The story of Aphrodite Delights began in 1895, when Sophocles Athanasiou returned to his home village of Yeroskipos in Cyprus after many years of travelling and living overseas.

He established the Cyprus Delights Industry and his 'loukoumia' soon became a local favourite.

Gabriel Hadjizinoviou and his wife Chariklia

Nicodemos Gabriel and his wife Evdokia

Word quickly spread to the rest of the island and people began to travel to the village especially to indulge in these sweets, making Yeroskipos synonymous with this fine confectionery.

Sophocles retired in 1920 and left a fully operational factory to his son-in-law Gabriel Hadjizinoviou, who continued using the original recipe. In 1925, he was invited to take part in the British Empire Exhibition at the newly-built Wembley Stadium (then Empire Stadium) where he was awarded a certificate in recognition of his products.

Indeed, the company's original packaging bore the royal symbol of the lion for many years. In 1960, as Cyprus gained its independence, he succeeded in being one of the very first Cypriots to register his company, and the enterprise and its products became known as 'Aphrodite Yeroskipos Delights'.

In 1964, the company was passed on to Gabriel's son, Nikodemos Gabriel who had many new ideas for the modernisation of the traditionally small factory.

He and his wife Evdokia successfully managed to make Aphrodite Delights known all over the world and were soon exporting to the far reaches of the globe.