Legendary Soviet chocolate Alyonka

Legendary Soviet chocolate Alyonka has 50 years of glorious history. Chocolate “Alyonka” – milk chocolate, made in the Soviet Union in 1965 and later produced in Russia, including at the confectionery factory “Red October” (1966). A distinctive feature is the cream, “fat” taste. All these years, “Alyonka” has been with us and become one of the symbols of a happy Soviet childhood for generations. And “Alyonka”, as we have known it since the USSR, even has its own museum! In the new food program, adopted in the early 1960s by the USSR government, a special attention was given to the creation of mass, affordable milk chocolate. At various factories in Moscow have begun experiments in creating delicious chocolate. In 1964, Soviet specialists-confectioners of the Moscow factory “Red October” developed appropriate formulation was which was put into production at the factory and at the same time at other chocolate factories – “Rot Front”, Babayevsky, and then in many other Soviet confectionery factories. The first “Alyonka” became Babayevsky girl in a blue scarf. The second became Alyonka made at Rot Front chocolate factory – girl with a watering can and a girl with a dog and a bunny.

In 1960, photojournalist, Honored Worker of Culture of the RSFSR Alexander Gerinas photographed his eight-month daughter Lena in a silk scarf. Photo turned out successful and Gerinas sent it to magazines. First picture appeared in the journal “Soviet Photo”, then she graced the cover of the magazine “Health” (number 1, 1962).

In 1964, the new chocolate “Alenka” produced by the confectionery factory “Red October” did not have permanent registration wrapper. Chocolate initially was released in different images and different color wrapper. As a result, the factory has decided to develop its corporate portrait “Alyonka”. It has been proposed to use in the design of the cover painting by Vasnetsov “Alyonushka”, but this idea was not supported. Then the factory management through the newspaper “Evening Moscow” has announced a competition for the photo of the girl who was to become the brand of chocolate. Photo by Alexander Gerinas won the competition.

From the photo of Elena Gerinas was painted an image of Alyonka by artist N. Maslov. In comparison with the original photo, Alyonka became blue-eyed, changed her mouth shape, the face and the direction of look. In 1965 the factory “Red October” launched the production of “Alyonka” chocolate, which adorned the illustration by Maslov. This image is already more than 50 years old.

Legendary Soviet chocolate Alyonka

At the moment, “Alyonka” owned by “United Confectioners” chocolate brand, which includes 15 companies, including OAO “Rot Front”, JSC “Red October”, OJSC “Confectionery concern Babaevsky.” In addition, the related brands of chocolate found in other post-Soviet countries (such as Ukrainian “Olenka” and Belarusian “My favorite Alyonka”).

The Girl in kerchief has long been familiar to all Soviet and Russian people. But before this cute image appeared, there were other, equally charming. Here is a gallery of the old image of “Alyonka” chocolate. The girls here are older, photographed and drawn. Neither one of them could hold on to the wrapper as much as the current Alyonka, but this is not a reason to forget about them.