![5181609462_ee4457b53d_b.jpg](https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmRfj4swAkV1ZcypAM3YivtmwPYHbS7V8XK1aVWTZbc1ba)
*Chocolate "Alenka"*

A curious fact: the chocolate "Alenka" appeared on the decision of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. In early 1964, at a meeting of the Central Committee of the CPSU, questions were discussed on the development of the country's agriculture. The leaders of the party and the Soviet children did not go unheeded either: the confectioners were instructed to launch chocolate, which,
at high quality, would be distinguished by an affordable price.

Soon the confectionery factory "Red October" developed a recipe for chocolate, which meets all the requirements of the party. But, it was easier to make chocolate than to solve the problem - how to arrange the packaging? Since the new development of the Soviet confectioners was called "Alenka"
it was decided to place on the wrapper a reproduction of Vasnetsov's picture "Alenushka", but it turned out that this brand is already occupied.

It was decided to apply for help to citizens of the USSR: in the newspaper "Evening Moscow" a photo contest was announced for the right to be called the "face" of chocolate "Alenka". The editorial board was simply overwhelmed with pictures. As a result, the photo won,
sent by the artist Alexander Gerinas. In the photo, which was made back in 1960, was depicted his eight-month daughter Lena.

By the way, there are also many versions of why the name "Alenka" was chosen for chocolate. Some say that in honor of his daughter Yuri Gagarin, others are sure that in honor of her daughter Valentina Tereshkova.
But there is another assumption - it's just a common name in the country, without any connection with any individual.

Over the photograph of Lena Gerinas worked artist Nikolai Maslov, and since then the chocolate wrap is decorated with the image of blue-eyed girls in a scarf. Several years ago, an adult Elena Gerinas filed a lawsuit against the factory "Red October", demanding to pay her a large amount for copyright infringement.
The trial lasted more than two years and ended not in favor of Elena. The examination showed that the drawing on the wrapper is not an exact copy of the photograph, which means that the copyrights were not violated.

The chocolate brand "Alenka" was very popular in the Soviet Union, and not only. With a good quality, 100-gram tile costs only 80 cents. At the same time, there were no artificial additives in chocolate. According to the recipe, which was approved in 1967, the production of this chocolate used grated cocoa, powdered sugar, powdered milk and cream, vanilla essence and thinner.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, "Alenka" has many "relatives". Began to produce, for example, chocolate "Kuzya, a friend of Alenka", "Naughty Alenka", "Alina". On the popularity of the Soviet brand, many companies have tried to use the popular name for their own enrichment.