Godiva Chocolatier facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Confectionery production |
| Founded | 1926 |
| Founder | Joseph Draps |
| Headquarters |
333 West 34th Street, New York City
,
U.S.
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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Salman Amin, CEO |
| Products | Food and Beverage (Chocolate and Coffee) |
| Parent | Yıldız Holding |
Godiva Chocolatier is a famous company that makes delicious chocolates. It started in Belgium and is now owned by a large Turkish company called Yıldız Holding.
Godiva was founded in 1926. In 2007, Yıldız Holding bought the company. Later, in 2019, a South Korean company bought Godiva's business in Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Godiva has more than 600 shops in Europe and Asia. You can also find their chocolates in over 10,000 other stores.
In 2019, Godiva planned to open many new cafés around the world. These cafés would sell coffee drinks and sandwiches, not just chocolates. However, in 2021, Godiva announced it would close all 128 of its stores in North America. This was because fewer people were shopping in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Godiva still sells its chocolates online and in other stores in North America.
Contents
History of Godiva Chocolates
How Godiva Started
Godiva began in 1926 in Brussels, Belgium. The Draps family started the company. They opened their first shop in the city's main square, called the Grand-Place. They named the company Godiva to honor the old story of Lady Godiva.
The first Godiva shop outside Belgium opened in Paris, France, in 1958. In 1966, Godiva chocolates came to the United States. They were sold in shopping centers there.
Changes in Ownership
In 1967, the Draps family sold Godiva to the Campbell Soup Company. This company is known for making soups. In 1972, the first Godiva shop in North America opened in New York City on Fifth Avenue.
By 2007, Godiva was making about $500 million in sales each year. The Campbell Soup Company decided to sell Godiva. They felt that making fancy chocolates did not fit with their main business of simple meals. In December 2007, Campbell Soup Company agreed to sell Godiva to Yıldız Holding. This company is based in Istanbul, Turkey. Yıldız Holding is a very large company that makes many different consumer goods. The sale was completed in March 2008 for $850 million.
Godiva still owns and runs more than 450 shops around the world.
Recent Events and Growth
In May 2012, Godiva opened a special café called Café Godiva. It is inside the famous Harrods department store in London. This café offers Godiva's chocolate drinks, pastries, and chocolates.
In 2016, Godiva celebrated its 90th birthday! That same year, they opened their 100th store in China. In 2017, Godiva opened its first store in Australia. They also opened a special chocolate research center in Brussels. Their main store in North America opened at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. In 2018, Godiva opened its first café in Brussels, where the brand began.
In Japan, in February 2018, Godiva placed a large ad in a newspaper. The ad suggested that people should stop the tradition of giri choco. This tradition means women often buy chocolates for male co-workers, friends, or bosses on Valentine's Day. Many people liked Godiva's idea.
In 2019, a Korean company bought Godiva's business in Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. They also bought a chocolate factory in Belgium. The price for this deal was estimated to be between $1 billion and $1.5 billion.
As of October 2020, the CEO of Godiva is Nurtaç Ziyal Afridi.
Godiva's Community Work
Godiva cares about helping others and protecting the planet. The company is part of the World Cocoa Foundation. This group works to make sure cocoa farming is fair and good for the environment. Godiva also works with Save the Children, an organization that helps children.
Godiva started "The Lady Godiva Program." This program gives money to groups that help women. Godiva also works with the Earthworm Foundation. They want to make sure that the cocoa industry is sustainable. This means it should not harm the environment in the long run. Godiva also works to stop deforestation (cutting down forests) when cocoa is grown.
Godiva also has a program called "Seeds for Progress Foundation." This program helps children in coffee-growing areas get an education. The Lady Godiva Initiative gives $25,000 grants each year. These grants go to five groups in different countries that help empower women.
Godiva Store Locations
In 2016, Godiva had about 650 stores around the world. Godiva grew very quickly, especially in countries like China and Japan. In 2021, Godiva announced it would close its 128 stores in North America. This was because fewer people were visiting malls and shopping in person. Now, customers in North America can buy Godiva products online. They can also find them in grocery stores and other retail partners.
Godiva has factories in Brussels, Belgium. They also have factories in Reading, Pennsylvania, in the U.S., and in Turkey. Much of the chocolate sold in the USA is made in Turkey.
See also
In Spanish: Godiva Chocolatier para niños
