Enric Bernat

Enric Bernat Fontlladosa, inventor of the internationally famous Chupa Chups lollipop, died on Dec. 27 at his home in Barcelona, the company announced Monday. He was 80.

A third-generation candy maker, Mr. Bernat took over an ailing Spanish confectioner and rid it of most of its 200 products to focus on producing a single line of quality lollipops on a plastic stick.

''I looked at candy, and I was surprised that there was no candy made for children, when they are the main consumers of candy,'' Mr. Bernat said of the design. ''It did not fit well in their mouths, it got their hands dirty and caused problems for their mothers. This is why I had the idea of putting it on a stick.''

The name Chupa Chups is from the Spanish verb chupar, which means to lick or suck a lollipop.

Mr. Bernat's invention first went on sale in 1958 with a product logo by his friend the Spanish artist Salvador Dalí.

Within five years, Chupa Chups lollipops were sold at about 300,000 places around Spain. The company instructed shopkeepers to place the lollipops as close to the cash register as possible, a break from the traditional policy of keeping candy in glass jars behind counters, far from little fingers.

In the 1980's, Chupa Chups began an international expansion drive. Now, 90 percent of its sales are abroad.

The company makes four billion lollipops a year and sells more than 50 flavors tailored to tastes in 170 countries from Spain to China and the United States. It has factories in five countries and employs about 1,700 people.

Mr.Bernat is survived by his wife, Nuria Serra, three sons and two daughters.