basilio Kestekides in honor of the Greek roots of his uncle. He used the ] of the ], ], who died in the ] during his opposition to the ]. |
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In 1900, Leonidas Kestekides travelled for the first time to ] to attend the international food fair as an exhibitor. In the 1910 ] in ] as a member of the Greek delegation from the United States, he was awarded the bronze medal for his chocolate confectionery and the gold medal for his ]/ ] located at the Veldstraat in ]. In the 1913 World Fair in Ghent, he had the idea of enrobing with dark chocolate ] from Anatolia. |
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Leonidas's chocolates are made without ]. They are made with ] and ]. Leonidas's principal chocolate is "manon". At the time, the manon, filled with ] on a ] base, was dipped in melted sugar using a fork. A few years later, he placed the ] on a white chocolate ] base instead of a nougatine base. Alexandre built the company's first machine. |
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During his visit, Leonidas Kestekides met a young woman from Brussels and settled permanently in Belgium. He opened tea-rooms in Brussels, Ghent and ]. In 1922 he was joined by his nephew Basile, niece Efthalia and her husband Prodromos Daskalides who moved from ] (today ], ]) to Ghent and who was importing in collaboration with his eldest brother Dimitrios Kestekides, also located in Constantinople, delicate ingredients including almonds from the family plantation in ] (]) and other sweets such as ] and fruits confit. |
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On 15 November 2013, the company became a certified purveyor to the ]. |
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] pictured on a Leonidas praline box]] |
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== References == |
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In 1934, at the Blankenberghe Tea Room, his nephew Basile Kestekides had the idea to dip some excess coffee butter cream made for pastries into white chocolate instead of the traditional ] sugar. Basile sent his young nephew Jean Daskalides to try to sell them on the street. It was an immediate success. |
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<references />{{chocolate}} |
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{{commons category|Leonidas (chocolatier)|Leonidas}} |
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In 1935, Basile Kestekides moved from Ghent to Brussels. At first, he marketed his innovative idea (called ''Manon'') with additional walnuts and hazelnuts on a street cart at the corner of the Boulevard Anspach and la Bourse in downtown Brussels near the famous Grand place and the office of the mayor. |
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In 1938, the popular mayor ], a devoted client, bought a ''Manon'' every morning while walking his dog. He helped Basile to find a store front on Anspach Boulevard, one of the most prestigious streets at the time. Basile incorporated the logo of an effigy of the king of ], Leonidas, in honour of his uncle. He also created the famous concept "Guillotine windows" (selling out of an open window to the street). Freshness and affordable pricing were the key of his incredible success. |
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Dr Alexandros Kestekides, came to Brussels in 1940 to help his brother Basile Kestekides by adding new flavours to the chocolates and the pralines. With him came his beloved wife Helen Kestekides who was the artistic mind of the family. She decorated all the shops in Belgium and gave them a more elegant look. With profound love, Dr Alexandros Kestekides and Helen Kestekidou continued helping and improving the family company until late 1998, leaving their only daughter Vasiliki Kestekidou in their place. |
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Dr Alexandros Kestekides was president of the family company from 1970 until 1998. |
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From 1986 until 1992 Vasiliki Kestekidou was assigned to inspect and administrate the family business. |
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The company was administrated by Dr Jean Daskalides from 1970 until 1992 when he quit his position and was replaced by Vasiliki Kestekidou. |
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In 1985, Yanis Kestekoglou due to a severe illness had to step down and be replaced by his eldest daughter Maria Kestekoglou and his son Dimitrios Kestekoglou. |
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The last decade the administration of the company is assigned to other than family members who are selected by the Board of Directors. |
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Leonidas has over 1400 retail outlets all over the world. |
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==External links== |
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US$107 million (2018).jpg)
