One of the delicious childhood memories of many of our fellow citizens is a sweets called "Bolshevik". The confectionery factory was opened by the French before the revolution and accustomed the Russians to sweet delights, and after 1917 it became a reference enterprise.
French pastry shop
The desire for quick money brought the family of French perfumer Adolf Sioux to the capital of Russia in 1853. It was planned to earn capital by selling perfumes and colognes, but the situation was completely different when Madame Eugenie Sioux got down to business. Thanks to her idea and enterprise, the oldest confectionery factory “Bolshevik” (Moscow) appeared in the country. The first store opened on Tverskaya Street on St. Catherine's Day in 1855. Manual production of European sweets was established in the room adjacent to the store, the entire staff consisted of a pastry chef and apprentice.
On the first day of work, the couple received a fantastic revenue for those times - almost 123 rubles, the next day I was not pleased at all, the goods were sold for only 3 rubles. But the first success was encouraging, and the business began to develop. Pretty soon, merchants began to consider it a matter of prestige to buy expensive French chocolates, and the store gained popularity with most Muscovites. For six years, while the confectionery business was developing, the father of the family reached the top of his career in perfumery and became the managing director of the French company, but without regret left a large post after the contract, completely immersed in the affairs of the family business.
In 1881, Adolf Siu completely handed over the management of the company to his sons, establishing the Trading House “A. Siu and Co. ” Family business receives a huge impetus for development - it was decided to build a huge confectionery factory with equipment that has not yet been seen in Russia. The project is entrusted to the architect Oscar Didio. The first red brick building was commissioned on October 1 in 1884. It was amazing - a luxurious staircase led to the entrance, a fountain was installed in front of it, openwork forged lattices served as an additional decoration. The highlight of the entire structure was the complete electrification of production, for which dynamos were installed in the basements. When evening came, Muscovites came to see a luminous miracle, and the factory quickly became a new attraction of the capital.
At the end of the 19th century, the enterprise flourished - there were 20 workshops that produced more than 2 thousand products. Marmalade, pastille, cookies, cakes and sweets scattered to all parts of Russia, to far and near abroad. With the increase in supply volumes, additional floor space was also required for workshops. The brothers managed to buy up nearby sites and expand production by building new premises. More than 1,200 employees have already worked at the Siu Brothers factory. Since 1903, the company has taken a leadership position nationwide. To deliver products to all corners of the capital, his younger brother Adolf organized his own retail distribution network in the form of mobile carts. Muscovites could buy fresh pastries, cakes, sweets in any area of ​​the city.
In addition to ready-made confectionery, coffee and cocoa were produced and packed in workshops, and hot chocolate was closed in tin cans for travelers - the brothers brought many innovations to the confectionery market. The most extensive in the factory’s capacities was the caramel workshop, where sweets with fillings from cognac, jam, fruit, pralines and much more were first produced. Product packaging was sometimes a work of art; eminent artists often worked on its design. Active market promotion gave rise to the first marketing tricks that are still used today - some types of products were supplemented by calendars, thematic printed series dedicated to figures of literature, art, stimulating consumers to become collectors.
Royal cookies
The whole country was preparing for the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the reign of the Romanov dynasty (1913), confectioners produced products timed to the date. Manufacturers tried to stand out by any means - they prepared special packaging, developed new types of sweets, reduced the cost of goods. Company “A. Siu and Co., being the market leader, prepared three new products for the event - Susanin candies, a cologne in a crystal bottle and Yubileiny cookies.
The modern "Bolshevik" (confectionery factory) still produces this type of cookie, which made the Sioux family famous. Cookies became legendary almost immediately after release, it is popular today, the recipe is carefully stored in the company. In 1913, the enterprise received the long-awaited title - the supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty. Until 1917, the company did not know of failures and constantly increased capacity. The new time and the changing political system did not affect the popularity of sweets, and the factory remained the industry leader.
After the revolution
In 1917, everything changed quickly - the owners immigrated, employees and revolutionaries sealed the premises. A gradual launch began in 1918. At the initiative of Lenin, in 1920 the company received a new name - "Bolshevik".
The confectionery factory begins to grow only in 1923, at that time all the existing workshops were already operating. In 1927, the company was transferred to the Mosselprom trust and focused on the production of flour confectionery products - biscuits, waffles, and cookies were in demand. The factory management obliged not only to resume the production of all pre-revolutionary products, but also to introduce new recipes. The first sign of modernization was the mechanical stamping of gingerbread.
