In the mid 1970’s Mr. Ahmed Cheikh-Omar the finder of the brand “Al-Halabi” decided that he wanted to return to his homeland Aleppo, Syria which he left in 1955. Mr. Cheikh-Omar by then had already established many businesses in Iraq. His main trade was the production of food matter mainly sweets such as biscuits and confectioneries. Mr. Cheikh-Omar, with his son Mohammed, went back to Syria and bought land to construct their factory on. In the beginning of 1979 the company was established under the name Al-Halabi and it started off with one production line, which produced wafers with fruit cream fillings. In the beginning of the 1980’s the company established its new production line introducing chewing gum under the brand name “Assel”. This product was a great success for the company, nurturing huge fame and profit to family owned business. Another expansion took place in 1985. The new expansion was establishing a chocolate enrobing plant. Through this plant chocolate-coated wafers were produced. Later in 1992 the company took a step forward expanding its product portfolio to include the production of chocolate bars.

In 1996 a new production line was installed, producing various chocolate fillings such as nougat, toffee and other variations. However the company did not resume its production until late 1998. By the beginning of 1999 the company reintroduced its products into the market, bringing all Al-Halabi wafers, and other brands back to life; however the firm was shocked by the results. The consumers had almost completely forgotten the brands. At the beginning of the year 2000, to recapture its market share, the company established its own marketing company, which consisted of 15 cash vans, which were to distribute the firm’s products in Aleppo. Then in an attempt to regain its original position in the Syrian market the company established yet two new production lines in late 2001 one was a biscuit baking plant, while the other was a highly sophisticated and dynamic enrobing plant which consisted of several chocolate and caramel enrobing machines.