Leo Stefanos
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Leo Stefanos born in Greece, is the inventor of the DOVEBAR®, he introduced the answer to America's constant craving for chocolate and ice cream with the frozen treats.
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[edit] Early Beginnings
Leo Stefanos was a first generation Greek-American, arriving in New York and eventually settling in Chicago's South side to raise a family which included two young sons. The idea for the confection arose in the mid 1950's when one day Leo saw his young son, Mike, racing recklessly down the street in pursuit of the neighborhood ice cream truck. Leo knew that was dangerous and decided to make his own ice cream bar in hopes of keeping Mike and his brother closer to home. Since he owned a candy shop that also sold premium ice cream, he came up with the idea of developing his own ice cream treat. He spent months in his small candy store's back room located on Chicago’s South Side, developing his own brand by cutting a few blocks of his best ice cream, which he then dipped into rich chocolate which eventually became a popular item at the Dove Candy shop. Before long, the DOVEBAR® was the talk of the neighborhood.
Mike grew up, earned a CPA degree, and then joined his father in the candy shop in 1977. After Leo died, Mike took over the store, and the popularity of the DOVEBAR began to spread beyond Chicago. Over one million of the frozen treats were sold by street vendors that first year, which would have made Leo proud.
[edit] Later Years
Mike Stefanos began to think of ways to expand the family business and introduced DoveBars to specialty stores and country clubs in the Chicago area. In 1984 he presented the DoveBar at the Fancy Food Show in Washington, D.C., and began to receive orders from around the country. Since then similar products have been sold for years, but Mike has continued to make DoveBars with the same care and high-quality ingredients that Leo used.
In 1985, the DOVEBAR company was bought by Mars, Incorporated, makers of quality products such as M&M'S Chocolate Candies and SNICKERS Bar. DOVE Chocolate, inspired by the chocolate on the original DOVEBAR introduced by Stefanos decades earlier, was introduced nationally in 1990. Today thanks to one man's concerned safety for his young kids, both adults and kids can enjoy DOVE Chocolate in over 30 countries around the world.