The rate of increase in production did not decrease, socialist competitions began , mechanization of labor was put on stream and became the first duty of the entire industrial complex of the country. In 1940, the factory produced more than 54 tons of finished products, which amounted to 984% in comparison with the figures for 1913.
With the outbreak of the war, the Bolshevik (confectionery factory) sent cookies, condensed milk, biscuits to the front, some of the workshops produce ampoules for incendiary mixture, phlegmalizers, flame arresters, sew mittens and quilted jackets, and the production of cheap soap has begun. But even in such a difficult time, opportunities were found for the reconstruction of one of the workshops, where they installed equipment for the production of tartlets, "Swiss roll", petitour, cookies with a layer.
Immediately after the war, work began on the launch of all facilities. "Bolshevik" (confectionery factory), constantly increasing production, remained the standard of the confectionery industry in the country. The best products and the widest assortment, which was distributed throughout the Soviet Union, came out of the workshops.
The third workshop was called “Vienna” and was privileged at the enterprise, cakes and cakes came out of its conveyors, the assortment consisted of 18 items, and the production volumes were estimated in tons. Part of the products was sent to the Kremlin, party leaders, delegates to rallies, and congresses. The company was proud of its traditions - the recipes of many sweets had a century of history, and many families worked in the factory as dynasties.
New times
With the next change in the social system, the Bolshevik (confectionery factory) also felt the wind of change. The foreign giants that entered the market competed fiercely. In 1997, the French company Danone acquired 87% of the shares, wishing to breathe new life into the Russian factory. Attempts were made to rename the enterprise, but marketing research showed a high level of consumer confidence in the old name, and it was decided to leave it.
The company began to restore output levels, but the 1998 financial crisis collapsed in demand for confectionery. At the beginning of the new century, the situation leveled off due to the expansion of products to regional markets, CIS countries and neighboring countries. In 2007, Danone sold the biscuit business to the American company Kraft Foods. The new owners, evaluating the prospects for the development of production in the center of Moscow, came to the conclusion that this situation was disadvantageous and transferred production facilities to the city of Sobinka (Vladimir Region). The entire historic production complex and new workshops in Sobinka are the property of Kraft Foods Rus.
Products from Sobinki
The new Bolshevik (confectionery) was opened in October 2009. Investments in the production complex amounted to 1.5 billion rubles. The facilities are located on 15 hectares and represent 6 lines for the production of cookies and biscuits. The staff consists of 350 people, the design production capacity is 40 thousand tons of finished products per year.
Range of products:
- Cookies "Jubilee" in three lines (traditional, with cereals, with fruits and berries).
- Sponge biscuit “Barney's Bear”, belVita, TUC, Alpen Gold Chocolife, OREO.
"Bolshevik" in Sobinka: reviews
Cookies "Jubilee" was once a recognized leader in demand among the population. It was released after the collapse of the USSR in an invariably large quantity. Today the recipe has undergone changes; berries, cereals and glaze have been added to the final product. According to consumer reviews, it can be said that few people like modern Yubileynoye cookies manufactured at the Bolshevik factory in Sobinka by Mon'delis Rus. Rare reviews talk about a large selection in the line of traditional cookies, a pleasant taste. A greater number of positive ratings were exhibited for other products - Barney biscuit cookies.
In negative reviews, an emotional story is written about the ruined recipe of your favorite cookies, calls are made to the manufacturer to return the traditional recipe. Consumers noted that “Yubileinoe” from Sobinka is described in brochures as a product made from natural raw materials, although the data on the packaging contradict this statement Some of the buyers who left feedback decided to abandon this product in favor of another manufacturer.
"Vienna workshop"
When the Bolshevik (confectionery factory) was acquired by Kraft Foods in 2012, the family of Moscow lawyers managed to take the famous Vienna Shop, which produced the legendary assortment of pastries and cakes, into a separate company. Now this production is located in Lefortovo. Together with technical equipment, the current owners Margarita Danelia and Leonid Sedov bought the entire archive of recipes. The decision to revive traditional confectionery products was partly dictated by nostalgic memories - the spouses spent their childhood at the Dynamo metro station, where there was a Bolshevik factory outlet, which no one passed without shopping.
