Even the smallest workshop can become the largest chocolate factory in the country
In 1890, Mrs. Albina Marschnerováregistered a business producing foreign confections. She worked in a workshop on Balbinova Street, producingTurkish honey, which was famous at the time and very popular abroad. She manufactured the products with her husband, a talented businessman who was not familiar with sales economics. They sold their products at the time primarily on pilgrimage trips to Austria. [Later, when demand grew, they built a confectionery factory in Vinohrady, Pragueand already in 1897 they began processing cocoa beansand came up with the idea of producing chocolate ornaments for Christmasand a Christmas collection for the tree . More and more irreplaceable flagship chocolates were created, starting with the table chocolate, which the owner named and trademarked Orion in 1914. Unfortunately, a few years later, the ambitious and idea-driven owner, František Marschner , passed away. The brand also gained fame by surviving World War I and subsequently tripling its sales. The company became the most famous chocolate confectioner in Europe. The No. 1 products at the time werechestnuts, chocolate-covered bananas, cat’s tongueorrum truffles. The company’s highly successful economy is evidenced by the fact that all of these confectionery products are still on store shelves today. [In 1932, the new owner, Rudolf Pachol, moved the chocolate factory from Vinohrady to Mojany in Prague. During his tenure, the economy grew, 700 workers found jobs, 180 company-owned stores were established, and products were delivered in company cars. In 1944, during the war, operations ceased due to war production, but the company survived. In 1947, however, the factory was nationalized and the state-owned company Prageske Chocoladevny was established. Since then, many factories and enterprises were closed, and the chocolate factory underwent major changes. It mainly produced table chocolates, bonpari candies, chocolate bars,and Christmas ornaments and collections; only in 1993 did the company, whose quality was on a par with the world, concentrate entirely on processing cocoa beans and producing cocoa powder. 0pt”>In 2004, this brand of confectionery production in Modřany was closed by then-owner Nestlé , and 70 employees were laid off with offers of retraining. However, the company did not disappear; production continued at Zora in Olomouc; the Modřany building was sold, demolished by the new owner, and a housing complex was built. Nestlé kept part of the land and built and leased an office building as its headquarters in the Czech Republic.
Modern redevelopment followed, and the historically valuable Orion chocolate factory in Vinohrady was completely demolished and replaced with a residential area. 2014, the municipality offered investors the opportunity to use the neighborhoodas a public transportation Orionka stopand gave the condition to name the intersection U Orionka Square
.