Ghraoui Chocolate

Company type| Private[1]
Industry| Confectionery production
Founded| 1805
Founder| Ghraoui family
Headquarters|

Szabadság tér 7, 1054, Budapest

Hungary

Area served

| Worldwide

Key people

| Mohammad Mosalam Midani, CEO
Products| Food and Beverage (Chocolate and Confectionery)
Website| www.ghraouichocolate.com

Damascene chocolatier

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Ghraoui Chocolate /ɡrɑːoʊi/ is a Damascene chocolatier established in 1805 and currently headquartered in Budapest, Hungary.[2]

## History

[edit]

Ghraoui was established in Damascus in 1805 by an ancient trading family of the same name.[3]

The Ghraouis joined forces with Syria’s first industrial-scale canning company for fruit and vegetables, making this 20th-century venture a success story in Europe and America, as well.[4]

It was the first company to introduce chocolate to the Middle East in 1931.[5] A french chocolatier was hired to create sweets of the highest quality.[4] During the 1930s and 1940s, Ghraoui gained the title of Purveyor to Her Majesty, the Queen of England.[5]

In the 1930s, Ghraoui was stocked at such luxury stores as Paris's Fauchon and Hédiard, and London's Fortnum & Mason and Harrods.[6]

Workers at Ghraoui Chocolate in 1966

Not only is the factory machinery painted orange, but the brand's packaging, including its bags and its delivery vans.[6]

Forced to shut down due to the Syrian civil war, Ghraoui relaunched in 2017 from Budapest, Hungary.[7]

## Awards

[edit]

Ghraoui received numerous accolades and awards, including gold medals, from Paris to New York acknowledging their dedication to high quality and excellence.[8]

The company earned the ‘Diplôme de Médaille d'Argent’ at the Beyrouth fair in 1921, the ‘Diplôme d' Honneur’ in 1931, and the 'Médaille d'Or' in 1939 at the Paris fair. In 1939 in New York Ghraoui was also awarded ‘Diplôme d' Honneur’.

Prix d'Honneur award at the 2005 Salon du Chocolat fair

In 2005, Ghraoui chocolate's Orangettes were awarded the ‘Prix d’honneur’[2] award at the Salon du Chocolat, Paris.

## Locations

[edit]

Budapest store

There are currently 7 boutiques in operation.

* Budapest, Hungary
* Doha, Qatar
* Abu Dhabi, UAE
* Dubai, UAE
* Damascus, Syria

## Gallery

[edit]

Candied fruits at Ghraoui Budapest

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "A Syrian Chocolatier's Legend Lives On In Europe — But Stays Close To Its Roots".
2. ^ a b Katanich, Doloresz (2017-12-11). "This Syrian chocolate factory is a lesson in perseverance". EuroNews.
3. ^ "SYRIAN BUSINESSMAN TO MAKE HUNGARY A POWER IN (GHRAOUI) CHOCOLATE". HELPERS. June 16, 2017.
4. ^ a b Jász, Annamária (2018-07-16). "Syrian Ghraoui chocolate is reborn in Budapest". We Love Budapest.
5. ^ a b "Bassam Ghraoui died on May 1st". The Economist. 2018-05-10.
6. ^ a b "Life is sweet". Abu Dhabi: The National News. December 24, 2008.
7. ^ Fekete, Emese (2017-05-12). "Magyarországra költöztették a legendás szír csokigyárat" [The legendary Syrian chocolate factory was moved to Hungary] (in Hungarian). Forbes.
8. ^ "Syrian Ghraoui chocolate is reborn in Budapest". We Love Budapest.

## External links

[edit]

* https://www.ghraouichocolate.com

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