Laura Secord s.e.c is a Canadian

chocolatier A chocolatier ( ; ; ) is a person or company that makes and sells chocolate confections. Chocolatiers are distinct from chocolate makers, who create chocolate from cacao beans and other raw ingredients. Chocolatiers work artisanally with pre- ...

, confectionery, and ice cream company. It is owned by Jean Leclerc of

Quebec City Quebec City is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Census Metropolitan Area (including surrounding communities) had a populati ...

, 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 Yonge Street ( ') is a major arterial route in the Canadian province of Ontario connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Great Lakes#Geography, Upper Great Lakes. Ontario's first colonial administrator, ...

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

, Ontario. He chose the name to honour the Canadian heroine Laura Secord. In 1813, Secord, pioneer wife and mother of seven children, made a journey to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of a planned American attack, contributing to British victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams.

Ownership changes

In 1969, Laura Secord was sold by the O'Connor family to John Labatt Limited. In 1983 it was acquired by British-owned Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery of

York York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...

, England. Its successor,

Nestlé Nestlé S.A. ( ) is a Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate corporation headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. It has been the largest publicly held food company in the world, measured by revenue and other metrics, since 20 ...

's Canadian unit, sold it in 1998 to Archibald Candy Corporation of

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, which they then sold to Gordon Brothers LLC of

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

in 2004. In 2004, there were 174 outlets throughout the country and a staff of 1,600. In 2010 Jean and Jacques Leclerc of

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

purchased the company. , the Leclercs still own the business, which has been reduced to 100 retail outlets offering some 400 products. It has offices in

Mississauga Mississauga is a Canadian city in the province of Ontario. Situated on the north-western shore of Lake Ontario in the Regional Municipality of Peel, it borders Toronto (Etobicoke) to the east, Brampton to the north, Milton to the northwest, ...

, Ontario, and Quebec City, Quebec, and offers online purchase and shipping to Canada and the U.S..Laura Secord website
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References

External links

* {{Rowntree's Rowntree's brands Canadian chocolate companies Retail companies established in 1913 Companies based in Mississauga Ice cream brands Ice cream parlors 1913 establishments in Ontario Food and drink companies established in 1913 Confectionery stores Canadian companies established in 1913