From 1930 until today, the name ION has managed to become synonymous with chocolate in Greece, thanks to the company's commitment to quality, innovation and the unique taste of its products.

50 years ago in Thessaloniki, ION was there

A group of shareholders establishes a chocolate factory in 1930 on Piraeus Street, in Neo Faliro, where it is still located today. Their ambition is to become chocolate manufacturers.

Then ION SA NASKO A.E. is also founded for the production of confectionery. This name later shaped generations of ION confectionery products, reaching to the present day with the well-known NASCO candies.

The chocolate factory of ION, where the journey of Greek chocolate begins

The foundation for the current size of ION, as one of the largest Greek chocolate and confectionery industries, is laid after the Second World War.

First, the trading company "Adelfoi I. Kotsiopoulos" is founded (1956), which takes over the exclusive distribution of the products of ION as well as the NASCO products.

Ion 2019 spot:

With its headquarters in Piraeus and its first shop in the Athens shopping center, this newly established company lays the foundation for the company's current sales and distribution network. ION Almond Chocolate is still known for its unique taste, as well as for its original and timeless promotional techniques.

The chocolate ion, the sweet snack that accompanies whole generations

A little later, ION assimilates the NASCO company, giving it its current form with the production of a wide range of confectionery and chocolate products. The company gradually expands into new confectionery sectors such as wafers and chocolate bars.

In 2015, ION celebrates 85 years of market presence, with sales reaching 100 million euros.

The Greek company sees a steady improvement in its financials amid the crisis, operating its three production units (Neo Faliro, Markopoulo and Arta) at full capacity, not only maintaining jobs but increasing them to 900 people. ION stakes a lot on reminding that it remains purely Greek and that after almost eighty-five years of business presence it insists on a very restrained approach.

Unlike the other historic chocolate industry, Pavlidis, Ion's group of businessmen insists on categorically rejecting the tempting takeover proposals, it continues on a solitary path, rather "romantic" in times like the present. ION, GIOTIS and PAPADOPOULOU can be considered as the "national group of the food industry", a sector that is recently strengthened by newer names, many local producers, encouraging signs of a revival of the Greek economy.

With its own distribution centers in Athens, Thessaloniki, its own network of vendors and agents, it covers and serves the entire Greek market. The export activity is also growing steadily, targeting mainly the countries of Eastern Europe, the Arab world, West America and the Far East (Japan).