Halvan licorice is made in Helsinki. Halva / Teemu Kuusimurto
Confectionery manufacturer Halva has won the Best Liquorice Manufacturer 2024 category of the British lifestyle magazine LUXlife’s Food & Drink Awards 2024 competition, according to Halva’s press release.
– It feels good that we have been chosen as the best in the world. The award is a wonderful recognition for our entire staff, CEO of Halva Jean Karavokyros says.
This is by no means the first time Finnish licorice has been honored. In 2021 and 2022, Kouvola licorice was selected as the world’s best licorice producer in the same category.
Halva, which has been operating since 1931, is especially known for its licorice and salmiaki. About 40 percent of licorice production is exported. The products are sold in about 20 countries, most in the Nordic countries. The fastest growing exports are to the United States and Canada.
– Abroad, and especially in the United States, people eat a lot of colored licorice, mango and strawberry, but traditional black licorice is also good for many people, says Karavokyros in the press release.
Halva has been producing licorice at its Pitäjänmäki factory in Helsinki since the 1950s. Halva’s productions include, among others, the passing of the Old Age, King Kong candies and Vanhat Autot.
– Cooking the licorice pulp is an important work step in terms of the end result: cooking time and temperature are decisive, says the confectionery worker Tarmo Mähönen in the bulletin.
Halva was founded by Greek brothers who came to Finland after work Jean and Michael Karavokyros. They started making Greek halva with their grandmother’s recipe. Halva still uses the same recipe to make halva. After a few years, the company expanded to other confectionery products.
Production manager Samu Ylijoki is responsible for the operations of the Pitäjänmäki confectionery factory. Halva / Teemu Kuusimurto
The company is already managed by a third-generation family entrepreneur, Jean Karavokyros, who has continued his father Karavokyros of Phokion in the footsteps.
LUXlife magazine annually evaluates and awards food and beverage industry operators around the world. Candidates are evaluated based on, among other things, the company’s reputation, in-depth expertise in the field, customer feedback, recommendations and innovativeness.