Latest news with #Fuerst
Hamilton Spectator
05-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Shaken to the core': Woman sentenced in vicious home invasion that shocked community
It would have scared the daylights out of each and every one of us. Two weeks before Christmas, on Dec. 11, at 1:15 p.m., a 60-year-old homeowner approached the door to the sight of a 21-year-old woman on her stoop. It was only once she opened the door that an armed male jumped out from his hiding spot and punched her in the face. What happened next was the subject of a sentencing involving the now 27-year-old woman who took part in the home invasion in 2019. At Newmarket court, Samantha Faryadpoor, 27, was handed three years and 10 months after pleading guilty to the Vaughan robbery that prompted a large public outcry when the victim and police took the rare steps of releasing images of the beating to the public. The court heard how, after the man pushed the woman to the ground in her Thornhill home, he began to demand money and the location of the safe. 'She consistently denied the existence of a safe, he punched her in the face, repeatedly, with a closed fist,' court documents read. 'Faryadpoor continued to search the residence. She was seen and heard talking on the phone with someone who said 'get the money.'' Faryadpoor claimed she was searching for the cash and did not see the assault that left the woman 'shaken to the core,' according to court documents. The woman was then dragged to the bathroom and punched and beaten with a gun until Faryadpoor intervened and stopped the attack, saying it would kill her, court documents allege. Soon after, the pair fled the house with less than $1,000. The homeowner was hospitalized with a broken jaw, nose, two fractured orbital bones, a broken finger and ankle. She had to relearn how to walk and remains unable to do so properly. She continues to suffer from frequent headaches and dizziness, the court heard. 'It left the female victim shaken to her core, her sense of safety, her trust and her family's ability to live without fear all decimated,' said Justice Michelle Fuerst, who added that the attack prompted the victim and her husband to leave their home due to emotional trauma. Fuerst listed several aggravating circumstances, including the number of injuries to the victim, the fact the robbery was planned and motivated by 'pure greed' and, finally, that Faryadpoor's behaviour at the door showed she believed someone might be home. 'It involved a brazen and terrifying violation of the sanctity of the victim's home,' Fuerst added. 'It was perpetrated against a completely innocent member of the community and, by extension, her family, for financial gain. The post-offence photographs of the victim underscore that she was subjected to horrific violence. She was left permanently injured and psychologically scarred.' The mitigating circumstances include her age at the time of the attack and her guilty plea. After credit for pre-sentence custody, she will serve 15 and a half months and face two years of probation, a weapons prohibition order, DNA order and non-communication order with the victim. Two of the other men charged in relation to the incident had all charges withdrawn in the years following. Reeke Ellis was charged in 2021 with possession of a firearm, aggravated assault and robbery before the charges were withdrawn in 2022. Jamel Lewinson had aggravated assault, break and enter and other charges withdrawn in 2021. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Malay Mail
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
‘Austrian product, made abroad': Vienna chocolatiers bitter as Mozartkugel production leaves Mozart's birth city for Eastern Europe
VIENNA, May 4 — At a small high-end confectionery in Vienna, chefs put the finishing touches to one of Austria's signature souvenirs: Mozart chocolate balls filled with marzipan, pistachio, and rich almond and hazelnut nougat. Family-owned Leschanz still painstakingly makes the Mozartkugel chocolates by hand before putting them in their signature wrapping, featuring a portrait of Austria's 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. But Leschanz is in the minority these days, and with the number of brands rising, the chocolate balls beloved by tourists and locals alike are often no longer even produced in Austria. US food giant Mondelez, which owns one of the most recognisable brands, moved its production from the Austrian city of Salzburg – Mozart's birthplace – to Eastern Europe last month, reigniting a heated and long-running marketing debate. 