90 years insists with the sweetest greek way
ION, the Greek chocolate industry, the “first and eternal love” of many Greeks, counts almost 90 years of presence since its inception. Generations of greek children “grew up” with milk chocolate with almonds, chocolate wafer and ION candies. Today, following the new technologies and faithfully preserving the
quality of its products, ION ranks among the 50 largest industries in Greece. With staff of more than 900 people and an annual turnover of 113 million euros, it is firmly in the industry.
The journey starts in 1930 at a pastry shop where a group of friends who loved chocolate had an idea of creating a chocolate factory based in Neo Faliro. The chocolate factory starts the engines on September 23, in 1930, four years later, the Kotsiopoulos brothers and Nasiopoulos bought the company. The Kotsiopoulos became the only owners of chocolate and Nasiopoulos kept the NASCO, a caramel company, only for a few years, because later Kotsiopoulos family acquired the company .
The foundations of the current size of the ION are post-war, namely 1956, based in Piraeus. The first store opens in the center of Athens with its main “protagonist” the ION milk chocolate almond. Following were distribution centers in Athens, Thessaloniki and three modern production units in N. Faliro, Arta and Markopoulo, Attica.
In 1975, the company started a new with the inauguration of the ION facilities in Arta, where “the famous wafer” was born,two years later it entered the Greek market. This product is still a favorite treat for kids and grown-ups. But the company did not stay there, in the middle of the 80’s Break chocolate comes dynamically and is loved by the buying public. Since then ION has continued to bring innovative products such as chocolate with stevia and the version of almond chocolate with black chocolate.
The success of this particular company was based on its innovative ideas , for example since 1960, the ION, was one of the first companies that used the power and influence of advertising and marketing. Media, such as radio, newspapers and television, were filled with “sweet advertisements” that besides their commercial success, entertained Greek consumers.
