Laura Secord s.e.c
Laura Secord
TypePrivate
IndustryFood
Founded1913 (1913)
FounderFrank Patrick O'Connor
Headquarters
Mississauga, Ontario
,
Canada
ProductsChocolate
Websitelaurasecord.ca

Laura Secord s.e.c is a Canadian chocolatier, confectionery, and ice cream company. It is owned by Jean Leclerc of Quebec City, who owns Nutriart, a company devoted to chocolate production. Nutriart is a former division of Biscuits Leclerc.

History

Founding

The company was founded in 1913 by Frank P. O'Connor with its first store on Yonge Street in Toronto, Ontario.[1]

He chose the name to honour the Canadian heroine Laura Secord. In 1813, Secord, pioneer wife and mother of seven children, made a dangerous 19-mile (30-km) journey on foot to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of a planned American attack. Her bravery contributed to victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams.

In 1919 O'Connor founded the Fanny Farmer Candy Stores in the US, appropriating the name and highly esteemed reputation of American culinary expert Fannie Farmer, who had absolutely no relationship to his company.

Ownership changes

In 1969, Laura Secord was sold by the O'Connor family to John Labatt Limited.[1] In 1983 it was acquired by British-owned Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery of York, England. Its successor, Nestlé's Canadian unit, sold it in 1998[2] to Archibald Candy Corporation of Chicago,[3] which they then sold to Gordon Brothers LLC of Boston in 2004.[4] In 2004, there were 174 outlets throughout the country and a staff of 1,600.[3]

In 2010 Jean and Jacques Leclerc of Quebec purchased the company.[5]

Today

As of 2023, the LeClercs still own the business, which has been reduced to 100 retail outlets offering some 400 products. It has offices in Mississauga, Ontario, and Quebec City, Quebec, and offers online purchase and shipping to Canada and the U.S..[6]

References

  1. 1 2 McClearn, Matthew (April 7, 2011). "Laura Secord comes home". Canadian Business. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Nestle Canada to sell Laura Secord". Candy Industry. 163 (11): 9. November 1998. Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Laura Secord up for sale". CBC News. April 22, 2003. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Laura Secord is sold to Gordon Brothers". Refrigerated Transported. August 26, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Laura Secord sold: report". Toronto Sun. February 18, 2010. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  6. ↑ Laura Secord website
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