A newly arrived immigrant from Iran in 1973, Athena initially had her sights set on becoming an engineer. Stifled by the unglamorous reality of working at an engineering firm, Athena’s ambitions began to wander towards entrepreneurship. Her business started with a family recipe for a dessert that was born right here in Chicago, the chocolate brownie. The biggest blessing of her first year in business? That her first daughter was born on a Saturday. That was in 1983. As the business grew, it became a sanctuary, providing employment to anyone who was willing to work, including fellow immigrants, people with disabilities, and eventually her own children.
In 2006, Athena was selected to appear in an advertising campaign for Dove Pro Age, a line of personal care products for older women. Traveling all over the world to spread the message that “Beauty has no age limit,” Athena was able to give voice to the complex issues of femininity, self-image and age. This ultimately inspired her to establish “Athena’s Fund for Women and Girls,” aimed at assisting women in the local community.
All the while, Athena has been the chief innovator behind Silverland’s products. Applying the wisdom of the original double chocolate brownie to everything she’s made, Silverland’s product line has expanded to include all kinds of products, all made with pure and simple ingredients, while never compromising on taste. Today, we offer a wide variety of products, many of which are offered in vegan, flourless, and sugarless varieties.
Athena’s roots ensure that hospitality is at the core of what we do. We are large enough to deliver any size order with little to no turnaround time and small enough to value each of our customers by treating them with highly personalized attention and service. Whether you’re a business or an individual, we encourage you to explore our products. You’re sure to find something you’ll love.