Laima (confectioner) facts for kids
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| Industry | Chocolatier |
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| Founded | Latvia (1870) |
| Founder | Theodor Riegert |
| Headquarters | , |
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Key people
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Toms Didrihsons (Chairman of the Board, Orkla Latvija) |
| Products | Confectionery |
| Revenue |  LVL7.71 Million (FY 2011) |
 LVL681.9 Thousand (FY 2011) |
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Number of employees
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620 |
| Parent | Orkla Group |
Laima is a famous company from Latvia. They make lots of yummy sweets like chocolate and candies. The company is named after Laima, a goddess from old Latvian mythology who was believed to control people's fate. Laima's main office is in Riga, the capital city of Latvia.
Contents
History of Laima
How Laima Started
Laima's story began a long time ago in the 1800s. Back then, it was called the Theodor Riegert Company. It was one of the biggest candy makers in the Baltic Provinces. This area was part of the Russian Empire at the time.
After World War I and Latvia becoming an independent country in 1918, the company lost many of its customers in Russia. But it still remained a very important candy maker in Latvia.
New Name and Growth
The company got its current name, Laima, in 1925. This happened after it joined with a company started by two brothers, Eliyahu and Leonid Fromenchenko. Later, in 1933, Eliyahu Fromchenko started another candy company in Israel.
In 1937, the Latvian government bought Laima. During the 1930s and when Latvia was part of the Soviet Union, Laima was the main chocolate maker in Latvia. Another company, Uzvara, made most of the hard candies.
Laima Today
After Latvia became independent again, Laima joined with Uzvara and another company called Staburadze. Staburadze made cookies, wafers, and cakes. They all became one big company under the Laima name in the 1990s. Uzvara and Staburadze became sub-brands.
In 2016, Laima and Staburadze officially merged with Latfood. Latfood makes popular snacks called Ādažu čipsi. All these companies are now part of a larger group called Orkla Latvija.
Laima's Business
Who Owns Laima?
For a while, Laima was owned by a company called Nordic Food. This company belonged to a local businessman named Daumants Vītols. In 2006, Laima's shares were available on the Riga Stock Exchange. But the owners decided to make the company private again in 2007. This meant its shares were no longer traded on the stock market.
In 2014, a big company called Orkla Group bought Laima's parent company, SIA NP Foods. Laima is now part of Orkla Confectionery & Snacks Latvija, which is now known as SIA Orkla Latvija.
Famous Laima Products and Places
The Serenāde Chocolate
One of Laima's oldest and most loved chocolates is called Serenāde. The recipe for this chocolate candy has not changed since 1937. It's a classic!
The Laima Clock
In Riga, there is a very famous clock called the Laima Clock. It is located near the Freedom Monument. This clock is a popular meeting spot for people in Central Riga.
A Sweet Gift
In 2007, Laima did something special. They gave the people of Ruhnu island a huge chocolate statue of a bear. This statue weighed 40 kilograms (about 88 pounds)! It was to celebrate a brown bear that had swum all the way from the Latvian mainland to the Estonian island.
See also
