Szerencs Chocolate Factory Celebrates Centenary

To mark the centenary of the founding of the Szerencs chocolate factory, a year-long series of events will commemorate one of the country's best-known sweets in Szerencs, NE Hungary.

The director of the regional Zemplén Museum, Judit Majoros told MTI that the series of events will be organized around two important dates. The first is June8 when the museum's exhibition 'Sweet Years – 100 Years of Chocolate Production in Szerencs' will open, presenting the most important events and stages in the history of local chocolate production. The exhibition was preceded by scientific research and a collecting movement, which has enriched the collection with many old photos, documents and objects.

To mark the anniversary, a publication will also be launched on June 8. In addition to describing the history of chocolate-making over 100 years, will give a behind-the-scenes look at the production process through photographs.

The other important date is August 26-27, when the Artúr Days Festival (in reference to a 'chocoholic' Hungarian cartoon figure) will be held in Szerencs, where a chocolate sculpture will be made this year, and it will be all about chocolate and fun. During the event, Szerencsi Bonbon Ltd., which will display a logo commemorating the centenary on its products, will open its doors to visitors, offering an insight into the chocolate-making process. In collaboration with the Hungarian Post Office, a commemorative stamp will be issued, the reverse side of which will be chocolate-flavored.

The museum director also said that Nestlé, which has owned this particular chocolate factory for over three decades, will also be taking part in the centenary celebrations, as they will be holding their own celebration during the Artúr Days, and their nearby factory building in Diósgyőr will be renovated, with photos in the corridors to commemorate the factory's past and an outdoor exhibition in the courtyard.