Nói Síríus facts for kids
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| Privately held company | |
| Industry | Confectionery production |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Founders | Eiríkur Bech, Gísli Guðmundsson, Loftur Guðmundsson, Þorgils Ingvarsson and Hallur Þorleifsson |
| Headquarters |
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Iceland
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Area served
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Key people
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| Products | Chocolates |
| Revenue |
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Operating income
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Number of employees
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130 |
| Parent | Orkla ASA |
Nói Síríus is a famous candy company from Iceland. It makes delicious chocolate and other sweet treats. The company started way back in 1920. Today, it is owned by a bigger company called Orkla from Norway.
Nói Síríus is the biggest candy maker in Iceland. Their candies have been a popular snack for camping trips since 1933. They are often enjoyed with stockfish, a traditional Icelandic dried fish snack.
Contents
What Candies Does Nói Síríus Make?
Nói Síríus makes many different kinds of candies. Some of their well-known products are Tópas and Opal. These are "fresh breath" candies. They are a bit bitter but can help soothe a sore throat. They contain menthol and eucalyptus.
The company also makes:
- Pastilles (small, soft candies)
- Sugar twists
- Assorted chocolates, which are a special Christmas tradition
- Easter eggs filled with a surprise note
Their chocolates come in different types. You can find dark chocolate and milk chocolate. They also have chocolate bars with nuts and raisins, whole hazelnuts, or even liquorice chips. For kids, they have a "Little Imps" line. This includes candy-covered chocolate drops, spicy pepper drops, fruity jellies, and colorful gum drops.
Where Are Nói Síríus Candies Sold?
Nói Síríus candies are sold all over Iceland. They are also sent to other countries. The main places they are exported to are Russia and the United States. Smaller amounts are sent to Denmark and the Netherlands. In these countries, they might be sold under different brand names like Oxydent and Fakta.
Nói Síríus and International Growth
Nói Síríus has tried to grow its business in other countries.
Expanding to Other Candy Companies
In the late 1990s, Nói Síríus bought a part of Laima. Laima is the biggest candy maker in Latvia. However, Nói Síríus sold its share in Laima in 2004.
Later, in March 2006, Nói Síríus bought an English chocolate company called Elizabeth Shaw. But they sold this company too in May 2009. After that, Nói Síríus decided to focus more on making and selling its own popular candy brands.
Becoming Part of Orkla
In August 2019, a large Norwegian company called Orkla bought a 20% share of Nói Síríus. This meant Orkla owned a small part of the company.
Then, in May 2021, Orkla bought the remaining 80% of Nói Síríus. This made Orkla the full owner of the company. The Icelandic Competition Authority approved this purchase. This means Nói Síríus is now completely owned by Orkla.
Candy Culture in Iceland
Chocolate is a very important part of Icelandic culture. Nói Síríus plays a big role in this.
Easter Egg Traditions
Each year, Nói Síríus makes about 300,000 chocolate Easter eggs. This is a huge number, especially since Iceland has about 340,000 people! These Easter eggs are made at the company's factory in Reykjavík. A special tradition is that each egg has a small note inside with a saying or a riddle.
Candy-Inspired Drinks
Some Icelandic liqueurs (alcoholic drinks) have been made using the names Tópas and Opal. These drinks became quite famous. Even filmmaker Quentin Tarantino once described them as "the worst drink on earth" after trying them!
