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Godiva Chocolatier

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A Hong Kong branch

Godiva Chocolatier is a manufacturer of premium chocolates and related products. Godiva, originally founded in Belgium in 1926, was purchased by Turkey's Yıldız Holding, owner of the Ülker Group, early in 2008. [1][2][3][4] Godiva owns and operates more than 450 retail boutiques and shops in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia and is available via over 10,000 specialty retailers.[5]

Besides chocolates, Godiva also sells truffles, coffee, cocoa, biscuits, dipped fruits and sweets, "Chocolixir" beverages, wedding and party favors and other items arranged in gift baskets. Godiva's signature package is the Gold Ballotin (French for "small, elegant box of chocolates"). Godiva also produces seasonal and limited-edition chocolates with special packaging for all major holidays. Godiva also has license agreements for the production of ice cream, cheesecake, coffee pods and liqueur that comes in several chocolate-related flavors.

Godiva chocolates are relatively expensive, even compared to lesser-known brands that are considered to be of higher quality, like Valrhona or Michel Cluizel.[6]

History

Godiva (god ee' va) was founded in 1926 in Brussels, Belgium, by Joseph Draps. Draps opened his first boutique in the Grand Place in Brussels under its present name, in honor of the legend of Lady Godiva.[7] The first Godiva shop outside Belgium was opened in Paris in 1958. In 1966, the company's products reached the United States, where it was sold at luxury department stores. The following year, it was purchased by the Campbell Soup Company. In 1972, the first Godiva boutique in North America was opened on New York's Fifth Avenue.[8]

By 2007 Godiva had annual sales of approximately $500 million. In August of that year, Campbell Soup Company announced it was "exploring strategic alternatives, including possible divestiture, for its Godiva Chocolatier business"; the company said the "premium chocolate business does not fit with Campbell's strategic focus on simple meals".[9]

On December 20, 2007, Campbell announced that it entered into an agreement to sell Godiva to Istanbul, Turkey, based Yıldız Holding, which owns Ülker group, the largest consumer goods manufacturer in the Turkish food industry.[1][10] The acquisition was completed on March 18, 2008, for $850 million.[11]

U.S. Trademark

Early HM trademark, filed April 12, 1967
The word and drawing design Godiva logo is a registered trademark at the USPTO, and owned by Godiva Chocolatier, Inc.

Godiva S.p.r.l. of Brussels, Belgium (Belgian Corporation) filed their original trademark application on Tuesday, March 15, 1966 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to register their name, GODIVA and protect its brand. The chocolatier described their product to the USPTO as "candy." Godiva stated that first and commercial use was on October 30, 1960. Trademark for the word mark was granted on October 3, 1967.[12]

A follow-up trademark application was filed a year after, on Wednesday, April 12, 1967, by Godiva S.p.r.l. with the USPTO. This time it was a design and word mark for Ego Godiva Comitissa Diu Istud Desideratvi combined with the company's iconic 'Lady Godiva image design of a nude woman riding a horse. The English translation of the Latin words is "I Godiva most beloved have long desired this." In the application, Godiva indicated first use and commercial use for the design mark as January 3, 1967. Trademark registration in the U.S. was granted on July 15, 1969.[13]

U.S. trademark status for both Godiva word mark and lady and word design mark is registered and renewed. Both trademarks are owned by Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. of New York, New York.


See also

References

  1. ^ a b Ülker Group to buy Campbell's Godiva
  2. ^ Lady Godiva becomes Bride of Istanbul
  3. ^ A Giant Step by Ülker: World’s Number One Premium Chocolate Brand is Now Ülker’s
  4. ^ Yildiz buys Godiva for $850m
  5. ^ History of Godiva from the company's "Careers" website
  6. ^ International Herald Tribune, "Valrhona May Be Best, but Not Most Expensive : For Chocolate Lovers, Offer a Taste of Paradise" by Conrad de Aenlle. December 18 1999.
  7. ^ The History of Godiva Chocolatier, from the company's website
  8. ^ Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. from a profile in International Directory of Company Histories via findarticle.com
  9. ^ Campbell To Explore Strategic Alternatives For Godiva Business, a Campbell's press release via shareholder.com
  10. ^ Turkish company buys Godiva
  11. ^ Campbell Completes Sale of Godiva Chocolatier to Yıldız Holding for $850 Million
  12. ^ http://www.trademarkia.com/godiva-72241040.html
  13. ^ http://www.trademarkia.com/ego-godiva-comitissa-diu-istud-desideravi-72268957.html
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