Now the "Vienna workshop" produces almost the entire classic range, which was famous for the confectionery factory "Bolshevik". Products are created according to preserved Soviet recipes, in accordance with GOSTs. Together with cakes and pastries familiar from childhood, the company produces 80 kinds of sweets, takes orders for individual production of cakes for celebrations, sells finished products in the retail chain of large stores in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
You can enjoy exquisite desserts in branded cafes, one of them is comfortably located at the historical location of the factory, which now has a business center with the same name as the Bolshevik confectionery factory (OJSC). The Vienna Workshop offers visitors Fairytale, Prague, Ideal cakes, “as in childhood” cakes, delicious coffee and tea.
Product Reviews
It is rare to meet a person who does not know the Bolshevik confectionery. Cakes, pastries, desserts accompanied the childhood and holidays of most residents of the Soviet Union. Today, a high level of quality is supported by the Vienna workshop company, which produces a huge assortment of confectionery products, including “those” sweets.
Reviews of products with positive ratings say that cakes and cakes purchased in company stores for a moment returned buyers to childhood, recalling with their taste all the best that happened in life. High saturation of taste, preservation of the recipe and design are noted.
Shops of the confectionery factory pleased visitors with the beauty and grace of design, the internal atmosphere and the opportunity to try the whole assortment with a cup of aromatic coffee. The stories mention the courtesy of the staff, the desire to help with the choice, a good knowledge of the entire range and a good attitude towards customers. Loyal consumers are convinced that only natural ingredients are used in the manufacture of confectionery products, an indirect confirmation of this assumption is the high calorie content of cakes and pastries, a short shelf life - now there are no such recipes.
Negative ratings are for products purchased from a retail supermarket chain. Often it is impossible to understand what kind of producer is involved, it is profitable to exploit the theme of nostalgia in the confectionery business. The most demanding customers, understanding the issue, noted that cakes and pastries purchased in branded confectioneries tastes much better in taste than those sold in stores.
Few people liked that a large amount of oily cream is present in the products. Mogies believe that this is an outdated approach to desserts. There are reviews where owners are reproached that natural butter has been replaced with palm oil, which immediately reduced the quality of the entire assortment. There are complaints about the untimely delivery of custom-made cakes by the appointed time, claims to the manufacturer regarding deviations from GOST and high cost.
Jobs and reviews about the employer
Company “Vienna workshop. Bolshevik ”(confectionery factory) is opening vacancies in many areas, which is associated with the expansion of production and an increase in the supply of finished goods. In the fall of 2017, confectioners, production managers, technologists, sales representatives in the Moscow region, sales consultants and a barista are invited to the company for confectionery. Employees are promised a stable salary, a vacation 2 times a year, a social package and much more.
Confectionery factory "Bolshevik" offers vacancies in Moscow for residents of the capital and Moscow region, promising comfortable working conditions and friendly staff. Employee reviews say that wages are received regularly on precisely designated dates of the month. Many said that the work schedule is quite busy, but those who want to get a solid salary, bonuses and are not afraid of fatigue always get a decent reward.
As an additional pleasant bonus, the opportunity to purchase confectionery products with a significant corporate discount was appreciated. It is noted that in the workshops they pay attention to hygiene, cleaners are constantly working, a restroom and a dining room are provided for workers. Communicating in a team environment is friendly, top management is attentive to the needs of employees and often responds to comments.
Negative reviews say that the promised level of wages does not correspond to the real situation, and fines are removed for the slightest mistake. There are isolated stories about the lack of sanitary shift books for workers at night, there are complaints about the lack of ventilation and narrow aisles in the workshops. Most employees believe that a 12-hour work day is too much a load that does not give proper financial return or career growth.
Helpful information
The address of the confectionery factory “Bolshevik” is Vladimir Region, the city of Sobinka, Mira Street, building 2.
The Vienna Workshop company is located in Moscow at 15 Krasnokazarmennaya Street, Building 1. The Bolshevik confectionery store invites visitors to shop at Leningradsky Prospekt at Building 15, Building 1. Now, tours are being conducted in the building of the old factory. To get here, you need to take the metro to Belorusskaya station, from where you can take another bus stop (No. 27, 82, 84, etc.), get off at Pravda Street.