"Factory named after Babayev" is one of the first names that we remember in childhood. We see him on candy wrappers from our favorite sweets, on wrappers of chocolates, on boxes with New Year's gifts. We are getting used to the idea that something very desirable and tasty is hidden behind the red logo. This impression remains for life.
From serfs to merchants
The history of the world's most famous sweet factory began more than two hundred years ago, when serfdom flourished in Russia. At the State Councilor A. P. Levashova, who lived in the Penza province, was a talented cook Stepan Nikolaev. With the help of his family, he prepared delicious sweets for his lady's table. The apricot jam and marshmallow prepared by Stepan were famous all over the area, to try them, even guests from distant estates came.
Stepan enjoyed the great affection and confidence of the lady, so after a while the serf turned to her with a request to let him go to Moscow to earn money. He wanted to save money and buy freedom for his family. At the same time, he had to pay the lady an annual monetary rent.
At first, Stepan opened a small pastry shop, where the main product was the same unusually tasty apricot marshmallow. The delicacy quickly fell in love with the Muscovites living nearby, the fame of the new pastry chef quickly spread throughout the capital, and Nikolayev's business moved up the hill. Soon he was joined by the rest of the family - his wife, two sons and a daughter. Artelno business went even better, regular customers appeared, the clientele increased. The family served the festivities of rich people, weddings, balls, parties. For his unique marshmallow and apricot jam, so beloved by Muscovites, the master received the nickname Apricots, which in 1814 became his official name.
The Abrikosov case grew. New grocery and fruit shops and a pastry shop were opened. The former serf became a well-known merchant throughout Moscow.
Dynasty successor
After Stepan's death, his sons Ivan and Vasily continued his work. They have developed a recipe for new sweets and expanded the range. But the grandson of Stepan Nikolaevich, Alexey, really got down to business. Not satisfied with the small confectionery workshops, he dreamed of creating a real factory.
Alexei Abrikosov was well aware that only with the help of mechanization it is possible to significantly expand the business. The successful marriage to the daughter of the famous perfumer Musatov helped Alexei realize this idea, since the bride brought him a rich dowry, part of which he invested in the business. Machines for crushing nuts and pressing of lollipops were ordered from abroad.
The staff also increased. Alexey Ivanovich exercised personal control over the quality of products. He himself went to the market to purchase fresh berries and fruits, from which sweets were made. By the way, in those days they were called candies and were very popular with ladies and young ladies from high society. The ladies, packed in beautiful boxes, took the sweets with them to balls, parties, to refresh their strength between dances. It was considered very fashionable.
The assortment of confectionery products was constantly increasing, Abrikosov came up with new and new recipes for sweets and other sweets, conquering the market and expanding the clientele.
By the middle of the nineteenth century, Abrikosov's factory consisted of more than four hundred types of sweet products. There were all sorts of sweets - for a ball, for children, even medicinal cough drops with a funny name "Duck nose", marmalade, candy of different varieties, several types of chocolate, gingerbread and cookies, gourmet cakes, sweet pies … But the highest demand was amazing glazed fruits and a certain prototype of the modern "kinder surprise" - a large, hollow inside, chocolate confection containing a tiny toy or picture.
In the seventies of the 19th century, the Abrikosov factory was already one of the largest manufacturers of confectionery products. In 1873, the first steam engine was installed on it, the power of which was 12 horsepower. Soon the factory was renamed into the partnership "Aprikosov and Sons".
Aprikosov and sons
At the age of fifty, Alexey Ivanovich decided to transfer all the management of the enterprise into the hands of his sons - Ivan and Nikolai. A couple of years later, the management of the factory partnership included five Abrikosov brothers. Their factory was already among the largest producers of chocolate, caramel, biscuits and cakes. The chain of stores owned by the brothers extended beyond the capital and gradually spread throughout Russia. Wholesale warehouses worked in many large cities, new stores were opened, people willingly bought the sweet products of the Abrikosovs.
A branch of the factory was organized in Simferopol, and a sugar factory was purchased there for convenience. Now all the sweets of the Aprikosovs were made from their own sugar and molasses. The branch specialized in candied fruits, chestnuts, nuts, marzipan. Mechanization at that time reached its peak - six steam engines worked in the shops.
The name of the Apricots thundered throughout the country. Buying their products was considered prestigious. Customers were pleased to go to any store, since the owners attached great importance to the interior decoration of the institution and the culture of service, the sellers and clerks were trained to be "excellent". Much attention was also paid to advertising - sweets were packed in exquisite boxes, boxes, jars with the logo of the factory. Beautiful packaging was not thrown away, it was used in everyday life, thereby causing the desire to buy more.
Amazing sweets were given the highest appreciation even by the entourage of the royal persons, and soon the partnership of the Abrikosovs was awarded the highest title "Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty."
State Confectionery Factory No. 2
The wars and revolutions that turned the country upside down at the beginning of the 20th century could not but affect the work of the factory. There was a shortage of raw materials for the production of sweets, discontent swept among the workers, and there was a lack of funds. The rates and quantity of production have significantly decreased. Branches and small shops were closed. The factory fell into disrepair.
In the end, the factory, like many enterprises in those days, was nationalized by the Soviet government and renamed the State Confectionery Factory No. 2. One can only guess how its owners felt when removed from management. The case, to which the Abrikosovs dedicated their lives, practically collapsed.
But people needed sweets, and after a while the factory was rented out and completely switched over to the production of caramel. Chocolate, marmalade, cookies were produced at other large enterprises such as Krasny Oktyabr and Bolshevik. Specialists in these types of products were forced to move to other locations.
Factory named after Babaev
In 1922 it was decided to rename the factory. Now it was called the Babayev factory in honor of the chairman of the Sokolniki district executive committee Pyotr Babayev. At first, the former name was printed in brackets.
During the war, the factory worked intensively for the needs of the front, producing canned food and concentrates for the army. After the Victory, the enterprise returned to the production of its famous chocolate and chocolates in large volumes. In the seventies, the former enterprise of the Abrikosov merchants, and now Babayev's factory, flourished again. But she was destined to survive another severe crisis - the split of the USSR.
At present, the enterprise bears the proud name of OJSC "Babaevsky Confectionery Concern". It brings together all the branches scattered in different cities. The business, once started by a simple serf peasant, lives and flourishes. The products of the Babaevsky concern are still the leaders in the Russian market and are known all over the world.