'It's a shame, because Mozart balls are an Austrian product,' head confectioner and owner Wolfgang Leschanz, 75, told AFP. At his firm, 10 time-honoured steps are required to make one single Mozartkugel and about 20,000 of the delicacies are freshly made to order each year. Only one 'original' Invented by confectioner Paul Fuerst in Salzburg in 1890, the Mozartkugel became popular in Europe after winning a gold medal at a Paris food fair in 1905. A historic photograph of confectioner Paul Fuerst, inventor of the authentic Mozartkugel (Mozart balls) chocolates, is seen at Cafe Konditorei Fuerst in Salzburg, Austria on April 16, 2025. — AFP pic Fuerst's great-great-grandson Martin now owns the business, which produces around 3.5 million handmade balls annually, still in Salzburg and still using the traditional recipe. Fuerst chocolates can now be ordered online for delivery across the European Union. But with rising popularity have come imitators and an array of knockoffs, different fillings, wrappings, names – and also competing claims and legal disputes. The Fuerst family had to fight for years for recognition of their 'Original Salzburger Mozartkugel' wrapped in silver foil with blue print – including in the courts – because their progenitor made the mistake of not protecting his creation in the first place. Mozart chocolates do not have protected designation of origin status, a European protection for food-related products from certain geographical areas, such as champagne and parmesan cheese. Even German heavyweight Reber, which produces 500,000 balls daily just across the border from Salzburg, is allowed to call its Mozart balls 'authentic', even if it cannot use the term 'original'. Contacted by AFP, Mondelez International, formerly known as Kraft Foods, declined to reveal where within its 'European network' it began manufacturing the newly launched 'Authentic Mirabell Mozartkugeln' in April. For decades, the group's chocolates had been made at a plant in Salzburg – but the facility closed last year after teetering on the brink of bankruptcy for years. Citing high cocoa prices and rising costs for energy, Mondelez said its Mirabell brand was 'a real gem' but the weight of the products had to be reduced slightly 'to remain competitive'. Employees of chocolate maker Heindl, one of the producers of Mozartkugel (Mozart balls) chocolates, work at the Heindl plant in Vienna, Austria on April 22, 2025. — AFP pic Mondelez's Mozart balls currently sell for about US$0.50 apiece, while one of Leschanz's handmade confections costs more than seven times that amount. The Pro-Ge trade union, representing more than 60 workers laid off when the Salzburg plant closed, criticised Mondelez's 'lack of transparency' about its new production site. 'The supply chain of an egg can be traced better than that,' it said. 'Flagship product' Viennese chocolatier Heindl also voiced concern about Austria's emblematic confection being produced 'somewhere in Eastern Europe'. 'The Mozartkugel is a flagship product of Austria, just like the Sachertorte chocolate cake or the apple strudel or the poppy seed strudel,' managing director Andreas Heindl, 63, told AFP. Employees of chocolate maker Heindl, one of the producers of Mozartkugel (Mozart balls) chocolates, work at the Heindl plant in Vienna, Austria on April 22, 2025. — AFP pic 'When someone comes to Austria, they want to take Austrian products home with them, especially when it's Mozartkugeln,' said Heindl, whose father founded the firm. He said he could not imagine moving production abroad to save money, even with cocoa prices tripling hitting businesses hard. Leschanz likened Mozart balls produced outside Austria to a 'souvenir cup emblazoned with Mozart's portrait' that is bought in haste only for the purchaser to discover it says 'Made in China' on the bottom. — AFP
Sharjah 24
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Mozart chocolate row leaves bitter taste in Austria
Family-owned Leschanz still painstakingly makes the Mozartkugel chocolates by hand before putting them in their signature wrapping, featuring a portrait of Austria's 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. But Leschanz is in the minority these days, and with the number of brands rising, the chocolate balls beloved by tourists and locals alike are often no longer even produced in Austria. US food giant Mondelez, which owns one of the most recognisable brands, moved its production from the Austrian city of Salzburg -- Mozart's birthplace -- to Eastern Europe last month, reigniting a heated and long-running marketing debate. "It's a shame, because Mozart balls are an Austrian product," head confectioner and owner Wolfgang Leschanz, 75, said. At his firm, 10 time-honoured steps are required to make one single Mozartkugel and about 20,000 of the delicacies are freshly made to order each year. - Only one 'original' - Invented by confectioner Paul Fuerst in Salzburg in 1890, the Mozartkugel became popular in Europe after winning a gold medal at a Paris food fair in 1905. Fuerst's great-great-grandson Martin now owns the business, which produces around 3.5 million handmade balls annually, still in Salzburg and still using the traditional recipe. Fuerst chocolates can now be ordered online for delivery across the European Union. But with rising popularity have come imitators and an array of knockoffs, different fillings, wrappings, names -- and also competing claims and legal disputes. The Fuerst family had to fight for years for recognition of their "Original Salzburger Mozartkugel" wrapped in silver foil with blue print -- including in the courts -- because their progenitor made the mistake of not protecting his creation in the first place. Mozart chocolates do not have protected designation of origin status, a European protection for food-related products from certain geographical areas, such as champagne and parmesan cheese. Even German heavyweight Reber, which