GFCO

HISTORY

Our History

A success story of over 86 years.

Grande Fabrique de Confiserie Orientale (GFCO) was established in 1938, thus initiating industrialised production of “Halva Chamia” in Tunisia. The plant was located at Bab El Assal, Tunis and, at the time, its production capacity did not exceed one tonne, with a headcount of no more than thirty people, mostly unskilled workers. The process was essentially manual, from the sifting of sesame seeds to the packaging of Halva. Mechanisation was rudimentary and did not go beyond the grinding of sesame seeds (the raw material and major ingredient of Halva Chamia). In those days, GFCO was marketing 3 trade names: Le Roi (=The King), La Reine (=The Queen) and El-Hilel (=The Crescent). In the early seventies, GFCO launched a vast programme of modernisation and production diversification driven by the same concern as when establishing GFCO: to industrialise while maintaining the traditional flavour of Halva Chamia, as our grandparents knew it. It was also at that time that GFCO entered the candy market. As no sophisticated technology for the industrialisation of Halva Chamia production was then available in the western world, GFCO had to develop and modernize its own means of production. Among the many innovations GFCO introduced over its life, suffice it to cite the adaptation of a bread mixer for the preparation of the “Tahina” made by grinding sesame seeds. It was in this manner that GFCO developed its own know-how, which enabled it to double its daily production capacity. In order to further mechanise its production process, GFCO initiated a number of investment plans in 1987. And, to ensure durable growth, GFCO relocated its production plant to the Airport industrial park (Charguia II). Under this expansion and modernisation impetus, new investments were undertaken for the purchase of new equipments and the automation of the manufacturing process. Most of these investments benefited Halva Chamia, of which the daily production was multiplied by four. The diversification of GFCO’s activities was a major component of its growth. Based on its leading position in the market, GFCO invested in the expansion of its activities in the sector by setting up a confectionery plant in 1975 and a chewing gum plant in 1995. A present, the candy confectionery plant has the widest product range in the domestic market. Fully convinced of the quality and success of its chewing gum, GFCO did not hesitate to launch the first Tunisian sugar-free chewing gum.

Key dates

  • GFCO is established.
  • GFCO bought up by Tunisian private interests.​
  • Birth of the new La Gazelle product.
  • The modernisation program is put in place.​
  • Starting-up of the candy production plant and launching of the trade name Delice.​
  • Automation of the Halva Chamia manufacturing process.
  • GFCO moves into the chewing-gum mark.
  • Launching of the PIPO candies name.
  • Launching of the SPEED chewing gum name.
  • Launching of the company’s upgrading program.
  • Launching of the Marina candies pastille name.
  • Launching of the SPEEDENT chewing-gum name (the 1st Tunisian sugar-free chewing gum).
  • Quality assessment: ISO 9002 by BVQI, an international organisation.
  • Launching of the HACCP programme.
  • More than 86 years