If one enters a time machine and goes back several years, one will see Papadopoulou cookies in the 1930s being sold with a logo on the hand cart on the beaches of Attica. In fact, the first products of the Papadopoulou family were sold in bulk to bathers, being one of the first moves to commercialize the products of the historic company, which this year completes 100 years of life.
Our memories are connected with Papadopoulou cookies
But what perhaps connects the company’s products with most of us are memories of our childhood and later life, which were identified with Petit-Ber, Caprice, Miranda, Stuffed, Cream Crackers. Memories that follow us to this day, while many of us see these memories being passed on to our children, to the younger generations who also grow up with the same tastes.
The image of a clear brand
The mood of the company’s founders, Nikos and Evangelos Papadopoulos, from the moment they took their first steps, was to create a strong and clear image for their products and business, following the example of large cookie industries of the time internationally. This practice, which is directly related to packaging and advertising, is projected through the first section of the historical retrospective exhibition dedicated to the 100 years of the company, and is hosted until February 27 at the Benaki Museum on Piraeus Street. The focus of the Papadopoulos brothers’ activity from the first moment was the participation in international exhibitions and the Thessaloniki International Fair.
The basic principle for the production of the company’s products, which is maintained until today, has always been the Greekness of the products and their quality presence in the market.
The arrival in Athens and the trip to Marseille that never happened
If one separates the route in moments, the Papadopoulou family arrives in Athens from Istanbul in 1922 by boat and final destination Marseille. Already active as cookie makers in Istanbul, they were looking for a better fortune in the French city. The stop of Maria Papadopoulou and her three sons in Piraeus to rest during the trip, leads the family to a cafe. The first thing they do is ask the owner of the coffee and cookies. However, he is completely unaware of the existence of cookies. According to the historical records of the time, the Papadopoulou family understands the gap and the opportunity that Greece presented for the development of cookies. The trip to Marseilles finally ends at the port of Piraeus. It is even said that the family never returned to the ship to pick up their luggage. From 1922 to 1945 the history of the cookie is written in Greece.
The first cookie was Petit-Ber
The first product that came out of the production of the Papadopoulou family was the Petit-Ber, which was available in bulk, with the dram or with the oka in grocery stores and grocery stores of the time as well as in coffee-confectioneries. The first Papadopoulou handicraft, where the first cookies were baked, was located in Metaxourgeio.
The long journey of the Papadopoulou family and the business he created, from his arrival in Piraeus until today, is recorded through the nostalgic and at the same time moving advertisement starring the Papadopoulou family and the Zekeri family.
In 1930, Miranda cookies were made for the first time, whose name means “Wonderful”, a name that appears in Shakespeare’s “Tempest”, which was loved by Nikos and Evangelos Papadopoulos.
In 1933 Nikolaos Papadopoulos bought a plot of land and a building on Thessalonikis Street in Petralona, ​​creating the new factory of the company. This move marked the simultaneous transition from handicrafts to industrial production. Investments in mechanical equipment followed to strengthen production, which would bring Papadopoulou cookies to more and more homes. The first organized business entity was established in 1938 as a general partnership N.I. and E.I. Papadopoulou, with Nikolaos holding 75% of the shares and Evangelos Papadopoulos the remaining 25%.
Bombs for the Greek army
During the Greek-Italian war, the company made bombs for the needs of the Greek army. The bomb even bore a specific imprint that came from the special seal of the army, which is housed in the retrospective exhibition at the Benaki Museum.
The continuous and rapid growth of the company in the years following the Second World War, led the company to investigate its relocation to a larger building, strengthening its production. Thus, the decision was made for the construction of the new factory on Petrou Ralli Avenue, where until today the central facilities of E.I. Papadopoulou.
If one looks for common ground today with 1922, when the course of the business started from the port of Piraeus and the change of a travel plan or a life plan that had Marseilles as its final destination, one will probably identify several points of similarity. Because despite the fact that as normal the company has evolved over the years, it has maintained throughout this time period the quality of its materials and products, its strong corporate and commercial status, with a key word that continues to characterize it is the consequence. However, her most important legacy for most of us, is hidden behind her cookies, the ones that raised us and became a part of us in moments of childhood, adolescence or even adulthood later.
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