produces 500,000 balls daily just across the border from Salzburg, is allowed to call its Mozart balls "authentic", even if it cannot use the term "original". Contacted by AFP, Mondelez International, formerly known as Kraft Foods, declined to reveal where within its "European network" it began manufacturing the newly launched "Authentic Mirabell Mozartkugeln" in April. For decades, the group's chocolates had been made at a plant in Salzburg -- but the facility closed last year after teetering on the brink of bankruptcy for years. Citing high cocoa prices and rising costs for energy, Mondelez said its Mirabell brand was "a real gem" but the weight of the products had to be reduced slightly "to remain competitive". Mondelez's Mozart balls currently sell for about $0.50 apiece, while one of Leschanz's handmade confections costs more than seven times that amount. The Pro-Ge trade union, representing more than 60 workers laid off when the Salzburg plant closed, criticised Mondelez's "lack of transparency" about its new production site. "The supply chain of an egg can be traced better than that," it said. - 'Flagship product' - Viennese chocolatier Heindl also voiced concern about Austria's emblematic confection being produced "somewhere in Eastern Europe". "The Mozartkugel is a flagship product of Austria, just like the Sachertorte chocolate cake or the apple strudel or the poppy seed strudel," managing director Andreas Heindl, 63, said. "When someone comes to Austria, they want to take Austrian products home with them, especially when it's Mozartkugeln," said Heindl, whose father founded the firm. He said he could not imagine moving production abroad to save money, even with cocoa prices tripling hitting businesses hard. Leschanz likened Mozart balls produced outside Austria to a "souvenir cup emblazoned with Mozart's portrait" that is bought in haste only for the purchaser to discover it says "Made in China" on the bottom.
Business Times
04-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Mozart chocolate row leaves bitter taste in Austria
[VIENNA] At a small high-end confectionery in Vienna, chefs put the finishing touches to one of Austria's signature souvenirs: Mozart chocolate balls filled with marzipan, pistachio, and rich almond and hazelnut nougat. Family-owned Leschanz still painstakingly makes the Mozartkugel chocolates by hand before putting them in their signature wrapping, featuring a portrait of Austria's 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. But Leschanz is in the minority these days, and with the number of brands rising, the chocolate balls beloved by tourists and locals alike are often no longer even produced in Austria. US food giant Mondelez International, which owns one of the most recognisable brands, moved its production from the Austrian city of Salzburg – Mozart's birthplace – to Eastern Europe last month, reigniting a heated and long-running marketing debate. 'It's a shame, because Mozart balls are an Austrian product,' head confectioner and owner Wolfgang Leschanz, 75, told AFP. At his firm, 10 time-honoured steps are required to make one single Mozartkugel and about 20,000 of the delicacies are freshly made to order each year. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Only one 'original' Invented by confectioner Paul Fuerst in Salzburg in 1890, the Mozartkugel became popular in Europe after winning a gold medal at a Paris food fair in 1905. Fuerst's great-great-grandson Martin now owns the business, which produces around 3.5 million handmade balls annually, still in Salzburg and still using the traditional recipe. Fuerst chocolates can now be ordered online for delivery across the European Union. But with rising popularity have come imitators and an array of knockoffs, different fillings, wrappings, names – and also competing claims and legal disputes. The Fuerst family had to fight for years for recognition of their 'Original Salzburger Mozartkugel' wrapped in silver foil with blue print – including in the courts – because their progenitor made the mistake of not protecting his creation in the first place. Mozart chocolates do not have protected designation of origin status, a European protection for food-related products from certain geographical areas, such as champagne and parmesan cheese. Even German heavyweight Reber, which produces 500,000 balls daily just across the border from Salzburg, is allowed to call its Mozart balls 'authentic', even if it cannot use the term 'original'. Contacted by AFP, Mondelez, formerly known as Kraft Foods, declined to reveal where within its 'European network' it began manufacturing the newly launched 'Authentic Mirabell Mozartkugeln' in April. For decades, the group's chocolates had been made at a plant in Salzburg – but the facility closed last year after teetering on the brink of bankruptcy for years. Citing high cocoa prices and rising costs for energy, Mondelez said its Mirabell brand was 'a real gem' but the weight of the products had to be reduced slightly 'to remain competitive'. Mondelez's Mozart balls currently sell for about US$0.50 apiece, while one of Leschanz's handmade confections costs more than seven times that amount. The Pro-Ge trade union, representing more than 60 workers laid off when the Salzburg plant closed, criticised Mondelez's 'lack of transparency' about its new production site. 