Company "Laima"

The first sweets plant in Riga was established in 1870 by a German entrepreneur Theodor Riegert, and named after him. The plant of Theodor Riegert was one of the leading major production plants in the Baltics, and Russia in general. In 1925, as continuation of the tradition established by Riegert, the chocolate and sweets trade and production company LAIMA was etablished.
In 1881, also the Riga Canned Food and Sweets Plant L.W.GOEGGINGER was founded, located in Riga, Sporta street 2, where the largest sweets production plant LAIMA is located now. At that time, the plant manufactured sweets, chocolates, candies, and various canned food. The proprietor of the enterprise was Ludmila Gegingere. Already at the end of the 19th century and in the twenties of the 20th, the products manufactured by the plant earned many awards, including "Grand Prix" of the international exhibitions in London, Paris, and Rome. In the beginning of the 20th century the plant manufactured about 900 sorts of sweets, as chocolate plates, candies, forms, cooking chocolate, marzipan articles, fruit marmelades, caramels, dragees various pastils and cakes.

In 1938, the JSC LAIMA had become a powerful company, the biggest shareholder of which was Alfrēds Valdmanis. In 1938, the following information was provided on the JSC LAIMA by Latvian Chamber of Trade and Industry: "The company manufactures chocolate, candies, cacao, marmelade,. etc". After the change of shareholders, it acquired part of the liquidated chocolate plant, JSC TH. RIEGERT, and the machinery of the chocolate plant E. MEŽĪTS, and also purchased upgraded machinery abroad. The enterprise is a leader in local sweets production and is still expanding. The products represent high quality and are being exported in large amounts. …