20 | LUXlife Magazine lthough it is today based in Finland, the story of Halva dates back to Greece almost 100 years ago, with brothers Jean and Michael Karavokyros. Only teenagers at the time, the brothers made the difficult decision to seek out pastures new, leaving behind the economic turmoil Greece was in at the time to work abroad in Russia, having heard of the flourishing economy in St. Petersburg from relatives there. Before they left, the brother’s grandmother bestowed upon them the family recipe for the traditional Greek dessert Halva. Following a long, tiresome journey, the brothers arrived in St. Petersburg and quickly found work in a local food factory. With their grandmother’s recipe in their pocket, and halva a strong seller in the region’s shops, things appeared to finally be looking up for the brothers. However, the Russian Civil War soon broke out, with the brothers forced to escape and take refuge with their relatives in neighbouring Finland. Working odd jobs to make ends meet, their discovery that there was no halva production in the country lit the spark for an idea to finally make use of their grandmother’s recipe. Setting up Halva’s first factory in 1927, the brothers manufactured the eponymous Greek dessert which inspired Halva’s name using this coveted recipe, before shifting gears over the next few years to make a wider range of confectionery, from hard sweets and gummies through to popcorn and lollipops. It was 1951 when the company’s first liquorice product was created, and its recipes have been continuously refined over the past 70 years or so to deliver the best possible tastes and textures. Halva’s liquorice range has come a long way and continues to evolve, today comprising everything from traditional black liquorice through to brightly coloured liquorice, sugar-free liquorice, and even glutenfree liquorice. In the spirit of the current festive season, Halva also has liquorice advent calendars, representing its commitment to offer the world’s best liquorice in some of the most novel packaging formats, an undertaking which has won the company many awards across its native Finland and abroad. Much of this acclaim can be attributed to Halva’s deep understanding of the ever-evolving confectionery market, with its team able to accurately predict the sorts of products that will sell well on release. For example, there is currently a huge demand for products which are both vegan and free from palm oil, and this is why most of the company’s liquorice products are today vegan, and why palm oil has been removed entirely from its manufacturing process – which itself has been refined using cutting-edge production machinery. Best Liquorice Manufacturer 2024 - Finland Halva Ltd both manufactures and exports a leading range of confectionery, with its speciality areas being liquorice products and salty jellies, both of which it sells in many different varieties and sizes. The company’s delicious products can be found in traditional grocery stores and specialist food shops throughout Finland and beyond, with approximately 40% of its produce being exported, a number which is constantly rising. With a storied history behind this multi-award-winning confectioner, we explore its past, present, and future below. A Sep24517 Having retained its close-knit ethos over the years, this family-run business is proud to boast strong relationships across its team, with some members having worked for the company now for two generations. Blending seasoned employees with fresh, new talent, Halva has continued to thrive, navigating the industry around it with a seamless excellence. This is something it is planning to do indefinitely, even as changes in regulation, such as health-related confectionery taxes, remain a hot topic for debate across Finland. As we move into 2025, Halva is committed to developing its machinery even further, an area it invested in heavily this year. Such an endeavour will allow it to make more products and improve production, fulfilling demand for its liquorice and other such confectionery products across borders. Sustainability is the final area of focus and is something seen through both its smart energy solutions and green energy sources. These incentives have already seen the brand reduce its scope 1 and 2 carbon footprints by almost 50%. In essence, not only does Halva Ltd continue to cement its legacy by delivering perhaps the world’s best liquorice, but this family business also prizes better means of production, ensuring its confectionery represents the highest standards of quality and sustainability. As a result of these initiatives, this is a company more than deserving of being recognised as the Best Liquorice Manufacturer 2024 - Finland. Contact: Jean Karavokyros Company: Halva Ltd Web Address: https://halva.fi/
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