'The supply chain of an egg can be traced better than that,' it said. 'Flagship product' Viennese chocolatier Heindl also voiced concern about Austria's emblematic confection being produced 'somewhere in Eastern Europe'. 'The Mozartkugel is a flagship product of Austria, just like the Sachertorte chocolate cake or the apple strudel or the poppy seed strudel,' managing director Andreas Heindl, 63, told AFP. 'When someone comes to Austria, they want to take Austrian products home with them, especially when it's Mozartkugeln,' said Heindl, whose father founded the firm. He said he could not imagine moving production abroad to save money, even with cocoa prices tripling, hitting businesses hard. Leschanz likened Mozart balls produced outside Austria to a 'souvenir cup emblazoned with Mozart's portrait' that is bought in haste only for the purchaser to discover it says 'Made in China' on the bottom. AFP
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mozart chocolate row leaves bitter taste in Austria
At a small high-end confectionery in Vienna, chefs put the finishing touches to one of Austria's signature souvenirs: Mozart chocolate balls filled with marzipan, pistachio, and rich almond and hazelnut nougat. Family-owned Leschanz still painstakingly makes the Mozartkugel chocolates by hand before putting them in their signature wrapping, featuring a portrait of Austria's 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. But Leschanz is in the minority these days, and with the number of brands rising, the chocolate balls beloved by tourists and locals alike are often no longer even produced in Austria. US food giant Mondelez, which owns one of the most recognisable brands, moved its production from the Austrian city of Salzburg -- Mozart's birthplace -- to Eastern Europe last month, reigniting a heated and long-running marketing debate. "It's a shame, because Mozart balls are an Austrian product," head confectioner and owner Wolfgang Leschanz, 75, told AFP. At his firm, 10 time-honoured steps are required to make one single Mozartkugel and about 20,000 of the delicacies are freshly made to order each year. - Only one 'original' - Invented by confectioner Paul Fuerst in Salzburg in 1890, the Mozartkugel became popular in Europe after winning a gold medal at a Paris food fair in 1905. Fuerst's great-great-grandson Martin now owns the business, which produces around 3.5 million handmade balls annually, still in Salzburg and still using the traditional recipe. Fuerst chocolates can now be ordered online for delivery across the European Union. But with rising popularity have come imitators and an array of knockoffs, different fillings, wrappings, names -- and also competing claims and legal disputes. The Fuerst family had to fight for years for recognition of their "Original Salzburger Mozartkugel" wrapped in silver foil with blue print -- including in the courts -- because their progenitor made the mistake of not protecting his creation in the first place. Mozart chocolates do not have protected designation of origin status, a European protection for food-related products from certain geographical areas, such as champagne and parmesan cheese. Even German heavyweight Reber, which produces 500,000 balls daily just across the border from Salzburg, is allowed to call its Mozart balls "authentic", even if it cannot use the term "original". Contacted by AFP, Mondelez International, formerly known as Kraft Foods, declined to reveal where within its "European network" it began manufacturing the newly launched "Authentic Mirabell Mozartkugeln" in April. For decades, the group's chocolates had been made at a plant in Salzburg -- but the facility closed last year after teetering on the brink of bankruptcy for years. Citing high cocoa prices and rising costs for energy, Mondelez said its Mirabell brand was "a real gem" but the weight of the products had to be reduced slightly "to remain competitive". Mondelez's Mozart balls currently sell for about $0.50 apiece, while one of Leschanz's handmade confections costs more than seven times that amount. The Pro-Ge trade union, representing more than 60 workers laid off when the Salzburg plant closed, criticised Mondelez's "lack of transparency" about its new production site. "The supply chain of an egg can be traced better than that," it said. - 'Flagship product' - Viennese chocolatier Heindl also voiced concern about Austria's emblematic confection being produced "somewhere in Eastern Europe". "The Mozartkugel is a flagship product of Austria, just like the Sachertorte chocolate cake or the apple strudel or the poppy seed strudel," managing director Andreas Heindl, 63, told AFP. "When someone comes to Austria, they want to take Austrian products home with them, especially when it's Mozartkugeln," said Heindl, whose father founded the firm. He said he could not imagine moving production abroad to save money, even with cocoa prices tripling hitting businesses hard. Leschanz likened Mozart balls produced outside Austria to a "souvenir cup emblazoned with Mozart's portrait" that is bought in haste only for the purchaser to discover it says "Made in China" on the bottom. kym/jza/gil/rl/fec
