Greek store Hellas Cakes in Melbourne, Australia, has catered some of the most prestigious parties and supplied many local cafes with delicious kourabiethes, baklava and galaktoboureka. For 52 years, the shop is a reference point of the city and is associated with its multicultural history.
Clients can find everything from baklava and melomakarona to modern recipes and cakes for all occasions. Hellas Cakes, a milestone for Greek-Australians, is present in the difficult moments as well, being the biggest suppliers of koliva and sperna at Greek funerals and memorials.
The Greek patisserie was founded by Herakles Kenos in 1962, a post-war immigrant from Greece. Herakles was a practising pastry chef in Greece when he decided to move to Melbourne and start his own business. He was smart enough not to change the traditional recipe and managed to attract curious Australians and homesick Greeks.
The business was flourishing and Kenos acquired a partner, confectioner George Laliotis, who migrated to Australia in 1974. In 1977, Laliotis offered a partnership to George Kantaras, one of his employees since the early 1970’s and he accepted the offer.
Hellas Cakes is currently in the hands of the next generation, Peter Laliotis and Andrew Kantaras. The traditional Greek cakes are still the shop’s best sellers. However, some recipes have changed or adapted to new trends in order to attract new clients.
The shop’s clientele includes catering company Spotless, Crown Casino and the Melbourne Grand Prix.
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