Factory and Trade Association “A.I. Abrikosov and Sons” was one of the three confectionery “pillars” of its time — along with the firms “Einem” and “S. Sioux & Co.” Abrikosov owned a network of company stores in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Odessa, Kiev, and Rostov, as well as a sugar factory, a bank and an insurance company.
The history of the Partnership goes back to the times of serfdom. At the beginning of the 19th century, the confectioner Stepan, Nikolay’s son, the serf of the landowner Levashova, came to Moscow to look for a job. Those with a sweet tooth were especially fond of the signature dishes — cakes that were light inside and apricot marshmallows. The trade was so profitable that soon Stepan bought his family out of serfdom and opened his own shop under the name “Abrikosov”.
In accordance with traditions, his eldest son Ivan inherited the business. However, soon the family found itself in such serious debt that the younger Abrikosov, Aleksey, was forced to leave his studies and go to work in a German confectionery. A few years later, he returned to the family shop as the rightful owner. The business actually had to be started from scratch.
As a pastry chef, Aleksey knew that he had to not only produce high quality products, but also look for ways to attract customers. The young Abrikosov hired workers and, focusing on the work of European confectioners, actively engaged in advertising, allocating a fifth of the costs to it. He commissioned eminent artists to create designs for packing boxes.
His name was advertised everywhere: on newspaper pages, in shop windows, and on the walls of buildings. The public was attracted by participation in charity events. After some time, Abrikosov was no longer the owner of a modest shop. Instead he had brilliant stores in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The public learned about his products from colorfully designed price lists. Branded packaging — bonbonniere boxes, wooden, tin, and cardboard boxes, baskets and jars — were highly appreciated by collectors.
A real hit was the design of a square box with a board for three games (checkers, “Agon” and “Mill”) on the bottom and both sides of the lid. A set of checkers and the rules of all the three games were included into the sweet set.
In 1899, the Association “A.I. Abrikosov and Sons” received the high title of Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty.
Since 1922, after nationalization, the factory has been named after the worker Pyotr Babaev. In 2009, the direct descendants of Aleksey Abrikosov began the revival of the family company.
The history of the Partnership goes back to the times of serfdom. At the beginning of the 19th century, the confectioner Stepan, Nikolay’s son, the serf of the landowner Levashova, came to Moscow to look for a job. Those with a sweet tooth were especially fond of the signature dishes — cakes that were light inside and apricot marshmallows. The trade was so profitable that soon Stepan bought his family out of serfdom and opened his own shop under the name “Abrikosov”.
In accordance with traditions, his eldest son Ivan inherited the business. However, soon the family found itself in such serious debt that the younger Abrikosov, Aleksey, was forced to leave his studies and go to work in a German confectionery. A few years later, he returned to the family shop as the rightful owner. The business actually had to be started from scratch.
As a pastry chef, Aleksey knew that he had to not only produce high quality products, but also look for ways to attract customers. The young Abrikosov hired workers and, focusing on the work of European confectioners, actively engaged in advertising, allocating a fifth of the costs to it. He commissioned eminent artists to create designs for packing boxes.
His name was advertised everywhere: on newspaper pages, in shop windows, and on the walls of buildings. The public was attracted by participation in charity events. After some time, Abrikosov was no longer the owner of a modest shop. Instead he had brilliant stores in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The public learned about his products from colorfully designed price lists. Branded packaging — bonbonniere boxes, wooden, tin, and cardboard boxes, baskets and jars — were highly appreciated by collectors.
A real hit was the design of a square box with a board for three games (checkers, “Agon” and “Mill”) on the bottom and both sides of the lid. A set of checkers and the rules of all the three games were included into the sweet set.
In 1899, the Association “A.I. Abrikosov and Sons” received the high title of Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty.
Since 1922, after nationalization, the factory has been named after the worker Pyotr Babaev. In 2009, the direct descendants of Aleksey Abrikosov began the revival of the family company.
